By Old Teach

June 6, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

To “Just Asking” -The problem with Dr. Marlea Jordan-Gaskins is that her people skills are about the same as Dr. Williams. She is rude,and belittles people whenever she has the opportunity. We can only hope the BOE would not make that mistake.

By Just Asking

June 5, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

What about Dr. Marlea Jordan-Gaskins? She is pretty much running the District anyway! She supervises Secondary Education, school counselors, curriculum coaches, and employee development, among many other things. I believe this position is rightly hers! If she would even consider it!

By Old Teach

June 5, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

It is my understanding that the letter was presented by one principal at a meeting they were having for the retiring principals. She then proceeded to pass it around to sign. The elementary principals were aware that they were being “watched” to see who signed the letter.

By dps teach

June 4, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

Has anyone seen the original copy of the letter? Was the letter truely signed by all elementary principals or did one principal sign it “The Elementary Principals of DPS”? It’s hard to believe someone had the time to track down every elementary principal at this time of the year. I have never seen Mrs. Brathwaite in my building. On the other hand, Jane Rafal is there at least two - three times a month. There’s the real leader for you.

By Amused, not disgusted

June 3, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Forget Jane Rafal, folks. She is clearly the competent alternative, but it is just for that reason she would be rejected. Since her arrival a few years ago, the levels of instruction and building administration competencies have increased dramatically. Competence has not been a factor for hiring administrators in this district since before Williams was superintendent.

By Laura

June 1, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this

Old Prof: Come on! There are LOADS of teachers sitting in classrooms with master’s degrees to become principals. I know. I work with them and hear them talk all the time about the odds of them ever getting out of the classroom to work in administration. They are there. Now about your other point. I agree. Why in the world anyone would want to be a principal anywhere today, but especially in DPS is beyond my comprehension. It is a thankless job. Nevertheless, I have heard principals talk about how easy it is to make the wrong person mad. I personally know two excellent principals who were pushed out because they did stand up to their boss. It does happen. Even in DPS.

By Worried DPS Parent

June 1, 2008 2:18 AM | Link to this

Avoice: I feel I must address your point # 3. Some pupil unruliness is down to the Teacher’s lack of willingness or ability to handle the pupil(s) that are unruly.

By Old Teach

May 31, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

I guess the elementary principals figured they needed to “hedge their bets” and join the “CYA” club just in case.

By JD

May 31, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Looks like nepotism at its finest! Teachers - you need to start standing up for yourselves. And don’t try to go through the Union, that just creates more frustration on your part. Stand up for yourselves and fight tooth and nail for the school board to actually hire the best there is - not just someone who has been standing in line.

By Avoice

May 31, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

I wonder who authored this letter? I would be surprised if one of the principals had time to write it with all of the year-end activity in their buildings such as field day, student recognition, staff re-assignments, c*m folders, teacher check outs. Seems rather odd that they would have time to write it? In any event let�s look at Ms. Isaacs�s points. 1. The training was at the expense of supervision in buildings. These weekly meetings pulled administrators from their buildings during school time. I know of no other district that does this every week. 2. How many DPS teachers feel that the professional development was meaningful? 3. Focus on student achievement is pretty tough when you have multiple levels of disruptive students in your classroom and the building administrator is too busy collecting data and going downtown to deal with their building. 4. Sharing her vast knowledge of pedagogy. How many DPS teachers have had the sharing experience? 5. The creative and risk taking has been Debra and her multiple job searches while at DPS. 6. CSI plans were thrust upon teams at the building level. I never saw her at any of these meetings. 7. We are certainly data driven. Too bad most of that data is too late, not aligned to content or useless to classroom teachers do to pacing guides. This useless data that was discussed during one of the few planning times for teachers! I know that DPS elementary principals are under the gun. This district eliminated many teachers and assistant principals this past year. These principals feel threatened after seeing what happened to their colleagues. You go to her office and have her sign your evaluation based upon the number of student referrals, suspensions and Baldrige implementation. Doesn�t sound like any kind of authentic assessment to me? Debra has no plans to continue here in Dayton. She will hatchet her way through this system to get to her next job. This letter submitted by Yvonne may be the best example yet of the short-sighted, na�ve and ill-informed direction of the DPS board of education. Why would the board even consider her when she has proven multiple times that she has no loyalty to this district? They obviously do not have a clue as to what happens in DPS classrooms. It has been stated by many teachers in previous posts. Again, the students will loose and Ludlow will become even more insulated. The only wind I see is the turbulence behind Debra�s car as she heads to her next job or interview.

By employee

May 31, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Scott: I would like for you to investigate to see how many elementary, middle school, and elementary principals and assistants are male, female, black, white, other. Oh!, don’t forget the administrative make-up at central office. John Harewood, years ago questioned why there were not any minorities in top level positions. Things changed shortly after. Is there reverse discrimination going on now in our system. Are we afraid to ask that question? How many men principal’s and assitant’s are now in the system? You will be shocked at the number. Common sense would say if DPS has a black superintendent, then the deputy should be white male or female, and on down the line. This would be a great opportunity to bring new blood into the system and get rid of the dead weight and those who are not doing there jobs. Do not keep the status quo or things will remain the same.

By Oldprof

May 31, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

So the principals are taking this stand in order to protect their jobs? There’s a big fly in the ointment of that argument; where are the qualified candidates who are lined up waiting to fill the positions that will come open? Let’s face it, being a building principal in DPS is a job only slightly more attractive than, say, prison guard. The hours are long, you deal most of the time with people who don’t respect you (the name Domeneck comes to mind), and in many years you get no pay raise. This is one situation where job security is pretty high because few others would want it.

By tired teacher

May 31, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

As a DPS teacher I do not want Braithwaite as the superintendant. The only time I ever see her is when she is following Dr. Mack around. She doesn’t come out to the buildings on her own. Then this line “Taking away the minutiae of endless paperwork/reports so that we could get into the classrooms and know what is going on.” Is a joke. I know of principals that do not step out of their offices and have no clue as to what is really going on in the classrooms. Either they have a ton of paperwork or they are hiding from the problems in the classrooms and hallways of their buildings. I agree that Jane Rafal would be a better choice.

By Steve

May 30, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this

Is this letter a prank or something??? This is the most unabashed butt kissing letter I’ve ever seen!! Brilliant?! I about spewed coffee all over the keyboard. Princeton passed for a reason folks. I hope the next Greyhound bus out of this fair city has her on it. It would also be interesting to see just how many of the principals are actually sorority sisters…

By Laura

May 30, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

Now let’s think this through. If I were an elementary principal and someone came to me to sign an endorsement of someone who could possibly be my next boss, does anyone think I would be stupid enough to refuse? And if I did (refuse), and she did become my boss, just how long would I have my position once it was made known that I had refused to sign? Hmmm. Jane Rafal would be my choice, too.

By deb

May 30, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this

so what is she going to do for the middle school? It is my understanding that the one & only middle school keeps getting the students that aren’t being successful in the Pk-8 bldgs….Who’s giving additional whatever is needed and freedom to run this alternative school(oops - no one wants to call it that)

By Just trying to teach

May 30, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

Personally, I have seen none of this. Be carefull. With her sorority sisters this will change James Williams’ good old boy network into the YaYa Sisterhood. Sorry, she does nothing for me. Jane Rafal would be my choice.

By former employee

May 30, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Things really must have changed since I have left DPS. I hardly ever saw Mrs. Braithwith in any building talking with staff, students, or community members. I believe that DPS administrators must like what is going on and not have to worry about their jobs if the status quo remains the same. Still keeping tabs by reading the blogs, newspapers, and talking to others associated with the inner workings of DPS I not hearing their support of Ms. Brathwaithe at all. The administrators must be afraid of new blood coming in that may well place some of their jobs in real danger. Be careful what you are asking for - if you don’t want change and a real chance of seeing the levy pass, keep things as they are. I am in total disbelief of this indorsement.