Accountability, Admin, Privatization of Public Education, Student Assignment, Teachable Moment, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

Come Have Some Tea With Me

My friends call it "spilling the tea." My family used to call it "spilling the beans." Although I think the expressions came from two completely different origins, they mean roughly the same thing in this situation. Not sure where the expression came from, but I can picture some well-dressed Southern ladies sitting together at their… Continue reading Come Have Some Tea With Me

Accountability, Behavior/Discipline, District Boundaries, Privatization of Public Education, Standardized Testing, Student Assignment, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

Educational Justice With “E’s”

This is a DRAFT of our legislative priorities for 2020. We want your input! Please help us rank them and provide examples of each of the categories listed below. Suggested edits and additions also welcome. ACHIEVING EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE in JCPS “with E’S” FROM OUR JCPS BOARD MEMBERS & SUPERINTENDENT, we demand: EVIDENCE-BASED education practices Realistic… Continue reading Educational Justice With “E’s”

#Louminati, Privatization of Public Education, Vision: 2020

SCALA Bellwether Report Validity Should Be Questioned

Dear JCPS, I have done a brief review of the Bellwether report commissioned by the SCALA education subgroup and I wanted to share some information that should call into question the validity of conclusions drawn by or from the report.  Specifically, the Bellwether report cites a number of other reports that have been discredited when… Continue reading SCALA Bellwether Report Validity Should Be Questioned

Accountability, Vision: 2020

Manual parent: “I have had ZERO communication from you, JCPS”

Dear JCPS, As a current parent, I want to discuss three main issues: 1 – Why is Mr. Mayes still the principal? 2 – My child is afraid to go to school 3 – JCPS, your silence conveys that you don’t care what is going on How is Mr. Mayes allowed to still be there… Continue reading Manual parent: “I have had ZERO communication from you, JCPS”

Accountability, Vision: 2020

Teacher: “My torment at the hands of Jerry Mayes”

  The views expressed here are those of the author. If you or someone you know has a concern regarding events taking place at Manual or another JCPS school, you are encouraged to submit a letter using our open letter form. While the name of the author has been withheld here, they are not anonymous to us.… Continue reading Teacher: “My torment at the hands of Jerry Mayes”

Accountability, Behavior/Discipline, Vision: 2020

Why I don’t want police officers in schools

Dear JCPS, In the weeks since the incident at Jeffersontown High School, questions have been raised about whether the district should continue to have School Resource Officers (SROs). As I have followed this issue on social media, I have been dismayed, not that there are those speaking out in favor of SROs, but that so… Continue reading Why I don’t want police officers in schools

Accountability, Admin, Vision: 2020

Two quick points about the Manual investigation

Dear JCPS, - Sadly, today I found out that the investigator cannot grant anonymity to current parents who want to speak out. All names will be in the official record for Mayes to see. So, with that requirement I can't imagine any current parents willing to share their stories, and that is a real shame.… Continue reading Two quick points about the Manual investigation

Accountability, Admin, Vision: 2020

Gerald Mayes troubling attitude toward minorities

Dear JCPS, I am deeply troubled by Sunday’s article concerning Principal Mayes at Manual HS and his interactions with minority students. His comments reported by these former students because of fear of retaliation should be taken very seriously by the board and executives of JCPS. Anyone who makes these comments does not belong in a… Continue reading Gerald Mayes troubling attitude toward minorities

Accountability, Admin, Vision: 2020

Implicated Manual Teacher Issues Brief Statement

The following statement, which was released to Manual's PTSA Facebook group, is being published on Dear JCPS with permission from the author. Yesterday I learned that two local news stations ran stories suggesting that, as the sponsor of the BSU, I may have conspired with another teacher at Manual to entrap the principal into making… Continue reading Implicated Manual Teacher Issues Brief Statement