tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post4603714885865145806..comments2023-11-03T04:00:24.785-04:00Comments on Kentucky School News and Commentary: Documents detail Cardinal Valley Elementary employees' complaints against principal, academic deanRichard Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-19653497364699554582012-10-27T13:37:09.377-04:002012-10-27T13:37:09.377-04:00I myself will continue to complain.
I will make ...I myself will continue to complain. <br /><br />I will make it known that teachers are harassed by the likes of an Irene Beegle, told to keep quiet, not question. I will make it known that there is nepotism in our school district. I will make it known that we have become a testing mill. I will refer people top Brenda Allen when their rights have been violated. I will speak up when Melodee Parker gets a DUI and is not disciplined. I will ask why FCPS does not do more to get good black teachers in the classroom.<br /><br />I thank Mr. Day for this forum. I hate the way our leaders behave in Fayette County Schools. The job I used to love no longer exists. I use this forum to vent my frustrations.<br /><br />I will speak up!<br />I will speak up!<br />I will speak up!<br />I will speak up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-91245085992872770812012-10-26T20:15:07.079-04:002012-10-26T20:15:07.079-04:00I have had some jobs both in the education field a...I have had some jobs both in the education field and not. When I came to grow bored or frustrated, I looked for a different one and on some occassions even quit without anything lined up. I didn't expect the organization and conditions to remain static nor did I expect changing leadership or evolving policies / institutional vaules to cater to my personal convenience or perspective.<br /><br />As I keep saying, either do something about it or leave but please stop complaining and portraying yourselves as victims of circumstances for which you have no control - you sound worse than the kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-41854407258966033382012-10-26T18:27:06.299-04:002012-10-26T18:27:06.299-04:00Fayette County Schools has become a testing mill. ...Fayette County Schools has become a testing mill. It really is sad.<br /><br />"It's about testing."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-30003495747662688942012-10-26T07:40:59.552-04:002012-10-26T07:40:59.552-04:00How do you know when your adminisrator went to a c...How do you know when your adminisrator went to a conference on student learning? They add more to your plate when you return, hiving you no support to make the changes.<br /><br />Get your exit slips and formative assessments ready! And use class time for small group remediation.<br /><br />If my principal, who hides out in his/her office, really cared, why don't they use their time to help teachers? Instead they dump more work on teachers. <br /><br />I HATE TEACHING IN FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOLS. What happened to the job I used to love?<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-4483421355176929372012-10-25T07:02:42.937-04:002012-10-25T07:02:42.937-04:00The Tell Survey is only for Certified Staff. What...The Tell Survey is only for Certified Staff. What about the hundreds of classified staff? Certified staff who are tenured have protection against firing (unless non-renewed for cause). Classified employees do not have the same protection.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-72297202997076387082012-10-23T22:47:48.752-04:002012-10-23T22:47:48.752-04:00GO to KDE web site and just type it into the searc...GO to KDE web site and just type it into the search engine. Come on.<br /><br />http://www.tellkentucky.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-24386288972414796492012-10-23T19:26:32.169-04:002012-10-23T19:26:32.169-04:00How can we see the TEll Survey results, Dr. Day? How can we see the TEll Survey results, Dr. Day? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-68515582294012076222012-10-23T07:46:18.772-04:002012-10-23T07:46:18.772-04:00Wow. Thanks for all the comments. A few reaction...Wow. Thanks for all the comments. A few reactions:<br /><br />* Kentucky is a one-party state when it comes to electronic (telephonic) recording. That means you can record your own conversation with another person because one party (you) is aware of it. That means they can tape you too. But it is illegal for a third party to record the two of you if they are not a party to the conversation.<br /><br />*I'm not an attorney, but I don't see how listening over the intercom (for some extended period of time would not constitute a violation. <br /><br />*I like teacher very well, but I found Dr Shelton's focus on students rather than students appropriate.<br /><br />*I suspect that higher standards will lead to improved results. We always do better when we focus on something and really try.<br /><br />* An analysis of the composition of FCPS faculty would be useful.<br /><br />*I have only met Kelly Crain and don't know a thing about her way of operating. Dr Shelton does not always do what I think he should, but I tend to hold fire because I think he's an honorable man, and he has a lot more information about those situations than I do. I have3 to allow for the possibility that if I knew what he knows, I might better understand his point of view and why he decided as he has...like condoning the way John Kiser operates. Still, I feel like one can approach Shelton on issues of concern.<br /><br />*I understand the fear argument for not speaking up, but courage is always required to make change. The alternative is some kind of passive hand-wringing, right? For example, I have an article written that will challenge the process the EKU Regents are using to select our next president. Should I wait until I have tenure to submit it to the campus newspaper? I don't think so. If they want to fire me, I suppose they can. But think of how much time I'll have to blog about stuff.<br /><br />* Off the top of my head..the legal test for bullying requires a harassment that was intended to do harm to another person's dignity; a power imbalance; and persistent behavior over time. Not every strong action is bullying.<br /><br />*When the first TELL survey was launched, we had commenters encouraging teachers not to respond to it!? I never understood that. They argued that the fix was in...or that they will really know who responded. I thought that was hogwash. A strong response from teachers as a group is exactly the input Shelton and the Board needs. They will pay attention to volume.<br /><br />*C'mon. Ivonne Beegle was not targeted because she's a Hispanic woman. Richard Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-29448634771446132812012-10-23T01:36:37.623-04:002012-10-23T01:36:37.623-04:00Good question, why has he not been fired??? Maybe ...Good question, why has he not been fired??? Maybe because he is not an hispanic woman. Makes you wonder...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-17946187617458435722012-10-22T21:28:22.859-04:002012-10-22T21:28:22.859-04:00I have a question for Brenda Allen. Is it legal t...I have a question for Brenda Allen. Is it legal to tape record a conversation with an admionistrator without them knowing you are doing it?<br /><br />Can FCPS delete emails from your account that show what a principal has said?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-70212931030037193892012-10-22T16:32:58.185-04:002012-10-22T16:32:58.185-04:00Folks you don't need a survey, you already did...Folks you don't need a survey, you already did one for KDE a year and a half ago and the results are public knowledge. Teachers were given the opportunity to anonymously rate a number of areas including aspects of school leadership. Sadly, a few schools couldn't muster 50% participation rate in order to fit collection threshold (Lafayette, Dunbar et others)so what is one think about those places where half the teachers won't even voice their anonymous views about the school when given the chance? (Hey maybe some of the problem is the teachers who the administrators are accused of harrassing?) <br /><br />Take a look at your TELL survey results and you will see there is a broad distribution of ratings for individual school leaders based on responses given anonymously by teachers from that school. Bottom line is you have have some baseline data already, so if there is a problem, make it part of your CSIP. <br />Use public data in a public forum if you want to make a difference instead of gripping and making accusations anonymously on a blog. No offense Dr. Day, but complaining on this blog will not do anything about the problems in leadership which you are claiming, it is a waste of your time. <br /><br />Organize and do something about it. All I hear from most folks on here is fear and complaints with the expectation that someone else is suppose to do something about it. If not you all, then who?<br /><br />P.S. Stop lumping all administrators into one pot of Stu, many of your principals are doing a good job as your TELL responses indicate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-52086174353627607042012-10-22T11:32:43.778-04:002012-10-22T11:32:43.778-04:00Now on the FCPS Main Page--under Main News- "...Now on the FCPS Main Page--under Main News- "Bullying the Focus of Safe Schools Week". When you open up that article it states: "Fayette County Public Schools expects students, teachers and staff to create a healthy, respectful climate throughout the district". <br /><br />I guess that really would be NEWS if FCPS had a respectful climate. Wake up Dr. Shelton! Evidently, you didn't read your "Tell Tom" surveys or your "Customer Service" surveys--otherwise, you'd have a good idea of what's going on. Don't believe the bull that your administrators are throwing at you. The Board needs to hire an independent third party to interview employees and find out what is really going on in the district. <br /><br />My suggestions for those being bullied: Document issues daily--with date, time, and who is present. Use a small digital voice recorder to record all conversations with administrators--otherwise, it's their word again yours. Save the recordings to your home computer. Set up a "Rule" in your FCPS email to auto-forward all emails from the administrator(s)to your home email. This will make sure you have a copy of those emails in your private email (just in case FCPS shuts off your email acct)--you might want to set up a special email account just for this purpose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-32043856712576216962012-10-22T11:31:58.131-04:002012-10-22T11:31:58.131-04:00Now on the FCPS Main Page--under Main News- "...Now on the FCPS Main Page--under Main News- "Bullying the Focus of Safe Schools Week". When you open up that article it states: "Fayette County Public Schools expects students, teachers and staff to create a healthy, respectful climate throughout the district". <br /><br />I guess that really would be NEWS if FCPS had a respectful climate. Wake up Dr. Shelton! Evidently, you didn't read your "Tell Tom" surveys or your "Customer Service" surveys--otherwise, you'd have a good idea of what's going on. Don't believe the bull that your administrators are throwing at you. The Board needs to hire an independent third party to interview employees and find out what is really going on in the district. <br /><br />My suggestions for those being bullied: Document issues daily--with date, time, and who is present. Use a small digital voice recorder to record all conversations with administrators--otherwise, it's their word again yours. Save the recordings to your home computer. Set up a "Rule" in your FCPS email to auto-forward all emails from the administrator(s)to your home email. This will make sure you have a copy of those emails in your private email (just in case FCPS shuts off your email acct)--you might want to set up a special email account just for this purpose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-3027441658150709422012-10-22T00:44:10.145-04:002012-10-22T00:44:10.145-04:00Administrators downtown need to offer anonymous su...Administrators downtown need to offer anonymous surveys for teachers because the atmosphere of fear exists at more schools than just Cardinal Valley. I know of one elementary school in particular in which the principal has created a horrible environment of fear in which teachers are afraid to speak up about anything. For surveys in the past, teachers were afraid to be truthful because the rumor was that the principal had somehow coded the surveys to know who said what. Many excellent teachers have been harassed to the point that they have left the school. WAKE UP MR SHELTON! Please, please offer anonymous surveys for teachers! Find out what is really going on in FCPS!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-11832285228686885712012-10-20T18:14:51.945-04:002012-10-20T18:14:51.945-04:00I am so grateful for this message board. I really ...I am so grateful for this message board. I really think it is a place where we all feel safe. I just wish we could mobilize our forces, come together and talk about our respective principals. But, then, if we suggested a place, I'd be afarid of Tom showing up, taking names. Or I might even worry of someone had stuck a microphone in a flower part.<br /><br />Thank you all!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-37670269579870221812012-10-19T17:14:56.011-04:002012-10-19T17:14:56.011-04:00I agree, it is a conspiracy by Silberman and his p...I agree, it is a conspiracy by Silberman and his protege Shelton to infiltrate leadership positions with hand-picked administrators whose sole purpose is to gain control of Fayette County Schools. This coalition of tyranical educators will protect one another to ensure their collective grip over the educational resources of the county at any cost, regardless of the public opinion or teacher action. Their grip on power will have no limits and anyone who seeks to cross this alliance of evil will be unmercifully crushed emotionally and professionally by their misued administrative might!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-12910925599433801892012-10-19T14:10:07.758-04:002012-10-19T14:10:07.758-04:00I am going to tell a story as a student who attend...I am going to tell a story as a student who attended Henry Clay High School between 1974 - 1978 where it was well known by the students which teacher was dealing drugs, which teacher had inappropriate relationships with male students and which teacher during classtime made sexual advances to the teacher in the classroom next to his. We students would discuss these topics quite often. Do you really think that the other teachers and administrators had no clue that these things where happening right under their collective noses. I don't think so. <br /><br />I am going fast forward some years and tell you that my childern also attended Henry Clay High School and also knew which teacher had an inappropriate relationship with a student during her senior year and married this student right after graduation. They also knew which teacher was dealing drugs. <br /><br />Let's fast foward to today - these things are still happening in FCPS. We read about in the newspaper or watch it on the evening news. The hostile work environment at Cardinal Valley is just the latest of incidents that have made it to the newspapers and the evening news. Superintendants past and present as well as directors past and present cannot be so oblivious that they cannot see what is happening in our schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-68337658317925062802012-10-18T19:49:12.157-04:002012-10-18T19:49:12.157-04:00We salute Richard Day for creating a spot where co...We salute Richard Day for creating a spot where comments can be made that are allowing the truth to be told. No fear here of being pinked or done away with.So many in FCPS have had this experience and others are just afraid to speak. Downtown is still filled with pitiful administrators that think the only way to get ahead is to step on someones back. This is a horrible way to promote "customer service". We have principals who have broken not only moral laws but SBDM laws and are still on the job. Seriously, are we that lacking in decent knowledgeable principals who actually care about staff and students?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-10023137345515429152012-10-18T08:07:20.976-04:002012-10-18T08:07:20.976-04:00Do you think the issues at Cardinal Valley was an ...Do you think the issues at Cardinal Valley was an isolated incident? I don't think so. The school director Ketsey Fields knew that the staff felt that Beegle had created a hostile work environment. Yet it took years before there was an official investigation into the complaints. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-29710763445971052062012-10-17T23:01:55.727-04:002012-10-17T23:01:55.727-04:00I think, one, day things might be better for teach...I think, one, day things might be better for teachers in FCPS. What is needed is a way to circumvent the principal when there is a legitimate concern. Dr. Shelton is slowly coming to terms with the truth about administration.<br /><br />I salute my colleagues at Cardinal Valley for speaking up. It was no easy task.<br /><br />I think the climatr needs to change, though. The minute you hear "It's about kids" that means the teacher is second fiddle.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-9259043783038583202012-10-17T18:47:01.662-04:002012-10-17T18:47:01.662-04:00I taught at Beaumont Middle School. Kate Mac went ...I taught at Beaumont Middle School. Kate Mac went on a tirade aginst older employees she decided were not worthy of working at her school. most of the staff there is fresh out of college and afraid to speak up...they don't have tenure.<br /><br />It was frightening. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-69091229998079471192012-10-17T14:59:14.446-04:002012-10-17T14:59:14.446-04:00Why would an administrator knowingly keep an abusi...Why would an administrator knowingly keep an abusive or corrupt principal in a position of leadership? I understand the "circle the wagons" mentality but if your support either through direct action or benign neglect directly or indirectly facilitates unethical, unprofessional or even illegal behavior of your subordiantes you are just as liable. So why support it, especially if it is a cultural vestage of a leader who no longer guides the organization?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-85860375150748370632012-10-17T10:30:39.758-04:002012-10-17T10:30:39.758-04:00I am a FCPS employee and from my perspective there...I am a FCPS employee and from my perspective there are several school administrators that need to be investigated for misconduct. I guarantee you that it is well known by the directors and the superintendant what schools have these type of issues and have had them for years and yet they continue to do nothing about it until employees have taken all the abuse the intend to take and go outside FCPS to organizations like KEA and KESPA or retain an attorney.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-75377508537290212522012-10-16T21:26:28.326-04:002012-10-16T21:26:28.326-04:00As long as a principal like the one hired by Mr. S...As long as a principal like the one hired by Mr. Silberman at Cardinal Valley does wrong, teachers will blame Mr. Silberman and Dr. Shelton. <br /><br />Melodee, the drunk driving director of personnel, the inappropriate principal at Deep Springs, the middle school director Michael Ernst--- all Silberman hires. All did things that were not "in the best interests of kids." The shadow of Mr. Silberman still casts its ugly shadow over Fayette County Public Schools. We have a new superintendent, but the culture is the same: Punish teachers who speak up --be it about testing or equity issues. Mark my words: FCPS taxpayers will be paying for thje latest round of lawsuits at Cardinal Valley.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-37150984935389997032012-10-16T14:01:41.943-04:002012-10-16T14:01:41.943-04:00How much longer are Fayette County educators going...How much longer are Fayette County educators going to keep blaming Silberman as their bogey man? You're teachers for God sake, changing lives doesn end at your classroom door frame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com