I am a teacher in Florida. http://tangerinefl.wordpress.com/2010... (Texas too?)

Riverboat - What tools are you referring to in your previous post?

Also Riverboat- like you said, all students, including special needs are in the classroom due to NoChildLB. That is noble, but not realistic. And let me tell you from experience- if you flunk a NCLB student, there will be a storm of questions on that teacher. So what do you do? Pass the NCLB student, while a regular ed. student who tries hard but just can't do it fails.

Rebecca hit the nail on the head regarding the "luck of the draw." If I'm going to be judged by how well students do on a test, then I should be allowed wider latitude on how to instill discipline.

Sadly, a lot of tools teachers once had at their disposal are no longer permitted by most administrators. Teachers get students of all abilities and DISabilities. Some are passed along until they reach high school with little or no ability to process information necessary to succeed in classes or statewide tests. Yet we are expected to make them pass at all costs.

Does anyone else here see a recipe for disaster?

I was privy to Dr. Garza giving instruction to a PW teacher. I found his direction to be incredibly vague and not the least bit helpful. And- making "chunked" lesson plans that are basically dog and pony shows to keep students' interest is not possible every day. Sometimes you just have to break down and use the good ol' textbook! Incredible that books are not an appropriate means of education anymore.

LocalGirl, I wasn't ragging on your spelling or grammar, but you pointed out a common spelling error which you attributed to the teacher. It appears to me that the error was on the reporter's part. You are quite right, however, to point out that "hatchet men" are not conducive to a positive workplace environment.

As for Mr. Cain, I have no doubt he's a competent lawyer, but if a case can't stand on its merits, Clarence Darrow couldn't salvage it. You can thank the administrators for bungling this. And, by the way, I must point out that Dwight Harris is not a lawyer. He was there to represent Mrs. Smith-Mares in his capacity as a grievance officer for the American Federation of Teachers - Victoria. And did a whale of a job, I might add.

In that case I hope that by the luck of the draw this teacher ended up with the good learners and/or the good test-takers. =X

I'm with SpeaktheTruth. I, too, would like to hear from parents who have had children in this teacher's class. Also, there was no mention of how the students in her class did on their tests. Seems to me that is the gold standard.

The principals should at least wait until after the TAKS scores come in to determine whether to ask a teacher back or not. If these administrators think they can do better, they need to do what's best for the kids and return to the classroom.

Why is it that we have to have Clay Cain as school attorney when he's already been unsuccessful as a school board member? VISD is the worst school district, ever. No wonder they have an unacceptable rating. Always threatening teachers and allowing all kinds of bad behavior from students. I would put my kids in private schools, if I could. Because in private schools, they use the book, color maps, and work on WORK not cell phones, people. This is crazy!

Localgirl, it would also astonish the public to know how many inept administrators there are. I have spent significant time in every secondary school in VISD and I can tell you that PW is the worst of learning environments. Think Lord of the Flies. Any teacher fighting to keep her job there should be given an award.

Before anyone writes about all of my mistakes in the post, be aware that I have no excuse other than I pressed the post button before proofing. I could retype and eliminate the previous post, but I am sure that there will be someone who enjoys my mistakes. So have a great time picking apart my post for the typos. Suppose that it's a good thing that writing for this paper isn't a paying position for me, huh?

Have a good day, everyone.

Riverboat, as far as capital/capitol I copy and pasted directly from the article, which was updated AFTER I posted my comment.

This teacher didn't seem to be on a growth plan; which if she had and hadn't improved her teaching then there wouldn't have been any snag in nonrenewal of her contract.

It would astonish the public to know how many teachers have slipped by, even those given a growth plan.

Hatchet men/women aren't the answer to reshape education in VISD. Clear, precise leadership that directs quality teaching is what is needed. Threats and promises or dire consequences don't help teachers at all. Rolling up your sleeves and providing relevant training for the teachers while directing the teachers to a more productive way of teaching is the way to be a leader; rather than divebombing walkthroughs. Hands on direction and not just sharpening the hatchet is what we need.

Sadly for the PW students, these administrators did not have all of their i's dotted and t's crossed. Riverboat is correct...VISD failed to win this case because the administrators didn't take the time to (1) follow through on meetings with this sub-standard teacher, and (2) take care to make sure their documentation was complete.

Anxious - How is this the fault of Clay Cain? He can only work with the information he is given.

Fatboy - Your comments are directed toward the wrong people. Try sending a comment to your child's teacher or the principal of the campus you are referring to.

Miss Manners - I wish every school had a "hatchet man" who was willing to put himself out there and get rid of ALL of the really crummy teachers who believe that they are more important than the children they are supposed to teach. As for her moving to another campus, who is going to take her? Maybe she should take this opportunity to move to another school district.

Obviously there is something not quite kosher about this teacher's ability to teach. Hopefully this teacher will look within and make some improvements instead of congratulating herself because she continues to have a job due to a technicality (poor leadership on the part of an assistant principal who is too busy to take care of business).

I would love to hear from some other parents whose children have sat in this teacher's classroom.

I hope Mrs. Mare requests a move to one of the other middle school campuses. The administration she currently works with, will make her life hell and will be in her face constantly. Administrators need accountability, too. Failing to meet with the teacher and "pulling out" for something else when a teacher's career is on the line, is poor management. Good luck Mrs. Mare and ask to move from that campus.

BTW, is this the same administrator (Dr. Garza) that was rumored as stating during summer workshops that he was known as "the hatchet man" in the Wealder School District from wence he came for having a 80% staff turn over rate?

I wish somebody would nominate Clay Cain for non-renewal.

LocalGirl - "If this is from something the teacher wrote, then we need to exam her qualifications even more. CAPITOLS of the U.S.--so that would be buildings and not CAPITAL cities, right?"

I've looked through the story and all I see is "capitals," not "capitols." If I overlooked anything, I'd like to know.

You are quite right about the lousy timing of notification. That was a major aspect in the case. If administrators expect teachers to follow rules, they ought to follow a few of their own, such as adhering to timelines.

You said, "I would imagine that this teacher will be watched VERY closely next year." Perhaps. I'm betting that maybe the administrators at PW will be watched pretty closely, too.

Mr Cain and Chapa, I am tired of packets that my kid brings home. the teacher gives out packets within 10minutes of class period then the rest of the hr. they are on pc's and cell phones. Mam becareful now you will have the toughest kids, worse assignments. To fail. Document everything.

what does visd pay for copy paper? why get books?

"...to familiarize themselves with the different continents, and the states and capitols of the U.S." If this is from something the teacher wrote, then we need to exam her qualifications even more. CAPITOLS of the U.S.--so that would be buildings and not CAPITAL cities, right?

Nothing like waiting until the deadline to notify a teacher she wouldn't receive a contract for next year, huh?

Sounds to me that a growth plan would be in order and I didn't see any mention of one in the article. Meetings and promises to do better are pretty wishy-washy ways of keep up the quality of educators in VISD.

I would imagine that this teacher will be watched VERY closely next year with all this hoopla about her qualifications. She better brush off her best lesson plans and get ready for the magnifying glass.