Sorry not gonna do it . . .

Interesting conversation with a teacher today who is outraged that she is being evaluated this year.

She lied to me & told me that she had been evaluated last year, so contractually she shouldn't be evaluated this year.

However, she wasn't really evaluated and hasn't been evaluated for more than a few years. She's upset because of the deal that she thought she had with her previous principal.

The deal has kind of fallen through & the new principal really doesn't care about the deal.

She's out of luck & wanted me go to battle for her.

I had to tell her that there was nothing contractually that I could do. There is no violation of the contract. She has to be evaluated this year.

She wasn't happy.

I told her that I'm just doing my job. My job is to protect her rights under the contract. The contract calls for an evaluation every other year.

Despite what some may think, the contract protects both the teacher and the district.

It's a good thing . . .

that even after being together with my husband for over 25 years, that I still find him incredibly sexy.

yes, I'm a lucky girl.

it's not the gifts . . .

that matter to me. It's why it's always hard for me to give my husband a list of things that I want for my birthday.


My birthday is a week from today. I sent him this list in a message on facebook.

Gifts I wouldn't mind having:
a new camera
a class with my honey at Ramekins
a day at the beach
a visit to Berkeley
a picture of our three kids
getting my nails done
going to Apple Hill(?) with my parents & the boys
amazon gift card for Kindle books
a visit to that Italian restaurant with you & the youngest (the place you went to as a boy)
a phone call or skyping with Artist Girl while I'm blowing out the candles




For myself, it really is all about my kids & my husband. Anytime that we do stuff together is icing on the cake - so to speak.

Continued to be "punished" . . .

for doing my job as prez of my local.

My mom surmises that the new superintendent might be intimidated. If that's the case, then I don't think he has learned how to be an effective leader. Over the past two years, whenever I have found myself intimidated by anyone, I didn't run away from them. Instead, I took it as a personal challenge to overcome that fear because once you move past that fear, you find that we are all "just" people after all.

That being said, I wish our school board members actually had the ability to be intimidating. It would seem that they want to play nicey-nice to our new superintendent, rather than holding him accountable to one of the things he was specifically hired to do - fix the relationship between the district and the union.

It ain't happening and I know that I've done all that I can at this point in time. Ball is now in his court, so to speak.

In other news, I'm looking at two doctoral programs that are relatively close to my home & doesn't require me to cross over any bridges that require paying toll.  I missed one of the informational meetings on one of the programs because I was stuck in sucky traffic. Once normally a 45 minute drive, ended up being an hour and a half. By the time I ended up on the campus, I was already 15 minutes late. I drove around looking for parking & a stupid parking kiosk for ten minutes before deciding to turn back around & come home.

Their next meeting is scheduled for November, so I'm not worried. It was just excruciatingly frustrating!!

Well Happy Friday to all. Enjoy the week-end!

Let him die (Part 2)

This is about Troy Davis, who is just a day away from being executed by the fine state of Georgia. As a white teacher who teaches in a community of color, situations like this do not make my job any easier.

I love all three of my kids & the worst thing that could happen would be to lose them to a violent crime. The emotional part of me would probably want to seek the death penalty (as is the case with the monster who killed Polly Klaas). I don't fault those who believe that the death penalty needs to be in force for those who commit the most heinous of crimes.

However, there seems to be a high level of doubt as to the guilt of Mr. Davis. Due to this doubt, at the very least, his sentence should be commuted to a life sentence.

In the United States, we continue to struggle with racism. When more black men are incarcerated than any other group, that should say something about our society. When we are more willing to spend more on prisons than we are on education, that also says something.

I'm all for holding people accountable for their behavior. People make mistakes that can have deadly consequences. However, when are we going to hold our society accountable for ensuring that we eradicate poverty, injustice, and the racism that are so inextricably linked with the other two?

If a guilty man in Texas can have his execution stayed because race was used as a factor in his trial, then it would seem to me that a potentially innocent man in Georgia should also have his execution stayed as well.

As a citizen of this nation, one that prides itself on justice for all, this is the least we can do.

From the Jose Vilson
If you haven’t already, please send a letter to Georgia’s Clemency Parole Board and the Georgia State Board using Amnesty International’s nifty website here. Also, I was told that the DA can’t withdraw the death warrant. Only Judge Penny Freesemann can. Call 912-652-7252 or e-mail pfreesemann@chathamcounty.org

Let him die

it means nothing . . .

once it is born.

I'll never understand that the party that pretends to care so much for the fetus, cares so little for it once its born.

Honestly, cheering about a question on a 30 year old man dying who has no health insurance?

Unwilling to tax the wealthiest while in the meantime our poverty rates soar?

Spending billions of dollars for a never ending war while unwilling to make sure that our schools are adequately funded?

Cheering when a candidate boasts about the execution of 234 prisoners, but not asking about what we as a society can do to reduce crime, eradicate poverty, and boost the middle class?

Disgusted & appalled.

I think it's the way I'm wired . . .

or something like that.

For those who don't know, I am studying the GRE, which is a test that is required to be admitted into many colleges at the graduate level. A few years ago, I earned my Masters in Education. Now, I'm going for my Doctorate in Education Leadership, most likely with a focus on Urban Schools.

My husband noted about a week ago that he felt I needed something to focus on. This is because he is well aware that I have no plans on running again for president of my local when my term is up.

Knowing that I have two years left, he suggested that I set a new goal for myself. He further suggested looking into doctorate programs. He knows that I like to be mentally challenged & busy. When either one is missing, I tend to be cranky & depressed.

Like I said, I think it's the way I'm wired.

I've found two programs that are close to where I live.

My husband said not to worry about the tuition.

That's further along down the road, so I won't worry.

What's got me worried is the GRE.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Sixth Year (reposted - first appeared here on 9/11/2007)

It was my first year of teaching and it's a day, I'll truly never forget. It's one of those moments in our history where like the JFK assassination people remember exactly where they were when they heard the news.

For me, I was on my way to work when the news came over the radio. The radio station I listened at the time to is well known for their morning show and the banter that flowed between the two co-hosts. The banter was gone, replaced with disbelief and shock as they read the news feeds. I was stuck in stop and go traffic, torn by an urge to return home to my family. Of course, as a teacher it is a little bit tougher to not show up, especially when you know you are responsible for some thirty students. I also knew that for some of my students, this moment of extreme instability, needed to be met with the stability of knowing that their teacher would be there.

It wasn't an easy choice to make, but I also knew that my own three children had the good fortune of being in a cohesive, dependable family. All three undoubtedly knew that when they got home from school, we would talk of the events that had transpired with the guidance that comes from being caring parents. This could not be said for quite a few of my students. They would need an adult who could talk about these tragic events, assure them that they were safe, and get on with the regular procedures of the day.

I'm comfortable in my messiness . . .

how about you?

I am having some friends over tomorrow.

You would have thought I was having the President of the United States over the way my beloved husband reacted.

We are a messy family.

That means that sometimes the floors don't get mopped as often as they should or the dusting either for that matter.

That being said, I cannot worry anymore about having a perfect house in order to have people over.

I'm not a hoarder - just in case you were wondering.

Just messy (& I'm kind of busy during the week).

I'm sure my friends will understand.

And yes, I did dust yesterday & I am mopping.

My friends are worth it.

Even better? My family benefits!

it's always amusing . . .

when someone bashes the union comes running to the union for help.

There is a young teacher in our district who has gone out of his way to bash the union. I've seen his posting on different online newspapers who utilize the facebook plug in for comments.

He always makes comments on how he trusts his employer to protect his rights & that the union does nothing to help protect him.

Um okay . . .

So imagine my surprise when I get an e-mail from this young teacher who has a question about his permanent status. Apparently he was told that he had earned it but now the district can't find the paperwork. And, now he wants my help.

This is also funny to me as I've also seen him bashing "tenure" (aka permanent status). Why should it matter to you so much if you post everywhere that you don't think people should get tenure & you trust that your employer will do the right thing?

Amusing, I tell ya!

it ain't easy . . .

being married to a public school teacher and this man speaks so eloquently & passionately about his wife, it brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat.

This is the reality for many of the teachers that I proudly represent in my local. It is why I get so frustrated with those in the district office who demand more & more without very little acknowledgement for the work we do.

Many seem to be clueless about what it means to be a teacher today. They claim to know what it takes because by golly, they once were students, therefore they know all about teaching!

Or those who get brought in to a district, whether that be a new superintendent or some other high level district position, with their own ideas about what is wrong and don't even bother to talk to those in the classrooms.

In my district, we have had six superintendents in 11 years. Each one with their own ideas and plans. Each one have gone out to the community to talk to business groups, faith organizations, and other community groups. NONE of them have bothered to do the same with their teachers. Instead, they talk at us.

It's why I've become cynical with this new superintendent. His talk is good the community, but guess what, buddy, teachers in this district know that talk is cheap and chances are you'll move on to the next best thing. Meanwhile those who truly care about "the kids" will be those who have us who continue to stay, despite the obstacles, low pay, crappy benefits and bad working conditions.

sometimes you just have to laugh . . .

passive aggressive, I'm telling you!

Received communication that he is mad at me again after suggesting to teachers that they contact our board of trustees to express their frustration over something that has come up in our district.

I've got to laugh.

Thank god it's a three day week-end.