Everybody knows Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been laying off teachers here of late. That's why some people want to know why a national non-profit group that helps school systems find teachers is setting up shop in Charlotte this spring and is currently advertising for a $70,000-a-year coordinator to help recruit up to 100 teachers annually for CMS. The group, called The New Teacher Project, says it operates in more than two dozen cities, helping school systems end educational inequality by helping recruit effective teachers and by advancing best practices in effective teaching.
Some observers have asked why CMS would be getting involved in this kind of project at a time when its laying off so many existing teachers. "How does this look politically and to the public?" one person wrote in the comments section to an Observer story.
The answer, says school system spokeswoman LaTarzja Henry, is that CMS isn't trying to hire outsiders to replace laid-off teachers. She said CMS is in a partnership with The New Teacher Project to help plug vacancies in hard-to-fill subject areas such as math, science and teaching exceptional children. She said CMS still has vacancies in those areas, despite the fact that so many laid-off teachers are looking for jobs. The New Teacher Project has expertise in finding non-traditional candidates for the jobs, she said. It gives them intensive training that helps them get licensed to teach and become effective educators.
I'm still awaiting details on how many such positions are open now in CMS, and on what the contractual arrangements are between CMS and The New Teacher Project. Will update when I get them.
Monday, January 24, 2011
New CMS teacher hiring project raising eyebrows
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Headline says "New CMS teacher hiring project". Is this project paid for by CMS or by the non-profit group? I would assume it is the non-profit that's paying, but that needs to be made clear, I think, especially with the mention of a $70,000 a year coordinator and with so many throwing brickbats at CMS.
It's a shovel ready job. LOL
Just saw the headline and short blurb about finding up to 100 teachers for CMS on the main Observer webpage. I think that headline, placement, and phrasing is irresponsible. It's sure to start another firestorm (but perhaps that's what the Observer wants?) because many will only see the headline and short blurb and then be up in arms. They won't get to the part about needing teachers in specialized areas.
Bingo! "non-traditional" candidates who are given a crash course teaching license.
I don't have a problem with this. Why?
1. Because I'm not a fan of teacher unions. Yes, I know NC doesn't have a teacher's union but it does have an association with some clout.
2. Even though I was qualified to teach as an adjunct professor at two different universities in two different states and also taught for 2 years as a graduate teaching assistant at the most expensive university in the country (as of last year), I had to take some remarkably brain dead classes to become a lateral-entry teacher in my subject area in order to be considered effective to teach public school students at the secondary level. I was able to have student teaching requirements waived. The only education class I took of any value was one that helped me with classroom management skills because there is a difference between teaching high school students and college students. Discipline is not an issue at the college level. My favorite required course was Educational Psychology where I learned about salivating Pavlovian dogs which, of course, is of obvious relevance when it comes to teaching a classroom of kids. I also learned the difference between a Latino student and a Chicano student (this question was on the national teacher's exam I had to take) and why it was important to incorporate Afro-centric lessons into my curriculum which was supposedly the magic bullet in closing the achievement gap. As long as a student can give an oral report on 15 famous African-American scientists (as a self-esteem building exercise) it doesn't matter if they can't conduct a scientific experiment and have no clue what the periodic table of elements looks like.
3. I have two family members who majored in science in college (Environmental Science and Physics) and were "crash coursed" to teach in a public school setting over one summer. They were as good as if not better than many science teachers who majored in education. Of course, they both left the profession for better working conditions and higher pay.
4. Supply and demand. If there aren't enough qualified teachers willing to teach math, science and special education, then do we just fill these vacancies with $90.00 a day substitute teachers who need nothing more than a high school diploma to babysit? Or, do we simply hire "highly effective" certified kindergarten teachers to teach AP Calculus?
4. Some of the best private schools in the nation hire non-certified teachers. Why can't CMS?
5. Most education majors in America score academically lower than students majoring in other subject areas. Many countries that are whipping our academic behinds require teachers to score at the top of their class before paying them a respectable salary and treating them like rock stars. The KIPP charter school system only hires teachers who score at the top of their class and require them to take their own test to determine if they're qualified to teach. Many KIPP teachers are TFA teachers coming from some of America's most competitive colleges.
6. The school choice freedom train giving parents more educational options outside of traditional public school monopolies has left the station with Democrats and Republicans on board.
7. NC ranks 46th in graduation rates. Now, THIS fact should raise some eyebrows.
Did I miss the point or is it they are going to get rid of the teachers and get some smart ones?
So why in the heck were they hired in the first place?
And what damage did they do while they were in these classes?
I have volunteered and know that CMS has two levels of classes. One to baby sit and one to teach.
Maybe they will get rid of the baby sitting classes and make the parents and students responsible instead of the system and Universe for their failings. We need to make CMS a real learning institution for all and not a drop out factory.
The previous writer said something about paying substitute teachers $90 a day? Are you kidding me? As a non certified teacher the pay is $69 a day. As a certified teacher you are paid around $90 a day.
I have wanted to finish my degree and become a teacher for some time now. I have changed my mind with all that I have seen going on in classrooms. The PARENTS are mostly to blame, not the teachers. Your child's teacher is likely spending more time discipling students than teaching them. Where do these fabulous attitudes come from? The PARENTS!!!! And then the oh-so-educated parents that know so much about teaching and learning don't back up the teachers and try to tell them how to do their job. Or "don't push little (insert name) so hard". Really? I ask my child's teachers to push my child. Why? Because I want her to LEARN! When are we going to make the parents more responsible for their child's education than the teachers? I have seen kids who come from disadvantaged backgrounds rise up. How? Because they have parents who have told them that that is where they need to go and where they can go. First learning comes from home. Get Responsible, Parents!
Sounds like the federal government is involved. Suspicions abound in my mind!!
That's hilarious. In 2009, before the current financial crisis, when CMS was staffing for Montessori teachers for its middle school and three Montessori elementary schools, I developed a plan to utilize social media to generate qualified leads to fill these openings. The cost for CMS was minimal - as we were going to procure highly specific target ads on Facebook, only, and then utilize the power of social media networking to do the heavy lifting. The plan was shot down and they resorted to spending tens of thousands of dollars flying around the country attending job fairs to look for teachers instead. There was never a reason for why the plan was shot down. A plan that was developed and would be deployed by highly skilled professionals in the communications sector who were also parents and volunteers. In other words, people who cared that the right teachers were hired, not for their own credibility, but for their children.
CMS continues to baffle.
Jim Mitchem
@jmitchem
Teacher Project, says it operates in more than two dozen cities, helping school systems end educational inequality by helping recruit effective teachers and by advancing best practices in effective teaching.
Let's see....We all know (based on what CMS says) that math and science teachers are hard to find and we currently have a shortage in these positions.
I would assume (which I hate doing with CMS, assuming anything) that CMS has contacts with every education publication and college known to man where they can advertise their dire need for math and science teachers.
So why does CMS need this group? How much will it cost us for this partnership?
Sounds like the same old educrat bologna to me.
Funny - go see the current vacancy list on the CMS website. Yes, there are a few math, science and EC positions listed, but not 100 of them!
12:57
Substitute pay with a master's degree is $90.00 a day.
In response to concerns about the headline: We feel the headline is accurate and fair, based on what we know thus far about the project. It's a partnership between CMS and the nonprofit group, which means CMS has partial ownership. Also, keep in mind that with headlines, you have limited space and must compress information as tightly as possible. In any event, once we get more information from CMS about what it pays for under the arrangement, we'll post that as well, and hopefully that will further clarify things.
12:57
Although, according to CMS having a master's degree doesn't matter as far as "effectiveness" in the classroom so maybe they should pay every substitute the same ($69.00 a day) whether they have a high school diploma, a master's degree or a PhD. What difference does it make? Which gets me back to my main point, why certify teachers to begin with? If a master's degree doesn't make a teacher anymore effective in the classroom than why would a teaching license?
DR. (PhD) Gorman?
From TNTP website:
Our Business Model - The New Teacher Project is a revenue-generating nonprofit organization that utilizes a blended revenue model to sustain and advance its work nationwide. The majority of our revenue comes from our work with clients on a fee-for-service basis, often under performance-based contracts. This approach incentivizes TNTP to meet the needs of its clients while continually assessing the value and cost-effectiveness of our services. We find that the fee-for-service model also encourages our clients to be motivated, active collaborators by literally "investing" them in the success of our work.
They charge CMS a fee, of course - I wonder whow much per teacher, Eric?
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) was founded in 1997 by former Teach For America alumna Michelle Rhee with the aim of closing the achievement gap by providing high-need students with outstanding teachers.
Hmmm...hiring and retaining quality teachers but founded by a TFA alumni.
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) works to ensure that poor and minority students get equal access to effective teachers. It helps urban school districts and states recruit and train new teachers, staff challenged schools, design evaluation systems, and retain teachers who have demonstrated the ability to raise student achievement.
I find this odd in the fact that Gorman can't get quality teachers currently on the payroll to go to low performing, high poverty schools. What's going to be the difference here?
Most of what I have read outside the Observer talks about how this group somewhat follows the TFA route, which is to infiltrate low perfoming, troubled schools.
I believe there's more to this story than trying to recruit hard to find math and science teachers, especially if some of those are needed in high poverty, low income schools where we can't get current quality teachers in other subjects to go to.
To Wiley who said "I find this odd in the fact that Gorman can't get quality teachers currently on the payroll to go to low performing, high poverty schools. What's going to be the difference here?"
According the NCreportcards.org, CMS only has 3% of high poverty classrooms staffed by a non-high quality teacher (as defined by NCLB).
It does not take a whiz to figure out if it is good or not to teach at CMS. I would suppose that if a person has the credentials to teach math, science, etc., they can probably write their ticket into any school system in this area they would like. I imagine the teacher's underground network is up-to-date with issues of working in CMS. And I say working instead of teaching on purpose. As as just come out in the lawsuit, that many of us have known for ages, not much teaching happens in a large number of schools and many schools are simply battlegrounds and the teachers are virtually defenseless. As has been made poplar by Dr, Gorman, the teachers are all what is wrong with these kids.
Instead of paying an outside agency $70K, why not use the EXISTING department for recruiting to get certified teachers in one area to be certified for the positions that theoretically available? That $70K could be used for signing bonuses and possible reimbursement of testing costs. Of course it won't work for CMS because it makes sense.
This (Observer) link gives the salaries and positions for all HR Dept staffers at CMS. Granted, it's not 100% accurate since we know Mr. Ambler is no more... Nevertheless, this TNTP position would be amongst the highest paid if they were in the HR Dept.... I'm just not getting the logic here - please help me out?!
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/21/1389892/charlotte-mecklenburg-schools.html?appSession=351278258353353&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=1&cpipage=1&CPISortType=&CPIorderBy=
kudos to this thread of comments - none of the usual name calling and brow beating in here. it's nice to see some some effort digging and questioning. i'm impressed. maybe this can be used as an example of the power behind a quality discussion.
Hey TROTS...
That was my point, although sarcastically.
All we hear is that low performing schools don't have quality teachers or that many teachers don't want to go teach there, so CMS hires TFA "teachers".
Is it ironic that it takes $70,000 to hire a person who will recruit hard to find teachers we are only willing to pay $34,000?
Those who post on this website essentially have two problems:
1. You have facts, but no practical experience dealing with a classroom environment.
2. You have all of the world's solutions but no one will listen to you.
If solving public educations problems is that easy then why do many of you not apply? The one person who talked about his long list of credentials and couldn't get a job is rather vexing. You mean that dumb old UNCC, Queens and App. St. student teachers can figure out how to get jobs but you can't? Maybe there's a reason for this huh?
North Carolina has always had some the most highly qualified teachers in it's class rooms. CMS teachers lead their peers throughout America on many levels. However, within the last three years they are continuing to be let go, and mainly for financial reasons. That’s right financial reasons- not for effectiveness. I know of top notch math, science and special need teachers that were let go from CMS and can barely get a fill-in position in the same district they have served so well. There is a list from which principals must hire. Ask a principal if they have a highly qualified teacher they would like to hire for a position that is not on their list and what the response will be.
Next on the list of teachers to be push out are those holding Masters and National Boards. Studies have shown not only do a high percentage of these teachers get excellent results in the class , but that they are more devoted to the profession.
I just want to say this to teachers who work for CMS. Your students know your value. This is all that matters. Continue to do your best for them. CMS and the community are already experiencing what they have brought upon themselves. You stay true and continue enjoying what you do best.
If CMS is hiring "hard to find areas" like Math and Science then why are math and science teachers being laid off at the same rate as other areas? Seems to me Gorman must have a self-serving reason....one of those I'll rub your back you rub mine" things. It is well known that Gorman wants a federal position, what better way to get one than to feed millions into national programs?
This needs to be a headline story in the print edition. Observer please stop protecting Gorman.This has to be one of the most ridiculous strategies that I've read about.The response from CMS is even crazier.Gorman has to go before he completely destroys this community and school system.
Where Dr. Peter Gorman is concerned, there is always more to the story. Eric anc Aann, Please keep pressing for answers and get documentation of what you are told.
Thank you to anonymous at 5:52 p.m.! As a teacher at a low-performing school, I hold a Master's and am Nationally Board certified. I bend over backwards for the students in my class, and am being told that what I do with my 27 students (who cannot read when I get them) every single day isn't ever good enough. I am appalled that my boss, the educational leader of this community, has decided that my NBPT certification and my MEd are not worth the paper they are printed on. I have to mentor TFAs who have NO CLUE what they are doing and disappear at the end of two years. Are there bad teachers in CMS? You betcha! There are bad employees in every field. But let me tell you, there are some amazing teachers in CMS who are so incredibly tired of the constant garbage being flung at them. I went to college because I wanted to teach children. I love what I do. But I despise the blame games and the finger pointing. I despair of what will happen to this school system if it continues to function in the manner in which it is now- it's the old tale of the little boy putting his finger in the dike - we are going to spring a cataclysmic leak with only TFAs and TNTP candidates to clean up the mess. And meanwhile, Dr. Gorman is off to Raleigh to convince the legislature that we, teachers, shouldn't have the right to vote over pay-for-performnace. It's so far beyond ridiculous at this point. People who only stay for 2 years won't have the data for pay-for-performance...
Anonymous January 24, 2011 7:33 PM
Sorry for your problem. Sounds like a Teach For America front. Plain & simple. CMS is a sham.
5:41 PM
If I'm the person you're referring to with the long list of credentials, I did work for a public school system. In fact, I received an outstanding system wide teaching award as a lateral-entry teacher. So...
1. I don't lack practical experience in the classroom.
2. I left my public school position to teach at a major university that didn't require a degree in education or a teaching license - go figure. I also worked in a professional environment not related to education.
3. I don't have all the answers and neither do you because if either of us did, this post wouldn't exist and maybe 300 students a day would not be dropping out of school in the state of NC and maybe more than 58% of NC students entering 9th grade could graduate in 4 years and maybe more than 47% of African-American middle school students could pass their math and reading EOG tests and maybe 350 NC schools wouldn't be considered "priority" or "low performing" and maybe the United States wouldn't be ranked 27th and 33rd in the world respectively on international test scores in math and reading.
Also, I think App. State, Queens University and UNCC are fine schools. The list of famous people who started out at community colleges is also quite impressive. So, note to yourself:
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt.
I commend you for being a public school teacher. God bless you.
My son's non-traditional math teacher is the best he's had throughout his CMS career, period. Why? Because this gentleman answers the "this is why you need this skill" question by building it into lessons and having guest speakers in different professions share how they use math in their jobs. I'm not saying my kids' traditional math teachers have all been horrible (they haven't), but he brings something to the classroom that they don't, and I think it's because he spent so many years in the business world.
7:39 AM
Amen.
If (most) people don't believe a one-size-fits all education should be the ONLY choice for children, than why would a one-size-fits-all teacher with a traditional education degree be the ONLY answer?
Magnets, traditional public, private, charter and home-schooling. Welcome education in America - 2011.
BTW - Nationwide, research has shown that school districts with more students in private schools have HIGHER PUBLIC SCHOOL graduation rates. It's called competition. Perhaps a concept we've lost as we're trying to make everyone feel good while handing out participation trophies and happy stickers for sitting in your chair, paying attention, completing your homework and being respectful to your teacher.
This is sad. I went to college in NC and I just moved to Charlotte 2 years ago. If I would have known that CMS school system was this bad I would have stayed in NYC. There are problems everywhere, but this takes the cake. There are 28yr olds with 13 year olds who are more focused on partying and money than their child's education. Then the parents want to fight the teachers cause the teachers are trying to obtain order in their classroom. You have CMS not paying these teachers enough money where the teachers are stressed finanically and then emotionally from the children. There is no point in hiring an outsider to do "your job" only to then let them go in 6mths when the new budget doesnt support it.
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) was founded in 1997 by former Teach For America alumna Michelle Rhee with the aim of closing the achievement gap by providing high-need students with outstanding teachers. Hmmm...hiring and retaining quality teachers but founded by a TFA alumni. The New Teacher Project (TNTP) works to ensure that poor and minority students get equal access to effective teachers. It helps urban school districts and states recruit and train new teachers, staff challenged schools, design evaluation systems, and retain teachers who have demonstrated the ability to raise student achievement. I find this odd in the fact that Gorman can't get quality teachers currently on the payroll to go to low performing, high poverty schools. What's going to be the difference here? Most of what I have read outside the Observer talks about how this group somewhat follows the TFA route, which is to infiltrate low perfoming, troubled schools. I believe there's more to this story than trying to recruit hard to find math and science teachers, especially if some of those are needed in high poverty, low income schools where we can't get current quality teachers in other subjects to go to.
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