What a contrast. The L.A. Times published an article about LAUSD Superintendent David L. Brewers’ speech to district administrators. He really let them have it. The contrast to how SAUSD Superintendent Jane Russo handles things is stunning. Here are a few excerpts:
- Brewer told principals and managers Friday that they must change both themselves and a pervasive culture of “low expectations for brown and black children,” adding that they would receive mandatory leadership training and support but also would be held accountable for student achievement.
- “What I have found in this district: We don’t have any accountability,” he said. At that moment, a single word was projected onto screens on both sides of the massive hall: accountability.
- When Brewer said “failure will no longer be an option,” his words drew barely concealed snickers as well as polite applause. But the applause was long when Brewer finished with: “If you give up, this country as we know it will not exist.”
- The tone contrasted sharply with a speech last year by retiring Supt. Roy Romer, who lauded the massive school-construction program and test scores that had generally risen faster than in the state at large, especially at elementary schools. “It was different from past years when the focus was on all the good things and the progress we were making,” said Daniel Bagby, an administrative specialist. “This did start to create a sense of urgency. The message today was that we’re not doing so hot.”
Simply astounding. I don’t think we will EVER hear Russo hold people accountable. She was hired even though she is not qualified for the job. She was hired by the SAUSD board not to fix problems but to hide them. Already this year the district has lost several million dollars due to class size reduction that took place under her watch, and that of her predecessor, Al Mijares.
Take a look at this Register article, about new Fullerton Superintendent Mitch Hovey. Here is what he has done since he was hired:
- He’s been on the road, visiting the district’s summer programs and preparing to welcome the more than 13,000 children who start school Aug. 30 and 31.
- He plans to have two community forums in September to meet the community.
- He scheduled a welcome breakfast for the district’s 1,400 employees on Tuesday.
Here are a few more excerpts:
Assessing the state education budget, Hovey decides the district has an obligation to move all children toward proficiency, but resources are needed to complete the job.
“And that’s what’s missing in this budget,” he says. “I’d like to see more class-size reduction and more funds for special-needs children including the gifted and talented. Let’s be accountable to all parents, but give us the resources.”
“To be successful as a superintendent, you have to bring people together. It comes down to relationships and building trusts. This is a service-oriented profession.”
Wow. Hovey sounds like he gets it. I wonder if the SAUSD board interviewed him before hiring Russo?
Anonymous Says:
5/08/2007 7:19 PM
In the wake of pain that San Diego Superintendent Alan Bersin left behind, the district desperately needed healing. The district was fortunate to have Carl Cohen as their current superintendent. Monthly, he has a meeting at one of the district’s campuses for an event called “Cookies with Carl”.
Teachers are encouraged to meet him in this informal setting and let him know what is actually going on in the trenches. No bubble decisions by Carl. He encourages frank discussions about how best to conduct the important business of teaching children.
This approach has been widely effective and appreciated. It would be a wonderful experiment to have each of the board members do this with one site per person each month, as well as Superintendent Russo. This kind of high touch approach might reap rich benefits for the whole district. No more distilling what is going on by the administrative cliques that cook up ideas like ripping off the state at the expense of the students.
Here is a summation of ideas generated by the last Cookies with Carl meeting:
http://sandi.net/staff/staffbull/2007/0323/cookiejar.html
Here is the context of the Cookies with Carl meetings:
Working on solutions closer to
Jane Russo promised an open door policy.
Hasn’t happened. It would be nice to do Juice with Jane or something similar.
She might not want to meet with teachers and other staff. The problems outlined here are just the tip of the iceberg.
What would she logically tell a group of educators in defense of 3 time fired Valley Principal Gomeztrejo who lied on his application?
You complain that there is no accountability in the SAUSD. Yet there are a ton of postings about inept administrators from the top down who are no longer employed at SAUSD.
You compare this District to Fullerton with about 25% of our student population and probably 25% less employees (somehow, I doubt that the new superintendent there makes less than 25% of Russo’s salary). It’s really easy to get around to everyone in a District that size compared to ours.
You compare SAUSD to LAUSD. The superintendent there is so laughable, employess are not getting paid and need to take loans out to pay bills. It hardly impresses me with accountability.
Thank God many of you are not teachers. Ask teachers at Saddleback, at Valley (Post-Espinosa) and at many sites if they don’t think that this is a changing District. They are starting the new school year feeling much more positively than you-good thing for the students, too.
To Poster #3
You sound like the typical SAUSD board member. EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES! My job is done here.
#4 There is not a single excuse there, just facts. Oh, I forgot, facts get in the way of your doomday fantasies.
To Poster #3,#5
Uh, hello, Espinoza is still employed by the SAUSD, yeah he may not be at Valley but he is still employed by the inempt SAUSD. And believe me he is corrupt and inept. Thank u very much! I think I struck a nerve, hahaha
Blogheads #3-#6
Tony Espinoza has been assigned to Segerstrom HS as a counselor. Espinoza has more sticking power than velcro which begs the question — why?
School starts Thursday and we’ll soon learn if the district has adequately prepared for the 07-08 school year. #3 seems to have convenient amnensia when it pertains to the last three years of school starts — overcrowded classrooms, not enough textbooks for students, and students forced to sit on the floor because there aren’t enough desks or chairs. And the over abundance of permanent substitute teachers.
As far as Valley, post Espinoza, the new principal, Gomeztrejo will prove to be the disaster-ridden admin he is. His last two last two principal assignments, in the south bay area, resulted in him fleeing that school district.
The API and AYP results will be publicly released Aug. 30. Most are anticipating the district to slip in PI/Year 3.
We are all feeling good about the new school year and wonder what scandals will beset Jane Russo this year.