Comments on: Where’s the Superintendent? http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Whitebuffalo http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46416 Whitebuffalo Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:10:51 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46416 moon- You're right here. I've tried repeatedly to meet with her without success. It took me months to get to talk with her Chief of Staff Zeke and that was downgraded from a 30 face-to-face to a 15 minute "phoner". There are definitely many rows of teeth on this shark. moon-
You’re right here. I’ve tried repeatedly to meet with her without success. It took me months to get to talk with her Chief of Staff Zeke and that was downgraded from a 30 face-to-face to a 15 minute “phoner”. There are definitely many rows of teeth on this shark.

]]> By: moonlighting http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46392 moonlighting Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:45:27 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46392 Clarification she hasn't been in the district more than 8 years. Before that she worked in an alternative private school. Try working in the district and you might see a different side of her. Try getting ahold of her: email or call her. You will never hear back from her. The people she has under her keep her out of any real issues. At some point you have to take a stand and stick by it. Maybe even make people mad but stand for somethhing. Clarification she hasn’t been in the district more than 8 years. Before that she worked in an alternative private school. Try working in the district and you might see a different side of her. Try getting ahold of her: email or call her. You will never hear back from her. The people she has under her keep her out of any real issues. At some point you have to take a stand and stick by it. Maybe even make people mad but stand for somethhing.

]]> By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46339 Steve Buel Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:10:34 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46339 I like Carole Smith as a person. She is in a tough spot on two counts. One, the board is in new waters for them in that they are trying to rectify the inequities which their supporters have come down on the other side of for years (at least apathy-wise). Two, the prevailing wisdom in education concerning testing and reform trends doesn't address the main problems with Portland's schools. Stepping out is easy for us on a blog post, and usually, in my opinion people on this blog are right on. But swimming upstream in public policy against the national trends which make up a good deal of school reform is a whole other matter. Plus, there is the problem that maybe Carole hasn't figured this out yet. Certainly there is no one on the school board with the experience and sophistication to take on this issue. And most of the people I see in the administration (Zeke Smith, Botana etc.)don't have a clue that these trends they keep espousing aren't doing the trick and they need to focus instead on what specifically is going on in each school. Maybe they should read the book Sway, to learn more about risk aversion (k-8's) and committment (focus option schools) and learn to back off their mistakes and instead of tweaking them (I was at the k-8 meeting last night for a while)fix them. I like Carole Smith as a person. She is in a tough spot on two counts. One, the board is in new waters for them in that they are trying to rectify the inequities which their supporters have come down on the other side of for years (at least apathy-wise).

Two, the prevailing wisdom in education concerning testing and reform trends doesn’t address the main problems with Portland’s schools. Stepping out is easy for us on a blog post, and usually, in my opinion people on this blog are right on. But swimming upstream in public policy against the national trends which make up a good deal of school reform is a whole other matter. Plus, there is the problem that maybe Carole hasn’t figured this out yet. Certainly there is no one on the school board with the experience and sophistication to take on this issue. And most of the people I see in the administration (Zeke Smith, Botana etc.)don’t have a clue that these trends they keep espousing aren’t doing the trick and they need to focus instead on what specifically is going on in each school.

Maybe they should read the book Sway, to learn more about risk aversion (k-8′s) and committment (focus option schools) and learn to back off their mistakes and instead of tweaking them (I was at the k-8 meeting last night for a while)fix them.

]]> By: stephanie http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46331 stephanie Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:29:19 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46331 I think about what the president said in his state of the union that sometimes democracy is noisy. Every single stakeholder in the district is up in arms right now and one interest may negatively impact another and that takes time to leverage. I still plan to push but try to balance that with empathy for her. I could never handle the level of criticism she seems to take with grace. As a stakeholder in special education I feel listened to by Carole and believe she will weed out the lawbreakers and the people that treat our kids and their parents like crap. Having faith doesn't mean being quiet of course but I do think she gets it. I hope she stays. I think about what the president said in his state of the union that sometimes democracy is noisy. Every single stakeholder in the district is up in arms right now and one interest may negatively impact another and that takes time to leverage. I still plan to push but try to balance that with empathy for her. I could never handle the level of criticism she seems to take with grace. As a stakeholder in special education I feel listened to by Carole and believe she will weed out the lawbreakers and the people that treat our kids and their parents like crap. Having faith doesn’t mean being quiet of course but I do think she gets it. I hope she stays.

]]> By: Whitebuffalo http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46330 Whitebuffalo Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:13:59 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46330 From what I'm hearing there seems to be a power struggle between Carole and the Board (shocking as that might seem). I hear comments like "Carole can't even take a leak without board approval..." but then I've heard the same thing that she was the one that brokered this compromise between the district and PAT. I'm very curious to hear what the real version is--like most things the truth is somewhere in the middle. From what I’m hearing there seems to be a power struggle between Carole and the Board (shocking as that might seem). I hear comments like “Carole can’t even take a leak without board approval…” but then I’ve heard the same thing that she was the one that brokered this compromise between the district and PAT. I’m very curious to hear what the real version is–like most things the truth is somewhere in the middle.

]]> By: Zarwen http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46324 Zarwen Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:00:02 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46324 Actually, Steve, she is almost 2 years in, and the national average (for urban districts) is only 3 years. (The last PPS supt. to stick around longer than that was Jack Bierwirth, in the early 1990's.) So, really, most superintendents don't last beyond the "early" stage. Actually, Steve, she is almost 2 years in, and the national average (for urban districts) is only 3 years. (The last PPS supt. to stick around longer than that was Jack Bierwirth, in the early 1990′s.) So, really, most superintendents don’t last beyond the “early” stage.

]]> By: Steve Rawley http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46321 Steve Rawley Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:37:10 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46321 I agree... I wouldn't wish that job on anybody, and if what I'm hearing is correct, it sounds like Carole stepped up and broke the log jam on contract talks. You could criticize her for taking so long, or you could give her credit for not micro-managing. Sounds to me like there may be some settling in (and out) going on at BESC, which isn't surprising. Carole's personal tragedy notwithstanding, we should keep in mind that she is very early in her tenure as superintendent. I agree… I wouldn’t wish that job on anybody, and if what I’m hearing is correct, it sounds like Carole stepped up and broke the log jam on contract talks.

You could criticize her for taking so long, or you could give her credit for not micro-managing. Sounds to me like there may be some settling in (and out) going on at BESC, which isn’t surprising. Carole’s personal tragedy notwithstanding, we should keep in mind that she is very early in her tenure as superintendent.

]]> By: Whitebuffalo http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46308 Whitebuffalo Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:38:58 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46308 I don't think there's any need to demonize here. Disagree with her methods, personality or perceived effectiveness (while dealing with personal loss and tragedy) but she's been here working in the district for 24 years (I think) and she rose from within the ranks (she's one of us really). I for one wouldn't wish that job on anybody (or any administrative job). Please let's be civil. I don’t think there’s any need to demonize here. Disagree with her methods, personality or perceived effectiveness (while dealing with personal loss and tragedy) but she’s been here working in the district for 24 years (I think) and she rose from within the ranks (she’s one of us really). I for one wouldn’t wish that job on anybody (or any administrative job).

Please let’s be civil.

]]> By: workerBee http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46302 workerBee Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:55:25 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46302 While Ms. Smiths' job is difficult she is compensated well for doing it. Part of doing your job is knowing and caring about what is going on in schools and with different stake holder groups. I have found that Carole (Ms. Smith) doesn't really seem to care. She will not take a stand, do the hard conversations or hold her own staff accountable for their behaviors. There are so many really bad things happening in schools and when reported to Ms. Smith she doesn't care and shows this by doing nothing about the misdeeds. Even covering them up when she and her "team" are able. While Ms. Smiths’ job is difficult she is compensated well for doing it. Part of doing your job is knowing and caring about what is going on in schools and with different stake holder groups. I have found that Carole (Ms. Smith) doesn’t really seem to care. She will not take a stand, do the hard conversations or hold her own staff accountable for their behaviors. There are so many really bad things happening in schools and when reported to Ms. Smith she doesn’t care and shows this by doing nothing about the misdeeds. Even covering them up when she and her “team” are able.

]]> By: Whitebuffalo http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/12/where%e2%80%99s-the-superintendent/comment-page-1/#comment-46245 Whitebuffalo Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:49:36 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1593#comment-46245 Here: http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/02/portland_public_schools_and_te.html But it wasn't on the front page long. We'll find out more tomorrow I guess. Here:

http://www.oregonlive.com/educ.....nd_te.html

But it wasn’t on the front page long. We’ll find out more tomorrow I guess.

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