Can this be happening in any merit-based society that proclaims to care about education?
The LA evaluation system is headed by a 27 year old with a BA and two years of teaching experience out of TFA. Apparently, her actual license is expired and she justifies it thusly:
Horstman, who spent two years in a New Orleans classroom, said the lack of a teaching certificate has nothing to do with her current post, which pays $77,000 per year.
What’s the average teacher salary in LA? Oh yeah, for a teacher with two years of experience, it’s right around $40K. And these people might actually have a teaching degree, and not some short-term summer workshop. Are you freaking kidding me?
“My job does not require that I go into the classroom to teach right now,” she said.
You’re going to evaluate folks and their livelihoods, make the decisions that could make or break a career, you better damn be able to step in a walk the walk.
I can’t possible understand this corporate mentality that makes this at all acceptable. Could anyone explain this in any rational way, like I’m two years old? Please.
No. They can’t.
Who did she sleep with?
Oh god…
Did I read this right??? In LA a teacher with 2 years experience makes $40k???? I teach in FLORIDA with 10 yrs experience and ONLY make $38K!!!!!! I think it’s time to move or change professions!!!!!!!!!!!
Reblogged this on Transparent Christina.
Well it’s pretty darn simple really. The formula for Louisiana is: Political Ambition+Money-ethicsXGubernatorialPower=CastratedLegislature which results in laws that allow charters to hire 100% non-certified instructors.
Hiring Horstman is Supt. John White’s version of forward looking thinking. He, Horstman and a growing number of his Dept of Ed (Team TFA) are Teach For America grads. White and his Board of Education (Team Jindal) assure that at least $1,000,000 a year goes to the TFA Employment Agency Division.
Then with assistance from U.S. Ed Sec. Duncan’s generous TIF grant donations to New Schools For New Orleans whose primary function is to staff charters (Exec Director Sarah Usdin former TFA Exec Director…..) you get the picture.
Our highly unqualified SuperWhite announced to a district school board recently that he saw no need for certified teachers. Our newly legislated teacher evaluation system which measures teacher effectiveness 50% on student test scores will likely sift out many of those pesky certified teachers with useless higher degrees and meaningless years of experience that no longer account for seniority. (The word SENIORITY must NOT appear in new district hiring/firing/pay plans that recently had to be submitted to SuperT.).
And just to make sure students aren’t unduly exposed to the remnants of past certified teachers, the legislature also ordered that no retired teacher can substitute without forfeiting retirement benefits.
So all this will make Ms. Horstman Highly Qualified to lead a cadre of Highly Unqualified Instructional Personnel (no longer referred to as Professional Educators).
So you can see why New Orleans is touted as a “Model for the Nation.” ALEC model that is.
They must have been in the same workshop as the Florida Dept. of Education! Only, we still allow retired teachers to substitute…for now.
OMG !! Nicole..don’t give Fl. legislature any ideas !!!
Sorry. I wish I could explain this. I can’t. I won’t. I’m just glad I don’t live there. Only in Louisiana could this happen. Wait. It’s taking place all over. Surely, we’re doomed.