I would like to thank Dr. Alonso for the changes he has made at North Ave. Dr. Minter & Dr. Volk are remarkable academic leaders and have promoted programs and policies that will help teachers advance student achievement. The professional development offered by Literacy and Math this year has been of the professional caliber that you would expect of a cutting edge urban system. The information that I receive every month at Reading Write gives me dynamic ideas for the entire month. The facilitators could all be teacher of the year.
Thank you for treating us like professional by choosing professionals like Gavin, Eberhart, Volk and Minter to be our guides! It's amazing to have the most talented people in charge for a change.
Sincerely,
A city pleased teacher

I really enjoyed both parts of the story. A couple of reactions:

- Dr. Alonso seems very capable, very intelligent, and probably very tough to work for. I would imagine he makes enemies. Dr. Alonso: do you ever get tired of trying to get people or a system to do things they don't want to do?
- What can regular city residents (especially those who don't have kids, like me) do to help out?

Again, though, really well done series. I think Ms. Neufeld has done a nice profile, and also got her hands around a pretty big story: the city schools, a big public figure, and how they intersect.

Dr Alonso:
I read why you left practicing law to pursue being an educator. Reflecting on your choices, what guidance can you give to my 25 y.o. son (and other young adults) considering following either a law career or teaching? What satisfaction did you find in teaching that was lacking in the law? Is becoming an administrator a valuable goal to set early in a teaching career?

My son has experience with both law practice and teaching (personally and through relatives) and is torn between the two, as I suspect many students are when considering career choices.

Dear Dr. Alonso:

You are forever promoting that you have placed qualified people in administrative positions based on performance not association. Do you have Hispanic loyalty? Is it fair to say that you are from Cuba and the principal from Mergenthaler is from Puerto Rico? Mergenthaler is horrible! You fired many African American male principals last year but you kept the Mergenthaler principal on staff. The performance of the Mergenthaler principal hasn't changed, it has gotten worse. Many of the African American male principals were fired or demoted? Are you saying that young black males should not see men that resemble them in leadership positions? I guess social promotion still exist in the BCPSS. In the articles, you only show Caucasian young women in leadership position of predominantly African American schools. Why is that? You can't tell me that only highly qualified staff members have leadership capabilities because that theory is obsolete. You have highly qualified staff members with no classroom management skills and children still are not learning anything. The BCPSS is in a shambles and I foresee a teacher shortage before you leave.

You mentioned Nancy Grasmick as being impressed by your tactics. This truly isn't so much to brag about. What books have Mrs. Grasmick written in her tenure in position as state superintendent?(Okay, she’s written a couple articles!) What new laws has she put into place that has been detrimental to the well being for all Maryland students? Choose your friends wisely and manage with some compassion instead of dictatorship.

Sincerely,

Ruby E. Richardson

PS The economy is bad but not enough to work for BCPSS. By the way, what happened to all of the volunteers that you had signed to work the schools in your district?

It seems Dr. Alonso has strong background in special eduction. It is refreshing to to see hear and someone who genuinely feels students are reachable and teachable. How does Dr. Alonso plan on this coming fruition with out allow teachers greater freedom and autonomy in the classroom? The same as he is getting to run the school district.