627 replies to this topic

[TM70]

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[banana]

Oh banana and others...now who is whining...here's the process. One other thing...most teachers quit before the fifth year. They don't last that long. That is a fact, look it up. Figure this one out, people go to college for four plus years, get a degree, take several tests, enter the credential program, student teach for free(most of the time) and then go on probation for two years. Then, three years later quit. WHY IS THAT??? Why do so many get out of this profession if it is sooooo easy...

O.K., here’s how it works…

Year one – evaluated FOUR times in the classroom by the administrator (principal)
Year two - evaluated FOUR times in the classroom by the administrator (principal)

At ANY point, the administrator may terminate your employment before you finish your EIGHTH observational evaluation. Each evaluation is three-fold:

1) meet with administrator to complete a plan for the observation
2) complete the observation – i.e. principal comes in to watch you teach, remember your audience is not typically in on the plot, so this can be tricky. If you have your chops down, then it’s not too bad.
3) meet with administrator a third time to review and critique the evaluation

I dunno....is it because.... perhaps.... just maybe.....

The teacher's union prevents providing for a pay for performance system that would enable the top 10% of teacher's to get paid very well, and the bottom 10-20% of the worst teachers to be laid off?

Oh I like the evaluation system. I'm so looking forward to teaching in my retirement years.

I'm evaluated every quarter, 6 months and 1 year. 6 evaluations per year. At any point, before, during or after an evaluation I can be laid off. It matters not that I hit my revenue numbers, I can still be laid off.

We:

1. Draft our own comprehensive plans on how we will exceed the prior year's revenue numbers. Then we meet with our management team and they will determine if the plan is in line with their revenue objectives, and if not, the numbers are revised upward.

A budget will be drawn against the plan. The budget will be cut by 10-20% some time during the year, but the revenue will not be revised downward in a corresponding manner to reflect that.

2. We log in to work in the morning and every keystroke, screen, exchange is captured. You're "on" every moment you're working. You are then subjected to 360 degree peer reviews along the way, your clients are interviewed by your management, as are your peers - which by the way, know it's a fixed salary/bonus/promotion budget and are after the very same dollars so they have every incentive to make sure they get the money and not you.

3. Meet w/management monthly to provide update and show how you're on track and if not, present an action plan to get back on track and ensure you make your numbers for the quarter.

In over 40 quarters, I missed a customer satisfaction target once back in my early days with the company from a 93% customer satisfaction target to 88% achievement. I was rated a 3 and put on probation. If I didn't turn it around in 3 months it was over.

I'm very much looking forward to retirement and entering the teacher's profession.

Did I read your post above correctly that all you need is a college degree and some certification? I thought you had to have a Masters degree in teaching. No?

[TM70]

Q

[cw68]

TM70, I'm beginning to think that you should go where the grass is greener. It seems to me that you pretty much think teaching sucks. I know that teachers work more hours than just school hours and every day that students are out of school aren't days off for you. That said, you do work fewer hours per year than most professions and the pay will, and should, represent that.

As I stated before, I'm pretty pro-teacher. I personally think the district needs to pony up since when you agreed to a decrease they said they'd increase it when they got funding. However, your posts are whiny and childish. "Recess" "after school" etc. Taxpayers have every right to question if you are posting on a personal forum, complaining about the lack of respect and pay you get too, while during work hours. You are just snippy and IMHO are not winning any converts. In fact, I'd reason to say that you are hurting your cause.

[mylo]

Yes, try computer programming, I hear the pay is good!

[banana]

I think I’m going to start everyone of my posts with the words

Oh banana, now who is whining???

I think it’s great that you are so successful. Intel perhaps??? You must have had some pretty awesome TEACHERS in your time.

Feel free to start your posts anyway you like. No, I don't work for Intel, though it wouldn't surprise me if they operate in a similar manner.

I had 2 excellent teachers in my K12 experience. Ms. Rice (4th grade) and Mrs. Sperazza (11th grade). I can't say much more for the rest of the mediocrity I encountered.

I didn't succeed because of the majority of public school teachers, I succeeded in spite of them.

Don't bring public colleges into this debate. Noone has to go to UC Davis or Sac. College, unlike K12 is not assigned to you by where you live.

Many people would like to become teachers, but there are only so many spots, so you’ll probably need to go private.

Really? Hmm, I wonder why that is... where's the shortage of teachers in public schools?

Go private? No, no, no. I want that tenure, those benefits, and more important of all, be in a position where I can speak out against the teacher's union and tenure - while tenured.

Try National or Phoenix. I think it’s about $10-15K to get your credential these days, but since you will be retired it shouldn’t be a problem. You can take your classes at night and student-teach right here in Folsom.

Whoa! I can do it right here in Folsom for just $10-15k? Tell me more!

You will have to student-teach for about 4-5 months. Oh yeah, that’s for free. Again, since you will be retired, it shouldn’t be a problem. You sound like you would work well with young children.

That's it? Do they count any previous corporate training education classes that I've taught? How about any previous teaching experience from grad school?

Also, there are a lot of extra things you can do to earn extra money. Run a club, intervention class, be a coach or extracurricular advisor.

Excellent! Can't wait! I've worked a college suicide hotline before.

Those all pay about $30/hr. Sometimes the PTA pays the teachers in the elementary schools. I guess that is like overtime, but after STRS and taxes that $30 evaporates. Mostly just do clubs and the like for the kids.

Please elaborate on STRS. $30 bucks an hour! Woo-hoo! I'm in the money! 2,000 hours a year x 30 = $60k in retirement. Excellent.

We do have state testing marks we have to make from year to year, but you rarely hear about it in Folsom. The schools continue to test at a high level, year after year after year. Hard to raise test scores with they are already in the 93rd. percentile and above. You know all that though…and remember, you’re not dealing with college grads with masters and PhDs. You’re dealing with 8-18 year olds.

Ahh, a young mind to mold and shape and tell them all about economics, supply/demand, why tenure is bad for schools, pay for performance.... I'm ready to retire now!

Again, I look forward to you joining the ranks. You can whip us into shape. When this is all over, maybe you can drop the TM70 id around and maybe I’ll be there to greet you. Nothing personal…

Would be glad to! This is all about what is best for the kids.

It's all about taking out bad ideas and systems and replacing those with good ideas and systems.

There is nothing wrong with rewarding the top 10% of teachers. I'm all for it, but there is something horribly, horribly wrong with keeping the bottom 10% of teachers in the system.

Perhaps we should establish a dual track. Pay for performance and tenure, with tenure pay being capped and no COLA.

What we need is a Parents for Kids Union. We'd have to ask a lawyer, but since we technically work for the government (taxes) perhaps the parents can form a union. If that's not feasible, then perhaps I can hire all the parents in FCUSD for $0.01/yr. Now as my employees in Parents for Kids, we can then form a union.

The 2nd step would be for their voices to get heard without the real fear many parents have of retaliation against their kids. So maybe we can have them sign a petition that would outline all of the items I mentioned, and have a judge and auditor review and seal the names, and one person can speak on behalf of all the parents in the district without the parents fearing retaliation against their children.

Then we might get a more accurate perspective as to how many parents believe in reforming the current K12 educational system.

[mylo]

Is retaliation against your kids for speaking ill about their teachers really a fear for parents here?

[banana]

Is retaliation against your kids for speaking ill about their teachers really a fear for parents here?

Oh I've heard that more times than I can count. People will tell you 1x1 things they won't say in a public forum.

It's all about playing the game, make it easy for your kids, schmoozing with the teachers in the hopes you kid will be remembered and treated well, be given more attention, etc.

I see parents tripping over each other bringing in brownies and cookies and volunteering in the hopes that it translates into more favorable treatment for their kids.

[tgianco]

Is retaliation against your kids for speaking ill about their teachers really a fear for parents here?

It's not something I would fear.

If that actually came to pass (not that I think it does), what a sad commentary that would be for that teacher! I'm sure most teachers are above stopping to that level. If I've ever had a beef w/ another adult (not that I have had many, but you don't hit it off w/ everyone), both parties have always taken steps to not involve the children.

If that did happen, however, your children would learn to deal with adversity at a young age. Not that you want that to happen, but it's something they're going to have to learn at some point.

[banana]

A teacher only has so much time and he/she is a human being like any other.

In a classroom of 20-30 kids, who is the teacher going to give her time to?

1. The kids whose parents support her views.

2. The kids whose parents do not support her views and are in fact against them.

[mylo]

A teacher only has so much time and he/she is a human being like any other.

In a classroom of 20-30 kids, who is the teacher going to give her time to?

1. The kids whose parents support her views.

2. The kids whose parents do not support her views and are in fact against them.

All of them, equally.

I wish I could prioritize my customers by who agreed or didn't agree with me. Sadly, I get fired if I don't provide quality service to all who ask.

[TM70]

F

[TM70]

H

[TM70]

H

[Robert Giacometti]

TM70, I still struggle with these questions;

If indeed the COLA from the state funded 100% of all increases for all programs, then what is the motive for the Superintendent & Board to NOT pass it on to the teachers?

Do you know of any Bonus that the superintendent or the Board of Trustees gets to keep if they keep the COLA below what State is granting?

What could possibly be their motives in NOT doing this?