I've seen similar situations similarly neglected, and I'm referring both to assault and cheating on statewide tests. But this former teacher's credibility doesn't need anonymous backing from me or anyone else on this blog. Look at bias in this case.

For one thing, this former teacher was already eligible for retirement when she sued. She was also able to prove beyond a doubt that she had incurred these injuries at the school. And why did the school look the other way? Gotta keep those suspensions down. And why would they cheat? If the principal is on the hot seat, the first thing Alonso and the school board look to is test scores. The second thing? Oh yeah, suspensions. Why would the school board appeal? They have everything to lose because everything for them is public relations. And this little jab of justice is bad for public relations.

Post @ BCPSS Teacher awarded $210,000 Joyce Dunston says she was forced to retire after whistle-blowing.

"The jury verdict of a panel including local citizens, parents and stakeholders support was in favor of the whistle blowing teacher Joyce V. Dunston says it all!"

"Perhaps this Rognel Heights Elementary/Middle School instructional support staff teacher to use improper and unethical testing procedures, including giving students test questions in advance
raises questions could there be more possible systemic city-wide unexposed past events and continuing cheating violations events?"

Although isolated is this the tip of the iceberg of even more improprieties occurring in our local school district than we the citizens, stakeholders, and parents are aware of or should be made aware of exposing cheating violations by other schools instructional support staff teachers, administrators and principals for using improper and unethical testing procedures, including giving students test questions in advance breaking the MSA/HSA testing rules?

Are MSDE and City Schools monitors reliable to conduct through investigation findings? The principal over stepped her authority and the HR process. Again, "The jury verdict of a panel including local citizens, parents and stakeholders support was in favor of the whistle blowing teacher Joyce V. Dunston says it all!"

This event happened during the watch of CEO Charlene Boston exposing cheating violations to break the MSA/HSA test rules.

Students lost a teacher of 37 years experience. This law suit result says to all local citizens, parents and stakeholders it's now more that ever time to take parent individual/group ownership behavior in our local community primary and secondary schools and district school system governance process.

I find it surprising, or not, that with what resources that are already available, computerized programs, they don't see the obvious examples of likely cheating. When a student moves from one school to another, and a number of those students have advanced scores at one school and basic scores at the next, you would think that school/or those schools would be flagged. Students move from elementary to middle and middle to high school every year. This would be an obvious way that anyone, MSDE or even the federal government could get a sense of what is happening. I am sure these same things are happening throughout the country as evidenced by the schools that have already been caught. I can see how MSDE too would not be motivated to see where cheating is occurring. No one wants anyone to be in trouble but it is a grave disservice to students who are identified as advanced when the student does not have even proficient skills. The student then suffers more and more years without getting the assistance they need to be successful.

Anonymous, you lament (in part) "...with what resources that are already available, computerized programs, they don't see the obvious examples of likely cheating. When a student moves from one school to another, and a number of those students have advanced scores at one school and basic scores at the next..."

Take a look at this report from the parties responsible and tell me if you can follow the obfuscating techno doubletalk and determine what is actually being said.

I'll admit that I surely couldn't on first read and never bothered to take a second crack at parsing it.... which may be the real intention.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/education/blog/2009/04/baltimore_schools_graduation_r_1.html

The really sad part for me (personally) is that the Ben Feldman I used to know would never have tolerated being told to accept this drivel from any authority figure.

Thank you MrRational...and...having written this, will an inside ed blogger please find out the answers to if the powers that be will pursue looking at students' scores from one school to the next?