New Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata will mark his first day on the job with a visit this morning to Enloe High School to meet with teachers, staff and students.
The visit to Enloe will put Tata right into the hotbed of opposition to eliminating the diversity policy. Tata met some Enloe students for the first time when they were among the protesters who gathered outside the Barbecue Lodge when he spoke to the Wake County Taxpayers Association meeting earlier this month.
In the afternoon, Tata will visit Carnage Middle School and Aversboro Elementary School.
Whether supporters of the diversity policy will support Tata now that he's officially on the job remains to be seen. During the reassignment hearings this month, people were still ripping into both the search process and Tata himself.
UPDATE
Click here to view the online story.
Comments
Two Enloes?
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 22:41 — hannibalWhy all the Enloe hate? I guess you can post about a schools failures readily, but too bad no one has access the success rate of AP and IB testing. Maybe then we could see why parents still want to send their kids to Enloe. And as far as the EOC data, did anyone notice that the scores for test that isn't traditionally given in the 9th or 10th grade was above the state average? Maybe an SAT average might be in order?
I have witnessed nothing from Enloe students other than well thought out arguments to a board that refuses to listen. Do people realize that when you get all the "Enloe" programs at your base schools, it will amount to MAYBE one extra AP class that is taught by someone who is not an expert, and in the end, no one in the county will get the courses taught at Enloe. I guess that's what I should expect from the Concerned Rich People of Wake County who want to do away with public education.
Two Enloes
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 08:57 — MissVLet's pray that the media let's him go unimpeded and that each young person confidently speaks his/her mind.
I suspect he already knows
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 09:14 — HJ2ss2I suspect he already knows about the "two Enloes"'
??
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 09:38 — Dove314How would he know this? From those who are not at the school and want to get their viewpoint and agenda across (regardless of which side)? Or from those within the school who can give first hand experience about their experience every day?
I think all Tata will have
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 16:46 — woodstockI think all Tata will have to do is look at the data. It will contrast drastically from what is heard from the loud and instulting Enloe parents and students that show up at board meetings.
He has a difficult task
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 17:42 — Dove314He has to find the truth from amongst those who will vehemently argue (a) both for and against various assignment models and (b) those who will vehemently argue to keep, modify or eliminate the existing magnet programs. There are lots of insults flying loudly from all directions right now. Hyperbole, regardless of the source, should be dismissed as political noise while he gets to know the schools themselves and reviews all the available data including the available metrics but also interviews with BoE members, principals, administrative staff, teachers, students, and possibly also parents. Findings from the Curriculum Audit and programs associated with that would also be of value.
Interesting...
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 18:14 — Bob_SconceEven though everybody seems to be on baited breath, waiting for what Tata says about the assignment policy, I don't really expect him to get embroiled in that debate. After all, if there ever was a political controversy about the schools, that is it. And political controversies are properly the province of the political leadership of the district. He should follow Donna Hargen's example and stay out of it.
Indeed
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 18:36 — Dove314His stated focus will be on achievement which is great. But given achievement gets pulled into the assignment debate and assignment is a remit of WCPSS as the BoE sets policy, he will not be able to completely avoid the topic.
I think he can, if he makes
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 18:54 — HJ2ss2I think he can, if he makes student achievement his primary focus. Assignment in the best interest of student achievement.
You know...
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 22:40 — Bob_SconceI've noticed that the schools with birds as mascots (Enloe, GHHS) tend to perform better than schools named after groups of people (Sanderson, East Wake, Garner). Clearly, the district has not focused on assigning mascots in the best interest of student achievement. I propose that we adopt the following team names: "Cardinals, Owls, Hawks, Vultures, Pigeons, etc..."
Hmmm!
Tue, 02/01/2011 - 10:23 — hmoncelleHarry_Moncelle
Bob, your mascot idea sounds "fowl" to me
Hmmm...
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 23:09 — louiselee44Maybe it's an animal thing. Leesville Road HS is an excellent school, and we're the "Pride", as in lions.
Not sure she really "stayed
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 18:28 — HJ2ss2Not sure she really "stayed out of it". My impression is that she carried out the wishes of the previous superintendent.
Gun safety
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 13:42 — Solon77I am sure he will be following up to ensure all students have taken the handgun safety class. There are two schools - the ones with guns and the other without.
I'm surprised you would say
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 15:02 — DrActualFactualI'm surprised you would say this after last weeks reporting of the boy that brought the gun to school--or was that SERHS; in any event, guns and large groups of people don't work well. I hope the recent change in suspension policy will still result in kids with guns (especially loaded) getting kicked out for the full year.
...
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 09:54 — SideburnsOr perhaps just from the academic performance data? It is very telling.
http://www.ncschoolreportcard.org/src/servlet/srcICreatePDF?pSchCode=412&pLEACode=920&pYear=2009-2010
shining star
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 10:48 — loriacYes, another 'shining star' among our nationally recognized magnet schools. Why isn't Mr. Barber all over this? When you look at the resources poured into this school, for this result, I really hope Mr. Tata can spur a review of the overall magnet program.
An educated guess on my
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 09:52 — HJ2ss2An educated guess on my part. Given his previous occupation and his approach to people I think he does his research.
Mr. Tata is certainly not running from the 'enemies'
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 08:01 — nancyncFor all the bluster of those who so frequently speak out and down about anything they see as change in WCPSS, the new Superintendent isn't against meeting with them, listening to them and giving them a real opportunity to have conversation instead of soundbites.
Let's see if they meet that opportunity with the same goal in mind that Mr. Tata has expressed, that the education of students and lifting all through better focus on that is really the common goal.
Hmmmmmm, the Wake County Tax
Mon, 01/31/2011 - 07:31 — willynillyHmmmmmm, the Wake County Tax Payers Association. What a WONDERFUL idea. I bet they will be interested to know what happens to teachers who, although successful with their students, get railroaded if they (allegedly) belong to a differing politcal party! Now why did I not think of this before. I'm sure they will also be interested in how the very Assistant Superintendent who ignored pleas for help from a WCPSS employee (after the same AS was lied to by a principal) "retired" under very questionable circumstances himself.....bringing even further questions to bear on the actions of the WCPSS HR Department. Hmmmmmm, I bet they will read with great interest.