I'm literally laughing out loud. In my experience (which is limited admittedly) the hardest working teachers in the school never get along with the principal (acting or otherwise).

At TMHS several teachers who do nothing short of sitting in a chair from 8:30-3:35 and shouting have received accolades from committee heads to an entire computer lab being installed in their room while teachers who teach are written up for not following "orders".

Hopefully the selected few will be the latter not the former. Good point to make, Sara, about selecting a teacher of the year before asking principals to nominate teachers as potential candidates.

Only one ticket....does this mean in order to be a good teacher you can not have a family?

I would think that the students and parents should be the ones nominating teachers.
There is bound to be bias in allowing principals to select but once again it shows how things are done.

Let's get real - the O's can't afford to give out at least two tickets per teacher? I mean it's not like Camden Yards is selling out each eveinging. Talk about being cheap - sounds like they were hoping to get some free good PR as well as a tax write off. Oh yeah and I thought the school system was running out of money - now they are hosting a Bull Pen Party - I am sure that all those people who had to go the job fair at the Marriot are wondering what's next? Could we save a little and maybe save my job? Hmmmmm....

@OTT -
No, it means that it's a work social event as opposed to a family social event. Pretty typical situation for all the rest of the working world, so I'm not sure why City Schools should be different. There are "reward" events that happen outside the normal working hours where you are expected to go without kids or spouse and not get paid. If you're a single parent who can't get work out a baby sitter you are given permission to not go (but don't expect your boss to be too happy). It's a job and there are realities of budget constraints. If the company (or in this case North Ave.) is trying to do something that they think is nice, do what your mother taught you - grit your teeth into a smile, say thank you and be polite.

Sorry to sound snippy, but I've gone through the same thing at work and the complaints wear me out.

Now as to Brandon's complaint, I've got nothing to say beyond the obvious - if you work (or are a student or a parent of a student) in a school with a miserable principal your life already sucks, so this isn't much of a change.

A parent -

You are correct it is a work situation, however, most work places when you are recognized for a great performance reach out and include as a courtesy to you a quest - that significant individual in your life that helps you give to the company the great performance for which you are being honored! Again an opportunity lost by the school system and the O's to raise their level of positive PR in the community by doing something smart and easy.

Hello, Everyone!!! Could we once just be happy for the teachers.Peers nominated the winners, not principals and in my building, teachers counted the ballots (Teacher who volunteered.) Recognition is recognition. Why do we have to detract from every nice thing that happens? Two tickets would be nice but as @a parent points out, not typical of the rest of the working world. Although, I must admit, I have attended plenty of corporate affairs when family members were recognized. Whatever. Congrats to all of you hard working, wonderful teachers! I appreciate you!!! I appreciate you as peers. I loved you when you taught my own children. Thanks!

Parent and wise educator beat me to it - it is ashame that the first few comments on here had to be complaints! Is a baseball game going to solve all the challenges of teaching at BCPSS? Of course not and nobody would dare to suggest that. However, this is something nice and positive - let's practice what we preach to our children - appreciate it!

Things like this should be happening all the time...by our school site leaders. I was fortunate enough to have two principals and several APs and ISTs who used to provide the best type of reward - a quick note or verbal acknowledgment of my lesson or project for the school. This is something we, as educators, should demand and expect from our leaders. The fact that North Ave is taking steps toward that is refreshing.

So please, quit being so negative - it is infectious, unhealthy, and quite frankly, really darn annoying.

I do agree that it is nice that something is being done - as an after thought - that's like being the last kid picked for the team in gym class.

I was waiting for this to be said - well we should be happy because this is the best that they (North Ave) can do or said an other way better take it now because they will never do it again It is the underlying attitude in the school system and it is this philosophy that will ultimately upend any positive change that will occur in the system. The we shouldn't expect more because this is all they can give us and that goes for facilities - we can't expect our AC/heat to work because it's the best they can do, it goes for curriculum we shouldn't expect our benchmarks to arrive on time they are doing their best, it goes for ITD we just don't have enough staff to fix it we will get to it when we can, it goes for teachers when they say we I can't work in this environment, it goes for parents when they send their kids to school not prepared to learn, ... It is only when we stand up and demand better from everybody that anything will change. So yes - I pointed out that there was only one ticket - POOR PLANNING - The best of the best deserve better.

Secondly - I really want to know where the funding is coming from to pay for a party? Aren't we broke and facing a deficit?

@A former Teacher,So you are glad something is happening but you don't want it to paid for from any fund???? Strange! I am invited. It will cost ME a Friday night without friends or family,parking, gas, and time. I hate baseball. Not sure what it has to do with student achievement. But,if someone wants to says thanks, hand me a piece of paper, and some cheese and crackers,I guess I will be there. My most important thanks comes from my students and their parents. My administrator is generous with appreciation. It is North Avenue who has never realized that teachers exist. My favorite is when "the big ones" tour your space and never speak and you,the teacher, are never introduced. Just plain rude! And don't tell me you don't want to interrupt instruction. You did that when you walked in with your clipboard.When North Avenue finally realizes that nothing will truly change until their best teachers are celebrated,things will really change!

First and foremost I apologize for not congratulating any selected teachers. Regardless of how rushed the process is you deserve the honors.

@A Former Teacher -
Where did you come up with the data to support you statement that "most work places when you are recognized for a great performance reach out and include as a courtesy to you a quest - that significant individual in your life that helps you give to the company the great performance for which you are being honored!"? I believe if you look at companies of a similar size to Baltimore City schools (i.e. pretty big) honoring front line employees (as opposed to upper management or CEOs) you will find that these awards will not include significant others. I base this statement on 25yrs of experience in a field that is fairly well regarded and compensated. Small, entrepreneurial companies are different as there is more of an equal footing for all workers and the cost of having parties and going out to eat is smaller. But for large companies I do not think it is common for recognitions to include more than the employee.

Sorry to those who find/found me too negative. I told myself 4 years ago I'd never get as jaded as those who walked the halls before me, but when you've been let down as many times as I have from so many (non-student) angles... it's rough. To clarify: I love my kids, and I run my class, and nothing I write that is negative has anything to do with my students.

I didn't become a teacher for the accolades and fame, so being considered or not for any "teacher of the x" is of no concern to me. I certainly don't do this job hoping the drones at North Ave. will notice me and sing my praises, if anything I hope to avoid having *them* like anything about me. *They* tend to like, honor, and promote the stupid and unaware.

What I find so ridiculous is how secondary the whole thing is. Teachers... at least those in the less popular schools .. work hard, and work for little adult appreciation. But when we are given it, it's nice and it's even nicer when it feels genuine instead of in hindsight. The lacksidasical approach to honoring those on the front lines is disrespectful. Hell, my principal didn't even announce the contest nor did my school have any voting or ballot system at all today, so either he filled it in for us or TMHS won't be represented at the party. Oh well, I'll keep doing my job.

As a side note, I've been TMHS student & staff voted teacher of the year twice, which grants a nice mention in the year book and some high fives which is more than enough.

And as a secondary side note, I have O's season tickets because I love those birds, so I'll wave at you guys when they put you on the big screen.

A Parent - I based my statement on personal experience. Both of my parents have worked for large multinational company's over the years and whenever either one has been recognized for their performance or years of service the corresponding spouse has been invited to participate in the celebration. Further more there have been times when these companies have even invited my brother and I to be in attendance to celebrate with my parents! The company that I currently work for - again a large multi-national extends an invitation to my wife to be present at recognition celebrations. So I based my comment on over 40 years of personal experience.

A Wise Educator - I believe that the recognition of teachers is a good thing and should be done. It should be a built in cost of doing business. This seems to me to be an after thought and since it was an after thought - that means that it was not planed for on my levels including the finical/budgetary level. So after hearing for months that the school system is going to run a deficit or just break even (even with the stimulus dollars) I think it is fair to ask where the funding is coming from? People are losing their jobs, and granted one party is not going to save/cost a lot of jobs but there is a principle at stake here - we either have no money and much watch every dollar or we seem to have a hidden pot to throw a party when it strikes the CEO. Is this a gift from the O's, a corporate sponsorship of a great event? Are school system dollars being spent on this event and if they are how much and where in the school system budget are they coming from?

As you stated this award comes at a cost to you? If you were working for a corporation in the private sector, you would be reimbursed for mileage, your parking cost would be a legitimate expense and you might be most likely grant some compensation for your time, either through comp time or a flexible schedule to make up for the time lost. If there had been planning and some for thought all those items would have been covered for you. But alas - you got gift that will actually cost you money and once again underline how little The City Schools care about their teaching corps.

Dang! I guess being an engineer in a multi-national firm isn't as kush a job as I thought, because in this case (not pay, perks, working conditions or a lot of other areas I'm sure) we get treated as bad as City School teachers. I can just imagine submitting an expense report for gas when your team gets taken out to dinner by the site lead to say "good job." (and when teams get taken out there are no spouses). The next time they did the layoff list your name would be at the top.

So when my kids ask me what field they should go into where they get paid well and treated well what should I tell them? I had been saying that you can't go wrong with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) job, but clearly I'm wrong.

@a parent, let it go! You have so many positive,important points to make all the time! This is all such a dumb discussion and I am one of those invited. I am also one of those who has attended corporate blow-outs with a spouse. The important thing here is that we educators and parents who truly care, stick together and support each other. I write on this blog as an educator but I also have my own nearly adult "kids." One has many special needs so I spent most of her/my life walking the parent walk,too. My career advice to my kids has always been to do what you are passionate about and the rewards will follow.In education, the meaningful rewards always come from parents, children, and excellent principals. Go back to writing your normal insightful stuff I love to read. Please.

Belatedly, recognizing teachers .. the headline says it all. Nonetheless, it is a positive step. One hopes that it will be followed up with further actions along these lines. A stronger message from the top -- backed up by some action -- that those on the frontline are to be honored would go a long way.

This just in City Schools giving teachers 2 tickets for the ball game!

Must have found more hidden money!

Thursday, May 21st at 10:30. Still no announcement, discussion, or notification to staff at TMHS about this friendly nomination competition.

Aparently we're SO bad that our principal didn't think to let us even nominate someone.

Brandon, In my school, the principal had us nominate a teacher. Everyone got a distinctive,numbered piece of paper. We put them in a plastic jar. Several teachers and an admin counted them. Done! Why don't you do it. Ask to have the name submitted or submit it to Nancy Nielson yourself. I nominate YOU!

Ok, the tickets were donated by the O's. For the love of God, arn't there better things to complain about in this messed up system. Also, the teacher of the year will be throwing out the first pitch. It's teachers night at Camden Yards so go and check it out.

Second this wasn't something principals were hyped up to do given the budget, enrollment and other issues we're dealing with for the end of the year.

If we're doing our job teachers should be appreciated every day and treated with respect. O's tickets are a nice boost. Honestly my kids played a bigger role in picking the staff member and the faculty a secondary role. Of course I don't think we have the same poison in our school that many of you feel.

Brandon - I don't think you're alone. I believe the teacher turn-in rate has been less than ideal (as in under 30 schools have submitted), and I'm not sure whether it's (1) a lack of desire, (2) chaos with graduations/budget/etc, or (3) forgetfulness. I'm really just hoping it's #2 and there will be a storm of submissions tomorrow (no excuses, this is pretty bad)...

The good news. The O's won 7:2. The rest of the so-called- teacher- achievement night at the Orioles was a fiasco from start to finish. No tickets,one or two ever arrived.Teachers ended up picking up the tickets from two wet staff members tucked away at a table. Traffic was a mess, it poured rain, there was lightening and yet the whole affair was still held outside in the pouring rain. No tent, no shelter! No inside room anywhere? The food was overcooked hamburgers or hot dogs served on wet buns and potato salad etc floating in water. There was no BCPSS admin person there until AAA showed up and shook a few hands. Period! The teachers who were there straggled to our seats. We did not know each other and were seated in different areas. Poly had quite a few people as their teacher was the "real" TOTY and he threw out the first ball. AAA visited that section of seats, ignored the rest of us and left. The weather cleared but we were all soaked and cold. There supposedly was mention of the teachers on the big screen but we were seated in outfield, as far away as you could get and under the big screen so you could not see it. There was no mention of any of us, no certificates, greeting, or acknowledgement except of Nick.(who certainly deserved it) Overall, it was a major dissapointment. I can go to an O's game anytime. Where was my celebration? Meantime, I spent nearly $100.00 to park and to buy additional tickets for my parents and friend so they could share my honor??? But, why would I have expected BCPSS to really show appreciation for me, a teacher???? Finally left.Walked out behind another teacher in tears.Ungrateful as it may sound, thanks for nothing! Next time my thanks truly will come from my students which it already does!

Elisabeth,

Are you really blaming the BCPSS for rain?

I mean can't really fault them for that.

@James, Did you really read my post? Of course, I am not blaming anyone for the weather! I AM blaming them for sending nobody to represent North Avenue on behalf of the board or administration although AAA finally showed up an hour into the event.. Even AAA did not know what was going on,by his own admission. I am blaming BCPS for not mailing the promised one and then two tickets. I am blaming them for not giving even a lousy paper certificate or a tiny token gift of any sort. NO ONE recognized the teachers as a group. Only Nick was recognized as he threw out the ball. There was no effort to move the event into a room out of the rain, no effort to salvage the food, no effort to gather the teachers together. There was nothing! And I mean nothing! Poly had a small group to honor Nick so they knew each other and were together. The rest of us were scattered about. There were no name tags and we did not know each other. I have planned events for years;events of all sorts. This event was an embarrassig non-event which ending up costing many of us a lot of money as we bought extra tickets, paid for edible food, parking etc. I am sorry if it is unreasonable to be upset about being voted Teacher of the Year for your school, be invited/told to show up for an event and then find no one and no program or recognition of any sort. And nothing has happened as of Wednesday.This was not a new honor for me but it was for many and they were sorely dissapointed with their non-recognition. There was none! Please try to see the big picture here. Do you think we would really complain about the rain? After all, we went, walked in the rain for blocks, stood in the rain in line for tickets, and ate soggy food for an hour with no shelter and continuued to hope for a positive outcome. Your saracsm is not appreciated. I earned the award. I received many votes from my staff. For that I am thrilled. But this night was not about that.If I had run an event for students, families, or community members in th esame manner, i may have lost my job.

But I know, we do not teach for rewards. I get it. I also get that sometimes our peers are our worst enemies.Clearly I was voted for by my staff so I do not have a problem getting along with people but your comment was just plain hurtful. I am sorry that I had any expectation at all. Next time I will know better. By the way,I have season tickets for the Orioles.

I was caught up in this mess,too. Five days of school left and still no acknowledgement from North Avenue. This is an event we would have been better off without. Too little,too late.Actually, not an event.