Speaking of the weekly Wednesday early dismissals, Wake NCAE is holding a press conference today on how professional learning teams are helping improve student performance.
At the press conference, Wake NCAE "will invite invite parents, community leaders and school board members to celebrate American Education Week by joining educators at local schools during a PLT Wednesday session."
"Educators want to keep this important time to communicate, cooperate, and help ensure that all children's educational needs are met," according to the press release.
It's part of the lobbying effort to save the weekly dismissals, called "Wake Wednesdays" by supporters and "Wacky Wednesdays" by critics.
Supporters argue that dismissing students early to allow teachers to meet Wednesdays in professional learning teams "are an important part of helping Wake County students achieve academic success." Critics question the effectiveness of the PLTs and the scheduling problems it has created for families.
As noted in another post, Wake NCAE President Jennifer Lanane sent an e-mail message to her members urging them to lobby the new school board to keep Wake Wednesdays. She apologized for accusing the new board in that message of not caring about teachers and children.
Today's press conference speakers are Lanane, Wake PTA Council President Sarah Martin and Millbrook High Principal Dana King, who is also president of the school system's principal's division.
Both Lanane and Martin served on the committee that had recommended the Wednesday schedule changes to the school board. Martin was quoted in a Wake PTA Council press release in August that praised the weekly early dismissals.
UPDATE
Corrected information from Wake NCAE press release to say King is president of the school system's principal's division.
Comments
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Mon, 01/04/2010 - 04:55 — snj19Its very good information thanks
When is the press conference
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 00:54 — woodstockWhen is the press conference to announce Lanane's resignation for her unprofessional, crude an libelous statments?
Summit feedback
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 22:25 — louiselee44Last April, the PLT plan was brought up at one of the Superintendent's Summits, where the various superintendent advisory groups (SPAC, STAC, etc.) get together to discuss timely issues. I remember that, at the time, the idea wasn't very popular with high school teachers and principals. Most of them already had plans in place that suited their individual school, and didn't fancy the idea of losing their flexibility in scheduling such times.
OT-alert
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 21:37 — AngelaWThe Teaching Our Way to the Top plan also calls for the district to increase the graduation rate, work to protect the environment and encourage more parent and community involvement in schools.
http://news14.com/triangle-news-30-content/school_news/617157/cms-to-pay-teachers-based-on-nbsp-student-performance
Guilford County Schools will host a series of forums next week to discuss whether it should offer additional incentives to teachers based on the performance of their students
http://news14.com/triangle-news-30-content/school_news/617402/guilford-county-schools-considering-performance-pay
There has to be a way to
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 18:49 — dryeraseuserThere has to be a way to poll the teachers and a way for the teachers to give their honest opinions about this, without feeling you will be fired for you thoughts and opinions. OH...and IF the N&O would actually report the results honestly too....I think the public would be amazed at how much teachers HATE...absolutely HATE this PLT hoax! I have friends that teach all over the county, and take my word for it...MAJORITY of the schools have staff that would gladly see this go!!! I BEG the new board...do away with PLT's along with the early dismissal on Wednesday. Let's get back on board at educating students and end this needless, worthless waste of time and endless extra paperwork and forms that has been added to our workday already!
PLT/PLC
Fri, 11/13/2009 - 20:26 — exYank_WCprinAh.... the expert..."you have spoken to SOME teachers and the MAJORITY would do....
Guess what......If a teacher hates PLT/PLC ...you know why...they know the a Admin coming in 3 times a year to evaluate CAN'T know what is REALLY going on in a classroom..though they usually have a pretty good idea.... IF on the other hand a teacher must explain weekly.... what they are doing, why their students haven't performed well on a weekly "growth test" to their PEERS ..people who teach the SAME COURSE and the SAME TYPE OF STUDENT........THEY CAN'T HIDE!! ( I admit very few professionals have to do this on a weekly basis!)
So you're telling me a teacher would rather spend an extra hour above and beyond the day rather than spend a concentrated hour of "same course planning" during the school day........ NO... what you are telling me is they still would prefer to hide in the isolation of a classroom and never be held ACCOUNTABLE for their daily output.
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Dryeraser
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 19:27 — SDR256Hello Dryeraser
Would you please contact me offline? I'm very interested in this idea and have some ideas of my own. I believe Keung will know how to put you in contact with me.
Thank you!
It's wacky alright
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 08:21 — Dadof3I can't wait until we do away with WACKY Wednesdays. I do believe there's value to it; but it's implementation is fatally flawed.
As for the wacky/wake debate: I vote for WACKY; I suppose you could say "Wake" as in the vigil held after something vibrant has passed. Fortunately, the "Wake" were holding is the passing of the old guard.
Interesting on the background
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 07:39 — stacy123From the background document parameters one of the things it notes as a restraint/parameter is "community buy-in" - there was never any community buy-in received on wacky wednesdays! And now they are trying to drum up teh support to save it. This is so comical I'd laugh but we have had to live with it for so long.
Back when PLCs were being
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 13:11 — DrActualFactualBack when PLCs were being considered Keung posted links and work papers from the committee looking at this and the source material indicated that "community buy-in" was necessary. Also, that this should occur during the regular school hours (our 3-tierd busing hindered this) I forget the 3rd guideline (may have been choosing day of week not to be combined for a weekend-can't be certain). In any event, WCPSS decided to implement on their own terms despite these guidelines. I was surprised that in knocking on doors for this election Wed. dismissal was a top point that parents couldn't support. I think it hits hourly, working class people especially hard during a bad economy. They struggle to balance the demands of the employer to be "on the job" and yet "be there" for the kids. No one wants latchkey kids or to be put in a situation that you feel you cannot "parent" as well as you'd like. Most likely, salaried people made this decision and therein lies the disconnect. IMHO PLC's PLT's are perhaps fruitful in ES, MS, less likely in HS. It doesn't seem to have parent support, and posters on here that teach don't seem to support it either. Perhaps the people at the press conference are surrounded by "yes men" and need to go knock on some doors themselves and listen to the struggles from the parents. BTW, can I submit a bill to the transportation dept. for providing rides to the kids left standing in carpool for the parents who forgot it was Wed.?