Posts Tagged ‘School’
What do Ed School profs think?
September 28th, 2010
This is an interesting opinion survey:
The Fordham Institute’s new national survey of education school professors finds that, even as the U.S. grows more practical and demanding when it comes to K-12 education, most of the professoriate simply isn’t there. They see themselves more as philosophers and agents of social change, not as master craftsmen sharing tradecraft.
And this:
More than eighty percent of the nation’s education professors think it’s “absolutely essential” that teachers be lifelong learners, but far fewer believe it’s as necessary for teachers to understand how to work with state standards, tests, and accountability systems (24 percent), maintain discipline and order in the classroom (37 percent), or work in high‐need schools (39 percent).
Uh oh. Given that our program teaches novices precisely about standards, tests, accountability, discipline, and prepares them exclusively for high-need schools. We might not be so popular.
A full 63 percent of education professors think programs like Teach For America are generally a good idea. Just 33 percent however, think it’s a good idea to recruit school leaders based on their success in other fields, and just 17 percent support teacher prep programs run by school districts or charter organizations.
Gulp.
Still, there are signs that some of the education faculty is warming to change, including a small cadre of reformers that are strongly dissatisfied with the status quo in their institutions.
Good. I see that, too. Deans and professors alike, in 1-on-1 conversations, describe a really complex set of internal political/money challenges, though.
It reminds me, in some ways, of district superintendents trying to drive change in their organizations. Some of those superintendents were ultimately given a lot of support: mayors, money, etc. Change-oriented Ed School folks need that, too.
Tags: Ed School, School
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Retiring Valley school leaders to be recognized on Honor Wall
September 14th, 2010
California State University, Fresno’s Kremen School of Education and Human Development plans a Centennial Celebration at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, recognizing four retiring superintendents and administrators in the San Joaquin Valley.
Larry Powell, superintendent of the Fresno County Office of Education and a Kremen alumnus, has purchased a wall brick with the Centennial logo for each of the four to be added to the Kremen Teacher and Friends of Education Honor Wall:
- Merced County Supt. Lee Anderson
- Madera County Supt. Sally Frazier
- Kings County Supt. John Stankovich
- State Center Community College District Chancellor Tom Crow
The Honor Wall, which has two units, stands in front of the Kremen Education Building near the Maple and Shaw avenues entrance to the campus. It was erected as a place where individuals and groups could recognize the inspiration of educators with a brick purchased for $100 that also helps further the mission of the Kremen School.
In addition to Powell’s contribution, the Target Corporation is donating a brick for each of the 33 graduates of Fresno State’s first graduating class in 1912. The university was founded in 1911 as Fresno State Normal School, dedicated to training teachers for classrooms in the Valley.
Louis and Jane Amendola, Fresno State benefactors who operate Valley Wide Beverage, also are donating bricks, honoring the winners of the Carolyn Dobbs Awards, which recognize excellence in special education. The program is named for a Fresno State alumnus, who went on to become an expert in special education and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the California State University at Fresno State’s Commencement in 2004.
The honorees (year of award), all involved in special education, are:
- Jeanne Cox (2005), Fresno County
- Marilyn Marsh (2006), Fresno County
- Laurie Hoke (2007), Fresno County
- Carolee Clayton (2008), Fresno County
- Candace Mucci (2009), Fresno County
The celebration, which includes a ceremony marking the new brick donations, will be on the grassy area in front of the Kremen Education Building. It is free and open to the public. Relaxed parking is available in Lots C and V, east of Maple.
(Copy prepared by University communications news intern Sadie Thomas.)
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Tags: School, School Leaders
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Boynton weighs doing 12th study on high school, at $52,000 price
August 21st, 2010
The old Boynton High School has been at the center of political debates through the years.
It has been on the verge of being demolished several times in the past decade, and it also has been the subject of 12 studies since 1993, costing the city nearly $300,000 .
Despite all of the reports, discussions and spending, the old high school remains standing, empty, just as it has been since the day its doors closed in 1949.
Now the city has put out a request for another study regarding possible plans and financing sources for the old high school, and the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency has set aside $52,000 for this purpose.
But things will be different this time around, according to the city commissioners. For the first time in recent years, the entire commission supports saving the old high school.
At a team-building retreat in May, the commissioners agreed to make preserving the old high school a priority, and set a target date of Dec. 10 for putting together a design/construction schedule and budget.
When the idea of putting out a request for another study first came up at the Aug. 3 commission meeting, Commissioner Bill Orlove questioned whether that would be a smart move.
“We’re going through budget hearings, and we talk about how we’re trying to cut and save and scrimp,” he said. “We’ve studied this over and over again, and I just think it’s ridiculous to spend $52,000 on another study.”
Mayor José Rodriguez was quick to defend the study, saying it would be the first one to look at possible money sources, such as historic preservation and new market tax credits, grants and bonds.
“I’m not one of those mayors that’s going to do a study and have it sit on the shelf,” he said.
He also said it’s possible that the money spent on the study would be reimbursable through some of these programs.
Vice Mayor Marlene Ross said she’s wary of another study.
“No more studies,” she said. “It’s time to move forward and do something.”
She said that time is running out for the 83-year-old building.
“It’s in terrible condition,” she said.
Commissioner Woodrow Hay said he’s glad to see this next study moving forward.
“It’s about time,” he said. “I’m really hopeful that we’ll the get funding sources to move ahead with it. That’s going to be the difficult part. If we get that piece of the puzzle, the other pieces should fall into place.”
Although the commissioners all agree that the old high school should be preserved, they haven’t come to an agreement on a particular use. But that’s part of the reason why the newest study is being done, according to Commissioner Steven Holzman.
He said that past studies identified particular uses without first taking into account what’s financially feasible.
“Instead of putting the cart before the horse, let’s just see what the horse is,” he said.
Tags: High School, School
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