Grier says we are dragging students backward.

From the HISD public website:

"If scores show that a teacher is actually dragging students backwards academically year after year, I expect principals to take this information very seriously. We simply can't allow teachers who consistently struggle—despite our best efforts to support them—to continue teaching. And we can't afford to wait to use all the information that is available to us. The stakes are too high for our students." - Terry B. Grier, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools (highlight by me)

We will acknowledge that some students grow at a slower rate than others. The superintendent claims that teachers are "dragging students backward" that they know less coming out than going in. He then states that these teachers will be fired even if the administration does not know all the facts. We need to keep the pressure up. We can't allow these types of statements to be left unchallenged. Contact your board members. Make them either live with their decisions or do something to correct them.

Andy Dewey
Executive Vice-President, HFT

February 9, 2010 Consultation agenda.

The administration postponed the regular meeting scheduled for February 4th until February 9th. This gives us less than two days to react to administrative items. The HFT agenda follows:

HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

Please include the following to the February 4, 2010 Instructional Consultation agenda:


1. EVAAS Problems/Lies told to teachers by the Superintendent

We have numerous concerns and questions regarding both the plan to use EVAAS data in assessments and terminations and the communication about the use of EVAAS data coming from the Superintendent.

2. Tactics of investigators

We have numerous concerns and questions regarding the tactics used by investigators at Key/Kashmere.

3. Fingerprinting

We have received several reports from employees who have to be re-printed because the original technician was unable to get good prints. They should not have this many errors. This causes a further interruption of the instructional day. The shoddy workmanship of the firm hired to do the prints should not take away from teaching time.

4. Support of the classroom teacher.

The following is complaint from one of our members:

“I am not being given the support I need to accomplish the goals that have been set forth by the district and my campus administration. The materials and resources I need are being, I feel, unfairly withheld affecting my ability to do my job effectively and get the desired results.”

This type of complaint is very common. When we ask for the name of the school, we find that teachers are petrified of administrative retaliation. The fix must come from the top. We have clearly heard the teacher-bashing coming from the administration and certain members of the school board. The message is that it is all the fault of the classroom teacher. The above complaint is typical. Teachers are begging for administrative support. Not just materials, but also support for what they are doing. When is the administration going to do its part in the education of our children?