DALLAS ISD

Posted by Rick Schulte @ 5:57 PM Tue, Jan 22, 2008

The DISD superintendent sends out weekly e-mail messages to all employees. That's pretty much the same.

Posted by Jean Pierre @ 6:31 PM Tue, Jan 22, 2008

Yes, it's a good idea if others can comment on the superintendent's blog, employees included. Getting the superintendent's side could balance some of the bad stuff seen in print and on TV. Good luck with that.

Posted by Maria Villalobos @ 7:34 PM Tue, Jan 22, 2008

The DISD Superintendent is conspicuous by his absence. I've seen one of those emails he sends out. It's pretty darn lame and often lacking in information. You can say you are going to educate and graduate students who are ready for college a million times, but it won't make it true until they are ready to leave middle school.

You can say the moon is made of green cheese also.

I'm offended about how much money and effort is being made to win this "Broad" (rhymes with road) prize of a million dollars. Prestige will do so much for our students. Is Dr. Hinojosa bucking for secretary of education? I don't think he could make much more in another district.

No one at DISD has returned any of my phone calls or emails. Why would the illustrious Dr. Hinojosa stoop to discuss anything with the people who pay his salary?

I know of a parent who has been blocked from sending emails to any disd email address. She has multiple children in the district. Just because 3700 Ross doesn't like what she has to say, doesn't mean that they should prevent her from communicating with her children's teachers.

Posted by Skyline Raider @ 9:23 PM Tue, Jan 22, 2008

Yeah, you should read these emails from Mike - that's how he signs them because he's just a regular guy. The emails are all about "the Road to Broad." Isn't it interesting that we've had an influx of administrators on Ross Ave. with ties to the Broad Foundation? Anyone else see a conflict of interest? But has student achievement changed?
Please disregard my bitterness. I've just been watching the DISD war machine dismantling Skyline today with little regard to what the community wants. A DISD blog would just be more spin from Mike and his minions - Flores, Micheaux, Castro, and on and on and on. Yeah, I'm bitter. I'm just a teacher with no say in my school. Although it could be worse, I could be a parent with no say in my school.
The Road to Broad...hmmm. The road to hell is paved in good intentions. Where are the good intentions?

Posted by park @ 10:40 AM Wed, Jan 23, 2008

Marvin Edwards was the last leader who could have put cogent, original thoughts on paper. He actually knew education, and he put effective programs in classrooms. Woolery destroyed many of these programs. Moses was interested in being on the public dole while he pursued his private business interests, and the current superintendent simply regurgitates the Broad Toad message. Maybe Dohlander could spin us all. Oh no, that was his role for Yvonne the felon.

Posted by Diane Birdwell @ 7:05 PM Wed, Jan 23, 2008

A blog would be useful as an ADDITIONAL tool to meet with parents, teachers and community people. Sadly, there are no other tools being used, other than emails and the occasional memo.

As mentioned above, the Skyline situation is angering alumni like me, teachers like "Skyline Raider," parents and others. All this anger because NOBODY from the top level of DISD will meet with the stakeholders of Skyline.

We want to see our leader in the flesh, look him in the eye. No emails, no videos or DVD's selling us on the bonus pay--we want to hear from the boss in person.

As a teacher, I MUST contact parents. I am evaluated on it. I MUST meet with my boss, email staff in my building--I am evaluated on it ("communication"). Are they? Can we evaluate them?

Posted by robert @ 9:39 PM Wed, Jan 23, 2008

waah, waah...i hear a whole lot of whiners...uumm, here is an idea...maria and skyline, why don't you list what ALL YOU have done to help DISD achieve its goals. I'm not a DISD employee, but there is nothing worse than whiners who point at others and don't hold themselves accountable.

Posted by theSKY'Sthelimit @ 7:35 AM Thu, Jan 24, 2008

Robert calling some of the above posters whiners finally compels me to blog. Robert, even though you aren't a DISD employee, I'm sure you've seen us in the news. I've personally never been more embarrassed to be associated with an employer. I doubt you can even imagine what it's like on the front lines. I'm guessing these posters are much like me, teachers who do a damn good job working with whatever DISD throws our way. I would liken their posts more to a cry for help than a whine. You want a list?.....As I said, I do a good job, even with up to 47 children in a class, even when there aren't enough books for me to have a class set, even when I don't have enough chairs for my students, even when I don't have a paper clip or piece of chalk, even when I have no leadership for years at a time. I think you get the picture. I'm good at what I do. I've won awards, my students win awards and most importantly, I have children thank me for making a difference in their lives. That last bit, a child calling to say, "Thanks, you are the only person who ever believed me!" is what keeps me coming back. It' gets harder and harder though as the powers that be keep showing us that they are not in education for the same reasons. Never forget that it's all about the children.

Posted by Maria Villalobos @ 9:42 PM Thu, Jan 24, 2008

Robert, you really want to know what I do?

I work with kids after school. I coach learning skills and tutor academics. I go to the library and work with kids on study and research skills.

I talk to people that I know to get rulers donated so that children can learn measurement skills. Kind of hard to learn how to measure if there isn't a ruler in the home.

I talk to people and get books and supplies donated. Some of these kids don't have a single book at home (unless you count a phone book).

I mentor children about applying for college. I help kids fill out FAFSAs because their parents don't understand how it works. I fuss at the kids I know to get their financial aid applications turned in. I help kids find community service opportunities.

I don't think I'm whining. I'm trying to make the administrative structure accountable for things that they could do better. Communicating with parents about moving their children across town is not such a hard thing. Hitting them with a "done-deal" is below the belt.

I suit up and I show up and I'd like to know what YOU do to help student achievement in Dallas.

Posted by Diane Birdwell @ 1:06 PM Sat, Jan 26, 2008

Hey Robert-

Let me tell you what I do for DISD:

But first, let me tell you what DISD did for me: I got a first class education at Skyline CDC, Class of 1978. Just like thousands of others. I left Catholic school to go there, and I am so ever grateful for what Mr. Guzick and his staff did for me and my sister. I now fight to keep Skyline the way it was designed to be...

Now, what do I do?

Glad you asked.

After serving in the US Army, I chose to become a teacher. I saw what it is like for kids AFTER they graduate. I chose high school, to help form them from students/kids to adults who have a clue about life.

I teach hard, I teach well. I inspire some of my students to leave the gangsta life, others to NOT get pregnant--and yet many others to actually go to college or the military. ( I get phone calls and emails from -literally- around the world, to let me know how they are doing.)

I also help their mothers get rid of abusive boyfriends, pay electric bills, deal with depression and substance abuse and even deal with immigration issues. I help parents find jobs or a lawyer when needed. I also hold them accountable for being parents, to take responsibility for that last leg of education: grades 9-12.

I am there on Saturdays for tutoring. I get up early on other Saturdays to make sure girls get on the right bus for a college tour. I make it to the birthday parties, weddings and their graduation day. I also attend their funerals, because some of my kids have died from car accidents and one from a drug overdose.

I also serve on the Board of Directors for a local affiliate of the NEA (NEA-Dallas). As an advocate for teachers and students, I help maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. I help new teachers learn how to manage classroom issues, and I help experienced teachers with all sorts of other problems.

I speak before the DISD Board of Trustees because too many others are in fear of losing their jobs if they speak up. Yes, I put MY neck, MY livelihood, on the line every time I do that.

As a member of Buckner Terrace (Skyline's neighborhood), I am in the BTHA (home owner's assn) and a co-chair of its Crime Watch. I am active in local politics. I help educate polticians and voters on the TRUE issues of education, and the effects of past legislation.

The only thing listed above that I get additional pay for is the Saturday tutoring. Everything else is on my time, my dime, my life.

I am not whining. I walk the walk, Robert.

Pray tell, what do YOU do. I would love to hear it. Tell me how much you do for the kids, the taxpayers, the teachers. Tell us where you live, what school you went to. Tell us what you know about Skyline or my neighborhood.

Posted by Mybellringers @ 3:45 PM Sun, Jan 27, 2008

I think any time you can improve communication it's a good thing. Blogging provides another avenue in which to do so.

Posted by theSKY'Sthelimit @ 8:46 PM Mon, Jan 28, 2008

After the way parents and students have been treated with the whole Skyline debacle I was incensed this morning when I opened my email to find this:

January 28, 2008

Good Morning, Dallas ISD!

Parent support and participation in education is a crucial component of the Dallas Achieves! transformation to improve student achievement. The district’s parent forums and academies are now organized by feeder pattern so that parents can familiarize themselves better with the schools their children will be attending and learn about available educational opportunities. This new approach will provide parents the information and tools they need to support their children’s learning and contribute to the district’s goal of graduating students college and workforce ready.

Michael

Color me disgusted Michael!

Posted by park @ 9:38 AM Tue, Jan 29, 2008

Since the public has no input or effect on the Superintendent's behavior, a better question might be why are the Board members not blogging so that the public has an idea of where they stand on this issue and others?

If the Board members kept current blogs, the public might have more insight into the issues they deem important, and the public could directly lobby the Board members for change. Or the public would have insight into their lack of leadership.