For those that don't follow the goings on of the TPS - you should. After all, this is the basis for growth, understanding, hope and progress. Education - that's what it's called.
Recently the TPS had the opportunity to hire a top-notch Superintendent that could have helped our schools become true centers of learning. Dr. Bill Harner had had much experience in pulling poorly progressing schools out of the doldrums and turning them around. Making them into productive and encouraging entities.
Alas, the TPS has chosen to refuse to entertain ideas of growth and progress by wanting to (illegally) limit Dr. Harner's choice of residence and school for his daughter. Instead they have chosen a man that has been entrenched in the TPS for 29 years. Yes - 29 years. And in those years he has not taken the initiative to LEAD the schools into a positive future, but instead allowed himself to languish in mediocrity and ambivalence. This does not instill a feeling that this man is capable of LEADING us into a progressive future. Instead I fear more of the same. It's terrifying. It's disheartening. It's despicable. While John Foley may be a nice man, I do not have any faith in his abilities as a leader. I will pray that I am wrong. That our children's futures will not suffer from this decision. A decision made behind the masks of backroom politics and power plays.
In short - as long as we continue to do what we have always done we will continue to get what we've always gotten. And that's not acceptable. Not at all.
Our children deserve better. Our city deserves better.
Please, please, please - take the lead. Get involved. STAY involved. Let the TPS know that you won't allow the 'good old boy' system to sacrifice your children's futures for the sake of a pension.
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1 comment:
it is indeed interesting times. We have an interesting space here on groundz4change... I did not follow harner's candidacy all that closely-- but comments I've received from parents along the way were that he was kinda scary in that scary sales man kinda way....
Many parents who are involved and making a difference directly within the schools have voiced a preference for Foley. Perhaps this is his time to step up... his call to greatness. I have qualms about Foley as well. For some reason something doesn't ring true to me when a superintendent does not choose his own school system for his/her children. But, in meetings and in seeing his interactions with some parents, I am interested in seeing Foley get a chance. -- I'm not sure what we have to lose.
Among other interesting TPS stuff, keep an eye on the Woodward principalship. Perhaps another case of setting the stage the same way.... isn't it interesting that DR. Collins, a woman, a PHD, one ofthe highest educated in principals within TPS, with her own curriculum specialty, was not advanced into the final round of candidates for the principalship of Woodward. She is the currently presiding "acting principal." She's good enough for the interim.... but, not good enough for a real go....
In case you haven't been paying attention to the life and times of Woodward High, Dr. Collins has done an amazing job at Woodward during this past year. She has an amazingly refreshing and respectful approach with the students at Woodward, and has made seldom before seen efforts with the parents and the community surrounding Woodward.
Isn't it also interesting that the front running candidate has NO experience as a high school principal? While he's young and Latino, his educational merits are not at the same levels as Dr. Collins.
Would it be even more interesting to know that the entire interview committee who dismissed Dr. Collins, but so highly recommended the young Latino was. . . Latino-- in spite of the fact that families in the Woodward Learning Community are African-American, european and appalachian, too?
DISCLAIMER: I have nothing against Latinos,-- In fact, Kudos!! they've organized themselves, & built enough clout in TPS Politics to possibly sway a principal-ship! I just find it odd and ... perhaps lacking some propriety to not advance the name of a clearly qualified and acting principal, along with the preferred candidate-- unless, of course, she is the more viable candidate?
It is ... indeed interesting times.
I don't know if Foley, or Collins are the answer-- for either TPS or Woodward respectively, but... the one thing that's clear to me -- and, Roo, upon which we agree-- is it is certainly time to step up, and get involved. Otherwise, we will get nothing different than what we've always gotten.
cheers!
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