Kayla S "When test scores seem too good to be true"
...I can't believe this actually happened! What a story.
MILFORD, Ohio — Scott Mueller seemed to have an uncanny sense about what his students should study to prepare for upcoming state skills tests.
By 2010, the teacher had spent his 16-year career entirely at Charles Seipelt Elementary School. Like other Seipelt teachers, Mueller regularly wrote study guides for his classes ahead of state tests.
On test day last April, several fifth-graders immediately recognized some of the questions on their math tests. The questions were the same as those on the study guide Mueller had given out the day before. Some numbers on the actual tests were identical to those in the study guide and the questions were in the same order, the kids told other Seipelt teachers.
The report of possible cheating quickly reached district officials, who put Mueller on paid leave. He initially denied any wrongdoing. Ultimately, investigators concluded that Mueller had looked at questions for both fifth-grade math and science tests in advance — a violation of testing rules — and then copied them, sometimes word for word, into a school computer to develop his study guides.
The 50-year-old teacher resigned. He signed a consent agreement with the Ohio State Board of Education admitting that, by looking at the 2010 tests in advance to prepare study guides, he had "engaged in conduct unbecoming a licensed educator." His teaching license was suspended for three months.
Read how the school is dealing here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-03-06-school-testing_N.htm
11 months ago -
inkscrblr By Paula Schuck
thriftymommastips
Last night we lost our beloved principal. She was a lovely individual and a tireless advocate for French immersion who helped shape the culture of our school. For the last three years I have been on the parent teacher council called Team Hiboux at my daughter's school. It is a means to network with other parents and ensure that communications between school and home are maintained. It is also a way to help. Last night I sat in a room and listened to a team from EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) advise us that our principal would not be returning. The story started several months ago when, after our children wrote the yearly tests administered for grade threes and sixes at the elementary level, there was some discussion over how well they had done. They did better than average. An allegation was made by an anonymous emailer that some breach of protocol had taken place and a test had either been opened too early by someone in the school, or had been delivered too early to the class. It was never made clear. The EQAO talking heads are quite skilled at talking in rhetoric, as are many who work in this field. They never revealed if it was a breach by a teacher, a principal or even someone else. An investigation ensued and chaos was the result for several weeks as everyone tried to pull it together as we waited for results. EQAO's Karen Wilkinson last night told us "it is the adminstrator's responsibility to ensure the integrity of the test." The test is delivered three days prior to the week of testing. Many parents are asking why the office delivers the test so early. Many are writing letters asking for the principal's return. Many are also suggesting they will pull their children from the tests this coming May and June. Wish that I had a child writing them this year so that I could do the same. Last year my daughter wrote the grade three tests. In Math and entirely in French. It is a year spent almost entirely devoted to teaching what could be on the test. A year in which teachers stress out over the process and students pick up on the stressfulness. My daughter had anxiety issues that developed last year. An A student fluent in French who hopes some day to become a teacher, she had no desire to go to school many mornings. It was a year when I heard many of my friends say their children vomited the night before the test. Others cried. Some declared it their worst year ever. One, whose birthday fell the week of the test, declared it the worst birthday ever. Our results were good. The individual results stay and do not affect our children's grades. Our provincial results are now discounted. Because some mistake, or miscommunication, happened somewhere along the line. Mainstream media has reported this as "cheating." It was never once noted as cheating last night. In fact it was stated that there was "no evidence" of that. So we lost a principal, one who knew everyone by name and was an amazing ambassador for our school. A lovely person who maintained a strict, non nonsense approach to everything in her school. Some will see this as a case of black and white. I am not one of those people. The world is far too many shades of grey. Last night I honestly told my daughter what happened at her school. I told her the grade threes did amazingly on the test. I told her the principal will not be back. We will move forward and do our best for the new principal. I also told her people make mistakes every day. Kids, politicians, principals and parents. In the end, the school is more than one person and parents will move their children through this trying time at our school. But what a shame our zero tolerance culture is unable to see the repercussions of preaching exactly the opposite of understanding, tolerance, compassion and foregiveness. What do you think? Should a principal lose her job if a mistake was made somewhere in the school in delivery or opening of the tests?
about 1 year ago -
Cooper This is a good read for those of us who get overwhelmed with all the volunteering!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/garden/02parents.html
Frazzled Moms Push Back Against Volunteering
Burned-out mothers are saying no to growing school requests for their time.
about 1 year ago -
JennS This one is for you, Virginia! Thought you might get a kick out of it like I did.
about 1 year ago -
faithfuldinners For some great Halloween snacks & desserts, check out www.faithfuldinners.com. These are some of the new items on the menu this week.
ROLLED PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES: Using premade sugar cookie dough makes these yummy little cookies ultra easy!
TRICK OR TREAT MIX: A good old stand-by...candy corn & peanuts!
LYNN'S HALLOWEEN CRUNCH: Very yummy and can be changed up to suit the season or holiday. A definite must keep recipe! You can find this one on the Sample Menu!
VAMPIRE TREAT MIX: You won't feel too guilty when you eat this one!
Check it out!
http://www.faithfuldinners.com
over 2 years ago -
Brandie http://www.non-toxickids.net/2009/08/green-up-your-schools-fundraising-no.html
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zq_F0xAqSJ8/SpQXHTGL59I/AAAAAAAAA1A/PaoK-zjtKCE/s1600-h/ecolabelfund.PNG (This post is written by reader, founder and CEO of http://www.ecolabelfundraising.com/ ,
Jeanne Reslan. She leads a business that guides school and other
organizations in fundraising by selling fair trade, green and more
sustainable products for families. I asked her to write this because I
was interested in learning more about what she does, and I thought you
might be, too. Our school fundraiser is selling wrapping paper, shiny
and new with not much recycled content. I don't use wrapping paper, so
I don't participate. I know I will be suggesting EcoLabel fundraising
to our PTO leaders as a more sustainable, greener option. Check it out.) The
environment is becoming an ever-growing concern for our present world,
but especially for future generations. It is our hope at EcoLabel
Fundraising that reaching out to schools through our eco-friendly
fundraising programs will help to raise awareness with the youth of our
country. In creating our green fundraising programs, felt we could use
our experience in fundraising, and couple it with our concern for the
environment, to make a powerful program that would help schools raise
funds in an ethical way. We wanted to create a program that would give
parents, students and school staff a way to raise money that could
become a "teaching moment." You may choose from Online or
Paper Catalogs for our traditional fundraiser featuring fair-trade,
organic and eco-friendly products. We also offer Seed and Bulb
Fundraisers and Customized Water Bottle Programs. Both programs have
been very popular. Many schools choose to run all three programs
staggered throughout the school year. It gives a healthy variety. The
Water Bottle Program offers the school away to build school spirit as
well. By personalizing the insulated bottles with the school's logo (or
non-profit's), the students get really excited to have a bottle with
their school's name and logo on it. When a supporter purchases on
behalf of your school, the school yields 40% of the sale. In keeping
with ensuring that our program is ethical, the product prices are
equivalent to normal retail price points. Because we price our products
at a fair market price and return 40% of the sale price back to the
schools, we consequently donate 95% of the profits back to the schools
we work with.Read more http://www.non-toxickids.net/2009/08/green-up-your-schools-fundraising-no.html
over 2 years ago -
Emily WASHINGTON (AP) — President http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/Executive/Barack+Obama will appear in a back-to-school television special with singer http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Celebrities/Musicians,+Composers,+Singers,+Rappers,+Groups/Kelly+Clarkson and basketball star http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Athletes/NBA/LeBron+James next month.Obama is appearing in a 30-minute documentary that will air at 8 p.m. Sept. 8 on BET, http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Organizations/Companies/Publishers,+Media,+Music/MTV , VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Spike TV and Nickelodeon, all of themhttp://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Viacom networks. Obama also plans to deliver a back-to-school speech to the nation's students on the same day.In the program, the president says education is the key to people living out their dreams."So as this new school year begins, I urge you to set goals for your own education: to study hard and get involved in your school, to try new things and find something you're passionate about," Obama says, according to a release issued Wednesday."And that's how our nation will get ahead — by ensuring that every American gets a world-class education, from preschool to college to a career," Obama said.The program marks the kickoff of an education initiative by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Viacom . Called Get Schooled, the five-year campaign is aimed at improving this country's dismal high school and college completion rates.In the special, Obama, Clarkson and James all are shown alongside behind-the-scenes colleagues; Obama's is speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, who talks about her time in school and current job at the White House. Also featured are Clarkson's music director, Jason Halbert, and James' marketer, Latesha Williams. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-08-19-obama-documentary_N.htm
over 2 years ago -
StillHaveJoy My family and I have recently relocated to the DC area. I was the PTO chair at the high school for 4 years and served in other volunteer capacities at the other schools. Iwas always at at least 4 schools per week. IT was not easy but it was one of the bigest joys I had. I have not gotten involved here yet, spending a lot of time seeing what is already in place before I rolled up my sleeves. From where I have sat its always best, in my opinion, to have a school and a parental organization that work together and share comon goals and more importantly are REALLY open to parental participation and input. So often schools see parents as the vessel of monetary support but in my experience not only did we HELP finance the and support the school we were very instrumental in some District concerns that ultimately would affect the education of our children. Glad to be here...sorry so long winded. HAve a blessed Day Ladies.
over 2 years ago -
Emily By http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/elissa_gootman/index.html?inline=nyt-per Published: June 4, 2009So what kind of teachers could a school get if it paid them $125,000 a year?An accomplished violist who infuses her music lessons with the neuroscience of why one needs to practice, and creatively worded instructions like, “Pass the melody gently, as if it were a bowl of Jell-O!”A self-described “explorer” from Arizona who spent three decades honing her craft at public, private, urban and rural schools.Two with http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/i/ivy_league/index.html?inline=nyt-org degrees. And Joe Carbone, a phys ed teacher, who has the most unusual résumé of the bunch, having worked as http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/kobe_bryant/index.html?inline=nyt-per ’s personal trainer.“Developed Kobe from 185 lbs. to 225 lbs. of pure muscle over eight years,” it reads.They are members of an eight-teacher dream team, lured to an innovative http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/c/charter_schools/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier that will open in Washington Heights in September with salaries that would make most teachers drop their chalk and swoon; $125,000 is nearly twice as much as the average New York City public school teacher earns, and about two and a half times as much as the http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary . They also will be eligible for bonuses, based on schoolwide performance, of up to $25,000 in the second year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/education/05charter.html?_r=1&em
over 2 years ago -
Cass I'm a recovering homeschooler and the only way I can justify myself really is to be involved as much as possible in my kids school but I'm still new to the PTA Politics so I have alot to learn :) Newark, NJ
over 2 years ago -
Sandy of UpToUs I am brand new to this group. This is my first input. It seems that some of the moms who are moving into responsible positions in their PTA groups are feeling rather anxious about assuming new responsibilities, especially following someone who has been very successful at the job. But I can see that these moms are very caring people who will most likely make up in enthusiasm what they may lack in experience.
Remember that the person who preceded you was probably just as inexperienced as you at the beginning. He/she is likely to have learned on the job, and you will, too. You are looking at the end product. They were probably just as nervous as you at the start.
Sandy of UpToUs
over 2 years ago -
JennS They nominated. They voted. They elected. I am now the official PTA president of [insert elementary school name here]. Talk about scared! I am honored. Scared. Excited. Scared. Ready to see what I can do to lighten up some volunteers and bring in more. Scared. The outgoing president is awesome. She is absolutely great when it comes to keeping people on track, keeping tempers tamed, always backing up her board members. I have huge shoes to fill. I just hope and pray I can fill them in a way that is at least somewhat effective.
over 2 years ago -
JennS Originally Posted by http://vimeo.com/3270028 from http://vimeo.com/user137227 on http://vimeo.com .
First, forgive the "anyway ummm's" that are all over this thing. Remember I have the flu. Sometimes these things happen. Next time? No more. I am sure my husband (Toastmaster God) will flip out over it.
Do you vlog? Share it! Or try it. Or let me know if you are interested in a vlogging project that I am working on. (Totally casual and nothing "polished and professional" with me. Just real moms blurting out there thoughts.
over 2 years ago -
JennS Right now, as I sit in my cozy pj's sick with the flu there is a meeting going on. A meeting that nominates people for next year's executive board for the PTA. Can you keep a secret? I know who they are nominating for president.It starts with a Jenn and ends with me. (No, no Jennme.. But Jenn-ME!) My best blog posts used to be mocking the PTA moms and now I might be their leader?! Have I lost my mind? I sure could use your support and ideas about now.And really, don't tell....I am super excited about the possibility. Shhhhhh!
over 2 years ago -
LIMommy My son just started kindergarten this year and I joined the PTA. It's been interesting, to say the least! If anyone is looking for a great school fundraiser, ask about kajeet's fundraiser plans. kajeet is the only company that provides cell phones and service especially for teens and tweens. Alot of parental control but not too much that makes your teen/tween feel monitored. They have great fundraising options for schools, I'd be more than happy to provide additional information to those interested.
:)
Amy
over 2 years ago -
TheDuchess i just joined the pta at my daughters school! so im happy to be apart of this circle!
over 2 years ago -
Becki Originally Posted by http://www.equalexchange.coop/fundraiser that I'm doing right now via my PTA. It's such a relief to be able to purchase products I believe in rather than having to look through the depressing catalogs of wrapping paper and really bad quality chocolate. They also have an entire curriculum about fair trade for schools!
over 3 years ago -
Becki This handy nonpartisan guide sets forth official PTA positions on issues such as school vouchers and No Child Left Behind in a table with the presidential candidates' positions on the same issues, culled from the candidates' own website.
http://www.pta.org/Documents/PTA-McCain-Obama_chart.pdf
over 3 years ago -
Becki Originally Posted by Becki in Giving Back
We saw this video this morning at our PTA meeting. Our school is going to participate with other schools in our district and Danbury High School to build a school in Sudan. I'm so proud of these kids who are so dedicated to helping children half a world away, whom they will never see.
over 3 years ago -
Becki
Movin Max was the mascot for the company that organized our school's fundraising Fun Run. We kept forgetting his name and calling him "Chester Cheetah," (the Chee-tos mascot). I don't think he liked it much.
over 3 years ago -
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Brandie Scary. And sad. So much emphasis on testing, I'm not surprised that some teachers go to this extreme. With so many places suggesting teacher pay be based on test results, I'm scared this will start to happen more and more.
11 months ago