Wanted: Teachers to help turn around failing schools
Baltimore County school officials today posted openings for all of the teaching jobs at Woodlawn High School, Lansdowne Middle School and Southwest Academy. The hiring spree is part of the system's restructuring process, the result of years of failing to meet state benchmarks in reading and math.
As many of you already know, the federal No Child Left Behind Act requires schools that fail to reach federal standards after five consecutive years to enter the restructuring planning stage. Failing schools must develop a plan to replace most or all of the staff, reopen as a charter school, contract with a private entity or bring in a "distinguished principal" from another district.
Anyone planning to apply?
Posted by Gina Davis at 5:04 PM | Permalink
| Comments (4)
Categories: Baltimore County, NCLB, Teaching
Categories: Baltimore County, NCLB, Teaching
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Comments
No thank you; I'm happy with my job presently. :)
If this had popped up six months ago, I'd have thought about it, the fact that I'm not a certified teacher of anything anywhere probably would've gotten in the way.
Posted by: steegness | March 12, 2008 7:53 AM
Until we admit that it is not the "schools" that are failing, it is the students and their parents, nothing will improve. New or better teachers will not change anything until the community values education.
Posted by: james | March 12, 2008 10:40 AM
Question for you James. On a practical level how do you change students and parents and communities? Your complaint is justified but it simply begs the question. How do you improve things?
Also, you're wrong. Look at Highlandtown Middle and Canton Middle. Drawing from the exact some population yet one school (Canton) is a disaster and another (Highlandtown) has order and achievement.
As someone whose been in both schools the difference in faculty, administration, and general environment is astounding.
Posted by: Corey | March 12, 2008 3:32 PM
It's not about who's going to apply. That question need not be asked. It is about who is going to be excessed from their current placement.
You really don't think Baltimore County is going to sit, wait, and hope tenured teachers apply...do you?
Given the right people, time, and RESOURCES, I think these places could be turned around (and a modest improvement might signal a turn around). My concern is that they are going to be LOADED with people who may not want to be there.
Posted by: Paul | March 12, 2008 7:42 PM