For those of you who haven't read it yet, the latest issue of the liberal Independent Weekly has a not very flattering account of how some staff members say former Wake County Schools Superintendent Tony Tata berated and belittled them.
The article by Will Huntsberry quotes named and unnamed current and former Central Office staffers who accuse Tata of leading by using tactics of fear and intimidation. The article comes as members of the Democratic board majority have charged that Tata's relations with staff were one of the reasons they fired him.
One example in the Indy article is how former staffer Meredith Weinstein complained that she, a person with a Ph.D. was "told I'm not allowed to speak unless spoken to or interrupt him." She also charged that, rather than motivating them to do well, Tata essentially threatened them they could be replaced.
"The basic fear was that if you disagreed with him, you were done," the article quotes Kirsten Justice, who resigned as a senior administrator in Wake's magnet program. "It's ironic in a school culture that is about inquiry and learning, there would be a culture of, if the general doesn't like you, you're out."
The article quotes an unnamed former staffer who accused Tata of being "very disrespectful, downright rude at times to staff members."
The Indy article says that 39 central service employees left during Tata's tenure.
Amid the various complaints made about Tata in the article is one unnamed staffer who says that while higher-ups may have had problems with him, teachers "loved him." That could explain the glowing comments made at the last board meeting by former Wake Teacher of the Year Rene Herrick, who said teachers want Tata back.
Comments
Once again......
Thu, 10/18/2012 - 18:07 — willynillythe slant of prejudice against military people (uh, oh yes, militaristic) in the WCPSS. In 1999 a WCPSS staff member was reviewing my DD214. I had requested consideration for TEN YEARS OF time of my military service. I mean, I was teaching the Hydrosphere (the earths ocean) and had spent most of my 10 years IN the ocean. The WCPSS employee Judith Lassiter sent me a refusal noting on my DD214 that none of my 4 years could be considered. (Yep, still have the form WITH signature). When I tried to convince here that "I was there for 10 years" she refused to even acknowledge that she had made a mistake reading my DD214. Her report to me was that what I had done in the military was not directly connected to the curriculum I was teaching. Now one would think that a person in her postion would know how to read a DD214. She would not even see me! The WCPSS refused to hear me.
Teresa Pierre saw me finally......she, too, refused to try and understand my argument and not once did she acknowledge the missreading my DD214. Again, my experience was not connected to what I was teaching. She and WCPSS refused to even have Mike, a guy from the Department of Veterans Affairs, come to Raleigh from Durham to decode my DD214 and Va Form DD2586 (another form WCPSS had no one qualified to read). As my students would put it, they simply blew me off!!!!!
Fortunately I had a friend connect me with DPI and I met human beings there. We talked and I simply asked...."OK, if not me then who would qualify for this?" The licensing packet said clearly that ANY experience in the public or private sector MAY be considered for experience years." Now had WCPSS just said "get bent" I understand that language (former military) but instead they said that nothing I did militarily was connected with what I was teaching. Thank the stars that Gordon Milspaugh and Clara Stallings were on the ball and saw the connections awarding me a percentage of my military time.
In the midst of all this I had filed a grievance with the WCPSS to be heard by the Superintedent. I received a very terse response from Maurice Boswell referring to my "purported grievance." They REFUSED to even hear me.....something they continue to do. When I received this letter from Boswell I had already been awarded the time. To say the least, my response to him was not cordial in the least. This "thing" had gone on for months with my was resignation included in the midst, but I decided tos stay.......I had great kids that year.
I was to learn much later that this whole thing had set me on a collision course with the WCPSS. They don't take kindly to being "beatin." If I had a dime for every time I heard in the offices from WCPSS employees, "Mr Smith, you have to realize, you are not in the military any longer. You are in the real world."
Keung, whatever heat you get for me naming people......again......rest assured, I still have ALL of the documentation WITH SIGNATURES (and oh so much more)......and damn, I'd love a day in court. By the way, I'd be willing to share this with anyone interested.....especially in the govs mansion. Feel free to pass along to me any contact info and I'll decipher it myself. I have asked the VA to look into this and am still awaiting a response......man, you know how busy they are.
Willynilly...
Thu, 10/18/2012 - 20:55 — paulastamGoodness me...this posting and one other that I read where you write a book chapter claiming an entire WCPSS school's staff had it in for you makes me wonder what the real issue may be. You want to put it down to WCPSS hating the military (all 18,000 plus employees it would seem according to you!!). I want to suggest that perhaps you could simply be a very difficult person to deal with irregardless of your career prior to attempting to be a public educator (which apparently didn't turn-out at all well based on your public bitterness!).
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
A "smart" girl with no manners
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 13:41 — RonnieROne example in the Indy article is how former staffer Meredith Weinstein complained that she, a person with a Ph.D. was "told I'm not allowed to speak unless spoken to or interrupt him."
Wow, just wow! She thinks her Ph.D. entitles her to interrupt folks. Even us folks that
just have BSes know that is impolite and not right. I hope the General told her not to let the door smack her in the rear.
Collaboration vs command and control
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 21:08 — rogueyankeeIt sounds more like the comment had to do with the difference between a collaborative work environment which embraces academic freedom and the ability to speak without fear of retaliation versus a militaristic command and control environment where you could only speak if you were asked otherwise you had to sit quietly.
It is interesting you refer to Tata as 'the General' - does that make him any more special than anyone else?
So...
Thu, 10/18/2012 - 10:19 — Bob_SconceHere's the underlying narrative: String-willed reformer was appointed to lead a public school system which is marked by an entrenched bureaucracy that was very resistant to reform. That leader ruffled feathers among members of that bureaucracy, pushing a lot of them out and bringing in other reformers. After one of the higher-ranking bureacrats was let go, the bureaucracy managed to finally get their buddy on the school board to vote to fire the leader.
In answer to your last question, the thing that made him more special was that he was the Superintendent.
"Academic Freedom"?? Seriously? First of all, this is a public school system, not a university. Secondly, she was neither a teacher nor a student. Thirdly, it wasn't a question about academic inquiry.
It is interesting you refer
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 21:37 — jeffrey1It is interesting you refer to Tata as 'the General' - does that make him any more special than anyone else?
Yes, except for "the Doctor" (He has a Phd, you know).
So of course Keungy.....
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 16:14 — AgentPierce"unnamed sources" make accusations in The Independent so, of course Keung Hui gives this his usual full blog promotion.... as Keung Hui always does.
Can we expect your Cash Michael accusations next, Keungy?
The article said there were
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 16:13 — DrActualFactualThe article said there were more people that left in the prior 20 months before Tata than his 20-month period (44 vs. 39) because of Burns' reduction in force, yada yada yada. Under Tata we didn't lose teachers which is what students need most, central office (not so much). Since more people left under Burns/Hargens period did they exhibit even more fear and intimidation. Indy should have to pay to have their fluff piece here.
Was was Weinstein's position?
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:56 — jenmanWas was Weinstein's position?
Were you
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 17:26 — nmoskalWere you at the EDSPTF mtg at Wilburn? She gave a presentation and as I recall couldn't explain much and seemed to get flustered by questions.
No, I wasn't at that one.
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 18:14 — jenmanNo, I wasn't at that one. Thanks for the info.
Was that the meeting in the
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 18:02 — DrActualFactualWas that the meeting in the trailer where Holdscum finally somewhat realized what he was doing in regard to the SAS EVAAS report data and the staff was all disorganized with their presentation and the Task Force was arguing and Tata left abruptly? And Holdscum was reassigned shortly thereafter, thank God!
That's the one
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 20:26 — nmoskalI was just going to say you had the right meeting, only Holdscum didn't finally somewhat realize what he was doing. Klanders covered it much better.
I had forgotten that he had
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 20:43 — DrActualFactualI had forgotten that he had brought the same info yet again. That was the 1st ED Task force meeting that I ever went to and when I realized how hopelessly lost this entire system is in regard to math and math access. IMO, Holdscum had no business holding that job with the skill set he had and that is half the problem--central office is filled with former teachers doing work they shouldn't even be doing because they are not qualified.
How hopelessly lost this entire system is
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 23:56 — nmoskalUnfortunately, that statement applies to more than just math and math access. I honestly don't know how the good educators in the system deal with being caught up in this system.
The old guard central office lackeys - incompentent, obstructiont, both?
Yes. Holdscum was supposed
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 20:05 — klanders65Yes. Holdscum was supposed to present on how well they had actually followed their math placement policy at the middle schools, by school, by race, and by other subgroups. Instead, he presented the same report he had already repeatedly presented that made no sense, contradicted Ken Branches numbers by thousands, and was two years old. Then the PhD lady (by the way, Holdscum doesn't have one of those so go ahead and interrupt him any time) got up and presented her audit of compliance. To tell whether or not the schools complied in the most recent year, she phoned a few principals and asked them to report on their level of compliance. Never mind that comparing EVAAS predictions from a data file with course enrollment data would provide a real answser. Instead she did a sample by phone and asked principals to describe the degree to which they complied. She also asked for reasons students who met the criteria being kept out. She reported some huge percentage were kept out due to teacher professional judgement. She hadn't realized that the whole point of the policy (not Board policy at that time) was to stop the teachers from keeping out kids since the data showed this was done racially and income biased ways when controlling for academic scores.
Either she is really stupid and thinks the way to audit for compliance is to phone a few people and ask them to self-report how they did when the data files for actually checking compliance exist... or she was part of the team who tried to talk over people's heads, act as if there was accountability where there was none, and protect the quality and enriched curriculum for the non-economically disadvantaged kids.
Tata stormed out while Holdscum was delivering his nonsense garbage from the wrong year. Maybe he didn't like how Dr. W audited for compliance and treated the community folks as if they were fools who could be fooled by her pretend accountability. I could see him maybe not putting up with her.
I would like to hear how someone who wasn't part of that old guard that protected the elite felt they were treated by Tata. I bet Holdscum isn't real fond of him either.
math audit
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 20:39 — rogueyankeeIf you recall from the meeting you mentioned the audit actually analyzed student placement data for every student at every middle school and reported level of compliance with the policy. Then the audit looked at the 6 schools that had the best and worst complance and site visits (not phone calls) were made and documentation was reviewed for each instance of noncomplance. The auditor was only asked to present to EDTF the reasons schools gave for not placing students. The girls from the middle school math team had said at that meeting the audit is why the guidelines were revised.
You misunderstood what you
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 21:13 — klanders65You misunderstood what you were hearing because it was your first meeting. Holdzkom was supposed to present "actually analyzed student placement data for every student at every middle school and report the level of compliance with the policy." But he didn't. At two prior ED Task Force meetings, he had been asked to present from the previous year. Holdzkom (oops, I mean Holdscum) wrote a convoluted nonsense paper explaining that huge amounts of data were missing, and what he did include was internally inconsistent, etc. It was nonsense. Hargens was still there. She asked him to redo it and he twisted it more and added more insulting narrative (something like although black students with qualifying scores were enrolled at much lower rates, this is probably okay because they aren't very bright anyway.... It wasn't that but was that bad.) (I know people will complain about that. I had better find the real quote. It really was bad.
Ken Branch did a ppt of that same data on the same night as Holdscum and his numbers were not even in the ball park with Holdscum's and they were reporting supposedly the same data. They hated each other so would not have spoken ahead of time. Holdscum was supposed to forget this old data that he said he couldn't actually get or read or whatever, and report on the most recent year's compliance. That is what was on the agenda. Everyone had given up on past data. Then he got up there and presented that same old years old fake/bad nonsense data once again. It was several years old and made no sense.
Dr. W may have reported best and worst. How would they know best and worst if they hadn't analyzed the real compliance? (If they did, no one has ever seen it.) I remembered phone calls. Site visits make no sense for an audit like this when the actual numbers were never reported. I promise you she did not see actual documentation for why students were not placed when they were qualified. She was blowing smoke. I can't remember what she said but it made no sense and what she did was worthless.
I think you are right that those little girls who are in charge of the math curriculum are the ones who presented about the reasons for keeping qualified kids out of the math classes. (I wonder if they think Tata was mean?) I think those little girls are kind of mean because they've been working very hard for years to limit access to the math classes.
The following year, 2011-12, the number of students enrolled in 8th grade algebra doubled. Doubled. I looked at Ligon's EOC report on the DPI's website. The number of black students in 8th grade algebra tripled. Tripled. This was after Tata quite putting up with the smoke and mirrors and site visit audits of compliance records, etc. and made them let those kids into the math classes.
I remember the presentation
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 20:33 — DrActualFactualI remember the presentation of the Garner MS principal regarding all she had done to get every student Algebra 1 at MS and the interventions she had put in place (lunchtime tutoring) I forget some of the others; but she moved heaven and earth to get her students access and support and they were successful. I was thrilled and I asked her if those same things could occur at a YR MS environment she said it would likely be too difficult to provide the same support due to trackouts, etc. What a shame that something so successful couldn't be applied across the district (unless you move all MS back to traditional which is what I support for better academic outcomes) but I'm likely alone in that regard. I attended to inquire about Salem MS which had some of the worst stats on access--On that same evening the data provided showed that West Cary MS didn't make kids take prealgebra so all those kids got into the next higher level of math, not thru achievement but totally skipped a course. Unbelievable, I've always hoped that Supt. Tata was as shocked and appalled as I was from what I learned at that one meeting.
He did start making them
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 21:15 — klanders65He did start making them give access to the top track when the kids had the scores. I think this kind of behavior is what got him fired.
Well...
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 16:26 — Bob_SconceAccording to google, she was the "Academic Auditor".
.....former staffer Meredith
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:03 — shearertw.....former staffer Meredith Weinstein complained that she, a person with a Ph.D.
What does "a person with a Ph.D." have to do with anything? Is it ok to treat people without a PhD poorly? If you have a PhD, it's ok to interrupt? If you have a "PhD", you should be treated special? What is it?
I'm confused....
?
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 17:13 — EBDarcyIn what situation would it be okay to treat anyone, doctorate or not, this way?
Um, when they keep interrupting you
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 23:43 — raleighlaura...or trying to hijack your meetings. I don't know what happened, but yes, I can see circumstances when you tell someone that you will ask when you require their input.
it was not about rudeness
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 21:04 — snordoneit was about reform and the pushback Tony got when they got started. I have no doubt he and Judy were ruthless in central office, but reform-minded people have no patience for excuses and for those who don't realize the damage they cause. Her PhD in education earned her the right to believe that the problem is the children, not the adults in the room. And Tony and Judy knew that the problem was the adults. Meredith is young and was highly ineffective in that meeting, but to be fair she worked for Holdzkum, an english teacher who was entrusted with the data and statistics of the state's largest LEA. She did not stand a chance.
This is why several of us on this blog get so crazy mad and rude, every child that falls through the cracks of this dysfunctional system is a life that is lost. Many of us could care less about diversity as long as all children are getting the education they need and deserve. I am at the point where I will suck it up that we have to have a diversity policy to keep the peace, but beyond that it needs to be about educating children, not making the adults feel good about themselves.
By the way, I've missed Klanders!
But English teachers with no
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 16:24 — klanders65But English teachers with no computer or data experience running the research and evaluation department is the way education works. Look at the credentials of the folks in the Data and Accountability Dept. Tata had leadership experience. Peppler understood data and how to use it. But, she wasn't formerly a PE teacher, or a Title 1 book salesman, or the other things that give educators experience before they are put in charge of huge data systems that they don't even come close to understanding. They weren't educators. They actually had skills associated with their jobs. Who is in charge of Data and Accountability now? Is there anyone there who knows how to use data? In the past, it didn't matter because the job of E&R was to make it appear as if there was accountability and to create a smoke screen to hide inequity. That is best done with nonsense reports that talk in circles and workshops on how to make a logic model. They didn't give anyone EVAAS accounts because they didn't understand it. They didn't even tell school staff that EVAAS existed for years. Staff found out on their own.
Holdzcum wrote that silly report about how EVAAS wasn't needed because it is just like the little regression equation he uses that adjusts predictions for demographic subgroups. Total nonsense. But, since he was in charge, he got to say how data were used. This is the traditional way that education works. Good thing they got rid of those non-educators who didn't understand this. Is Holdzkscum's paper still on their website, along with all their research and accountability nonsense papers? I guess no one ever read them so it wouldn't matter. Decisions were made based on who is most influential, not based on information, so data and research play no role and their quality doesn't matter.
?
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 17:51 — Bob_SconceIn what way? You don't actually believe that the Independent is offering the full story, are you? To me, this sounds like a bunch of whiny Prima-Donnas.
It wouldn't...which was my
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 17:36 — shearertwIt wouldn't...which was my entire point.
However, the little line about her being a person with a PhD tells me there's a lot more to this story...ie she thought she should have been treated "special" and when she wasn't, she got all huffy about it. Therefore, her claims are likely a bunch of BS.
really?
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 21:03 — EBDarcyYou are reading a whole lot into a situation and conversation that you didn't participate in. So your claims are equally likely to be a bunch of bs.
No...
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:18 — Bob_SconceRecognize that in an organization which is all about education, so those with the most education must necessarily feel like they're more qualified than those with less.
The implicit statement there is "I have a Ph.D. Therefore I'm smarter than you are, so you should listen to me and I shouldn't have to put up with you."
Yes...that little phrase "a
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:24 — shearertwYes...that little phrase "a person with a PhD" really tells us everything we need to know about the real story.
Just like the implied
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 20:48 — realisticJust like the implied "I'm a Brig General dang it, and you are going to stand at attention and do what you're told". Great for morale. I think her PhD point is an attempt to show that Tata didn't care who you were or what you knew, it was his way or else. Its the perfect exmaple of what he was placed in the role for - to crack the Republican whip and "reform" everyone into submission or retreat.
degrees don't mean anything
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 23:03 — snordoneit is about what you do after the degree to earn your position.
It is a statement in itself to have to say 'I have a PhD,' if you've earned your position then being called Dr. does not matter.
Just another moron that has
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 22:27 — shearertwJust another moron that has no idea about leadership in the military. Guess you get all your info from Hollywood and Colbert.
hey
Thu, 10/18/2012 - 21:28 — snordoneI like Colbert, he and the daily show are the only 2 'news' shows that tell the truth.....
...
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 20:58 — SideburnsHave you ever met Tata? Doesn't sound like it.
Yes
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 21:25 — realisticYes I have, multiple times. Had he been everything you all touted, AND exhibited a collaborative management style, he'd still be the Super. He ramrodded change, vs building concensus for it.
You know the rest of the story.
Sounds like you prefer Kevin
Thu, 10/18/2012 - 07:31 — DrActualFactualSounds like you prefer Kevin "concensus" Hill's approach of talking quietly while ignoring or belittling the minority BOE members and firing the Supt. so you can cram the changes through. Fact of the matter is neither side achieved concensus often because it is a split board. Since Mr. Hill can't achieve concensus he got rid of the Supt. so he wouldn't have to deal with strong leadership to fight the control he and Dr. Martin intend to enact through policy. BTW, do you think they have a concensus for the student achievement balancing they intend to enact through reassignments for 2014/15. I don't think they do, and I don't think they will bring the topic to the community for input either. (Just like they snuck the directive in under the radar in June.) The result of that move (forced assignment around >,< 10% based upon achievement) without community buy-in has the potential for disastrous results in regard to parents fleeing the system to other options. Nevertheless, I suspect their hubris will take everyone down that path anyway.
For some of the changes,
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 21:52 — jenmanFor some of the changes, there was not going to be consensus. If the people who resisted those changes felt like it was ramrodded then I'm sorry but too bad. Some of these changes were too important to waste time holding their hands while they fought reform kicking and screaming.
"Ramrodded" made me laugh: it is how you dislodge an
Thu, 10/18/2012 - 00:02 — raleighlauraobstruction! And we had LOTS of obstructions!
...
Wed, 10/17/2012 - 21:30 — SideburnsHe ramrodded change? What are you talking about?
GEE SCONCY...
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:01 — ClearThinker...if you and Sidebuns like Tata so much, why don't you hire him to come work for you? I hear he needs the income to keep his portrait of Sarah Palin nice and shiny!
You losers (and I mean that in every sense of the word) will say anything, and do anything, just to prop up malcontents like Tata, Margiotta and Tedesco. Never mind that the three of them brought partisanship and dysfunction to WCPSS. They all have walked on water as far as you right-wing clowns are concerned.
And now your ilk are trying to destroy the school system with phony complaints to AdvancEd, the same outfit you guys castigated over a year ago.
All of you are sickening and dishonest, and that's just the stuff I can actually write here. What I REALLY think of you I'd prefer to say to your faces, but a young lady shouldn't be seen in such unseemly places (hey, that rhymes).
Clowns!
What a powerful post. Very
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 22:38 — Livingthegoodli...What a powerful post. Very compelling. I think the only thing that was missing was an insult directed at their respective mothers, and we all know such an insult would be well-deserved.
You may call yourself a lady, but your post may cause others to think of you quite differently.
Well said.....
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:17 — mariareierClear Thinker! You nailed it.
...
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:44 — SideburnsWell said? He called Bob & I losers, right-wing clowns, sickening and dishonest. And then threatens us with further name-calling that he would prefer to say to our faces. And you call that "Well said"? That says a lot about you, Ms. Reier. Hateful - just like your GSIW friends.
Why don't you change your
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:26 — shearertwWhy don't you change your call name to Group Thinker?
I swear it is Jim
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 20:52 — snordoneor Yevonne
So...
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:15 — Bob_SconceI don't think I need to respond to most of your post; your vitriol hurts yourself far more than I could.
However, one point: I've said, a number of times, that while I have some schadenfreude seeing the new board members having to deal with AdvanceEd, I don't think this is AdvanceEd's place. Wake County is not accredited as a district -- only our high schools are accredited. Any claim that the shenanigans of the current board are going to somehow effect those high schools is exceptionally weak. AdvanceEd needs to butt out and recognize that the school board is a political body by law -- it's absurd for them to step in and say "don't be so political."
...
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:04 — SideburnsDon't miss my latest blog post. I know you like reading them.
http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-goes-around-comes-around.html
Boohoo, welcome to the real
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 14:58 — loriacBoohoo, welcome to the real world where your boss expects you to actually accomplish something. The staffers I've seen who have presented at BAC meetings are top notch, know their work inside and out. It sounds like these folks didn't make the cut and now they are whining.