Staff writer Sara Polsky sent this my way this afternoon. From the New York Sun, a principal tried some innovative (?) tactics to improve her school.
By Elizabeth Green
Staff Reporter of the Sun
August 8, 2007
A principal who took an unusual approach to improve her TriBeCa high school — allegedly hiring a "black magic" practitioner to cleanse evil spirits through a ceremony involving sprinkled chicken blood — is being forced out a month before the school year starts. A replacement principal has not yet been named.
"There was always a running joke that, because many of the students were ill-behaved, we should use sage to cleanse the building," an assistant principal at the Unity Center for Urban Technologies on Sixth Avenue, Melody Crooks-Simpson, told city investigators. Then, during midwinter break in early 2006, Ms. Crooks-Simpson said, Principal Maritza Tamayo invited her to a Santeria ceremony that would involve chicken blood, according to a report released yesterday by the Department of Education's special commissioner of investigation, Richard Condon.
See the full story here.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Report: Principal Tried ‘Magic' To Cure School
The week ahead
Some items to watch for coming up in The Star's education coverage:
Sunday, check out a report from Matt Kasper on an Anniston High School Class of 1952 reunion.
On Monday, ACT releases scores at the state level. We'll compare the numbers from last year and see how Alabama stacks up.
The Anniston Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at the central office on McClellan Boulevard, behind the middle school. The July meeting ended with a 2-2 vote on whether to begin the process of removing Superintendent Sammy Lee Felton. Bob Etnire, the board's fifth member, is back from an overseas vacation and could be the deciding vote should the matter come up again.
Also next week, I'm hoping to talk with some members of the AHS Class of '91, who are planning a skate party fundraiser for the high school.
Got anything else we should check on? Let us know.
From the wires
Two interesting stories from the AP this afternoon:
(I can barely get myself out of bed and out the door some mornings. I can't imagine the chaos of getting six 5-year-olds ready.)
It's off to kindergarten for Birmingham's sextuplets
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- It's getting a little quieter around the Harris house these days, at least during school hours.The sextuplets of Chris and Diamond Harris, now 5 years old, have headed off to preschool.
"This is a day I've been waiting for," said Diamond Harris.
She commented Thursday as the six sat quietly with their brother, DeWayne, 13, on the steps of their home waiting for the bus on the first day of school. Around each 5-year-old's neck was a ribbon attached to a piece of paper with the child's name, teacher's name, school bus number and their mom's cell phone number.
While she had looked forward to the day, Diamond Harris added that she would be dropping by the school later "just to make sure there are no problems."
Five of the sextuplets are attending Center Point Elementary's K-5 classes.
"Kiera and Kaleb are in one class," said Chris Harris. "Kobe and Kieran are in another, and Kalynne in another."
Kyle, who has been diagnosed with autism, attends Burkett Center.
"I explained to Kyle that he's going to another school, but I'm not sure he understands," Diamond Harris told The Birmingham News in a story Friday.
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Fired Alabama teacher, charged with raping student, gets raises
By Desiree Hunter
Associated Press Writer
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- A fired Alabama teacher charged criminally with raping a student is still receiving paychecks - collecting nearly $100,000 and getting two raises - even though he hasn't been in the classroom in two years.
Alvin Penez Taylor, who awaits an Aug. 20 trial on the rape charge, is the beneficiary of a legal twist in a 2004 Alabama law that was supposed to reform the state's teacher dismissal process.
A review by The Associated Press found that the law, pushed by the state teachers' union with the backing of Republican Gov. Bob Riley, has allowed at least two other education system personnel to continue to collect paychecks for 11 months and longer after being fired.
One was an agricultural science teacher accused of sexually harassing and inappropriately touching a student. Another was a cheerleading coach cited for using her high school's gym to run a gymnastics business.
See the full report here.
Nowlin is new Lee County interim schools chief
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| Stephen Nowlin goes over the transportation budget for next year with Josie Jones, custodian of funds for the Anniston City Schools, during his last day on the job. Photo: J.C. Lexow/The Anniston Star |
WRBL-TV in Columbus, Ga., reports he's the new interim chief for the Lee County Schools. In the story, Nowlin cites one similarity linking all three jobs: fluctuating enrollments due to the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure plan.
See the station's full report here.
Real-time, real-world, real cool: High-tech learning tools used in Calhoun County schools
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| William Chandler, a science teacher at White Plains High School, tries out the school's new computerized physics lab. Photo: Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star |
Last year, some of the students in Amelia White's Spanish class at White Plains High School were from Birmingham's Tarrant High School. Another of White's Spanish classes had students from Monroe County.
Those students weren't commuting each day. They were linked via an Internet video-conferencing system (IVC) as part of the state's ACCESS Distance Learning Program.
ACCESS, which stands for Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators, and Students Statewide, provides students the opportunity to take advanced placement, foreign language, and other courses not available at their schools. The program grew from an initiative launched in November 2004 to "provide equal access to high quality instruction," throughout the state.
White Plains High was one of the first to become a pilot school for the program.
Lisa Amerson, technology director for Calhoun County Schools, said a $90,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Education paid for the equipment, installation and training at White Plains. The department budgeted $10.3 million statewide the first year and again this past year, and $25.8 million is requested for the program in the 2008 budget.
"The students at the other end can see and hear me, and I can see and hear them," White said.
An adult at the other end monitors behavior and distributes tests.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Photo Gallery
Here is a link to the photo gallery that we put together from this morning. Plenty of cute kids. Plenty of tears.
It almost makes me miss school ... well ... not exactly.
-Andy
Only 179 days left
In the next couple of hours, Day 1 of the 2007-08 school year will be over and the county's 19,000 or so students will head home to the first round of questions about what they learned today.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage this morning, and keep checking in with us daily for more insights and bonus education coverage.
Also, few topics rouse emotions more than education. Let us know what you think, either through the comments link at the end of each post, or e-mail me at sivey@annistonstar.com
Now, for all you earthbound teachers, here's a piece from the AP on a teacher with a unique start to her year:
By Marcia Dunn
The Associated Press
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Space shuttle Endeavour roared into orbit Wednesday carrying teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan, who was finally fulfilling the dream of Christa McAuliffe and the rest of the fallen Challenger crew.
Endeavour and its crew of seven rose from the seaside pad at 6:36 p.m., right on time, and pierced a solidly blue sky. They're expected to reach the international space station on Friday.
Once Endeavour was safely past the 73-second mark of the flight, the moment when Challenger exploded shortly after the call "Go at throttle up," Mission Control exclaimed, "Morgan racing toward space on the wings of a legacy."
Immediately after the shuttle reached orbit, Mission Control announced, "For Barbara Morgan and her crewmates, class is in session."
Morgan was McAuliffe's backup for Challenger's doomed launch in 1986 and, even after two space shuttle disasters, never swayed in her dedication to NASA and the agency's on-and-off quest to send a schoolteacher into space. She rocketed away in the center seat of the cabin's lower compartment, the same seat that had been occupied by McAuliffe.
McAuliffe's mother, Grace Corrigan, watched the launch on TV from her home in Massachusetts. "I'm very happy that it went up safely," she said. "We all send her our love," she added, her voice breaking.
More than half of NASA's 114 Teacher-in-Space nominees in 1985 gathered at the launch site, along with hundreds of other educators, all of them thrilled to see Morgan continue what McAuliffe began.
Also on hand was the widow of Challenger's commander, who said earlier in the day that she would be praying and pacing at liftoff and would not relax until Morgan was safely back on Earth in two weeks.
"The Challenger crew — my husband, Dick Scobee, the teacher Christa McAuliffe — they would be so happy with Barbara Morgan," said June Scobee Rodgers. "It's important that the lessons will be taught because there's a nation of people waiting, still, who remember where they were when we lost the Challenger and they remember a teacher was aboard."
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin met Tuesday night with several members of the Challenger astronaut families in town for the launch — although not the McAuliffe family — and said they did not seem worried.
"They didn't act like they came to see another tragedy," he said. "They're here to celebrate her having a chance to fly."
First-day glitches
With some new computer servers came a few problems on this first day at Wellborn High School.
Principal Ed Whatley said a few teachers in one hall had some technical difficulties. Other than that, the trains are running on time.
Tammy Sawyer, a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher at Wellborn, said she's planned for some of the familiar get-to-know-you activities today. Students will toss a beach ball, and whoever catches it will have to tell something about himself.
She suspects they're mostly glad to be back.
"They don't like to admit it, but they like the schedule and structure," she said. "They get bored, and they want to see all their friends again."
Beth Hall, Wellborn's new assistant principal, was previously an administrator at Weaver Elementary. She found one surprising similarity this morning.
"There was one mom who wanted to walk her son to class--in high school," she said. "I have two teenagers, and normally they don't even want you to look at them when they get out of the car. I couldn't believe it."
Motorists are urged to watch out for school buses
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UNDATED, Ala. (AP) -- The new school year starts today in dozens of Alabama counties and cities. Motorists are urged to exercise extra caution when traveling through school zones.
Drivers who pass stopped school buses can face stiff fines and can have their license suspended for a year.
Law enforcement agencies encourage motorists to watch out for young pedestrians and kids on bicycles.
It’s the first day of school for many first-time teachers around the area
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| Debbie Northdruft speaks to a group of teachers gathered at Oxford Middle School. Photo: Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star |
They have classrooms instead of lockers, they assign the homework rather than doing it, and they don’t dread the end of summer vacation.
But apart from those differences, new teachers approach the first day of school with the same feelings of nervousness and anticipation as their students.
Alabama adds about 4,000 new teachers every year, but 50 percent leave teaching after four years, according to the State Department of Education. In response to this attrition, Governor Bob Riley announced Wednesday the formation of a statewide teacher mentoring program that will pair experienced and first-year teachers.
Riley has secured $4 million in funding for the program, and each mentor teacher will receive $1,000. Calhoun County, Talladega County, and Blount County already have mentoring programs for new teachers.
Some of this year’s 4,000 new teachers begin their careers at area schools today, but they don’t appear worried about whether they’ll still be enthusiastic four years from now. They were all smiles as they put the finishing touches on their classrooms Wednesday.
Kathryn Ball, a first-year kindergarten teacher at Alexandria Elementary School, decorated her classroom with a jungle theme. An inflatable monkey sits atop one shelf, and bright colors adorn everything in the room.
“I feel pretty good about (the first day of school) right now,” Ball said, adding that she felt more stressed last week. She has spent several weeks decorating her classroom, but her preparations began much earlier: she has been collecting children’s books for two or three years.
Brandi Russell, a new third-grade teacher at Alexandria Elementary, said being a new teacher can feel “overwhelming.” But Russell – whose colleagues tease her for being constantly cheerful – was quick to emphasize how excited she feels about the year.
“Tomorrow is the day that I start changing lives,” said Russell, who decided to become a teacher after she was thrown into a classroom while volunteering at a vacation Bible school.
She’s spent a month preparing her third-grade classroom.
“You don’t realize they don’t come ready-made,” she said.
Her students might not realize it either. Russell’s mother sewed curtains for the room and trendy denim seat sacks that look like the back of a pair of jeans.
Teachers elsewhere express the same combination of excitement and nervousness as Russell and Ball.
Sherita Andrews, a 2002 graduate of Oxford High School who will begin teaching ninth grade math there this year, said she worries she’ll have trouble establishing connections with her students’ parents because she looks young.
But Andrews is also looking forward to being back at Oxford.
“It feels great to have an opportunity to work with some of my old teachers,” she said.
The new teachers view being at the front of the classroom as just as much of a learning experience as being behind a desk, Russell said.
“Teaching is the best way to learn.”
Staff writer Markeshia Ricks contributed reporting from Montgomery.
"Nurse Beth"
The Cleburne County School System has a new head nurse -- Beth Jackson.
Jackson's main office is at the Cleburne County Elementary School in Heflin.
She is replacing Pat McElroy, who served as the system's head nurse for 14 years and was recently awarded the 2007 Alabama School Nurse of the Year Award by the Alabama School Nurse Association.
Early Thursday morning, Jackson was in her office helping parents sort out medicines and other medical needs.
No major accident had happen in the first few minutes of the new school year. But, Jackson was ready if there had been.
For the past nearly 14 years Jackson has served as an RN in hospitals.
Her love for children helped her take the job. She also has children attending Cleburne County schools.
Jackson is in charge of five nurses throughout the county. Their job, she said, is to make sure children are safe, she said.
"I'm here to ensure they are healthy," she said. "And, to make sure medical needs are met."
First day hard on parents too
This morning, the parents of kindergarteners at Kitty Stone Elementary School seemed to need their hands held more than their children.
"I'd like to learn about letters, the numbers, and the alphabet," said one kindergartener, as she marched towards her first day of school.
"It's a little nerve racking," her mom said with a quick smile.
Lori Tippets, Jacksonville school board president, kept a watchful eye over the kindergarten drop-offs as their teachers expertly whisked them off to rooms bursting with crayons, paper, and color.
"I think it’s harder on the parents," said Tippets. "We help them. I tell them, 'the first day will be harder on them than the children. I just tell them to go with the flow.’"
"I'm so excited, I'm going to cry, I love you so much," said another mom as she kissed and hugged her daughter goodbye.
"I'm going to cry all the way home," one more mom said after her child had disappeared into a classroom. "My stomach’s in knots."
-cynthia
Supplies and Snacks
In the minutes before classes begin at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, students hurry in and out of the Cardinal's Nest school supply store, located at the end of a corridor with fifth and sixth grade classrooms.
Freshman jitters in Heflin
The halls at Cleburne County High School in Heflin were jammed pack moments before the 7:35 a.m. bell today. Lockers slammed, purses flung over shoulders and schedules were discussed.
Freshman Megan Reed, 14, and her friends congregated in the hallway just before heading off to class. They talked about their summer and the first day of school.
"I'm nervous, but just this year," she said. "It's gonna be the hardest year."
LeeAnn Smith, 15, agreed. But, she said she thinks high school will be different than middle school.
"Less drama," she said. "No fighting or fussing"
In the school's main lobby was a line of juniors and seniors patiently waiting for the parking decal to put on their cars. As they waited they shared their schedules and what they did over the summer.
The final bell rang. Teachers closed their classroom doors. The side entrance doors to the school were locked.
The first day of class officially had begun.
Cafeteria Confessions
Teenagers packed the cafeteria at Jacksonville High School on the first day of school to catch up on their summers. Assigned summer reading was a topic of discussion for a group of newly minted tenth graders.
"Well, I got halfway through it and went out and bought the book on tape for The Scarlet Letter," said one girl to her friends.
"Well it's not the greatest reading in the world, you know," she continued.
"If they want us to take a break from school then why do they assign this," said another girl.
"I hate reading," she concluded.
"So do I," chimed a buddy.
"That's why I get the books on tape," said the first girl.
-cynthia
Too early, too much coffee
The sun has only been up a couple of hours and already the students at Jacksonville High School are pushing through the doors for their first day of school.
Upon entering, the high schoolers head straight for the cafeteria to see friends and check schedules.
Everyone's been through this routine before.
Especially Nancy Martin, the high school receptionist, who is coming through the door in a hurry with a half-drunk mug of coffee in one hand.
"The kids are excited, the adults are excited, everyone’s excited, it's great, first days are always great," she says.
-cynthia
Miss Mobley's kindergarten class
After waiting patiently in the Cleburne County Elementary School cafeteria, children and their parents eagerly headed to their designated classrooms.
Kim Mobley's kindergarten class filled up quickly with giggles, chatter and artists.
At each table were crayons and pages to color.
A group of boys filled one table. Most of them knew each other from another place.
"I went to Bible school with him," five-year-old Drew Cavendar said pointing to the boy next to him. "We're good friends."
The topic of discussion varied as each one talked. Drew was concerned with his orange polo shirt.
"I hope I don't stain my shirt because it's a brand new one," he said holding a green crayon.
Drew was also concerned he didn't have a name tag. He thought he should have one.
"They really ought to give that at the front door," he said. "We might forget our names."
The kindergarten students continued to file in, each one with a backpack and lunch money. Logan Brower, 5, walked in with his mother Mica Brower. He didn't want to let go. His mother assured him things would be fine and kissed him on his forehead.
While some kids cried, others enjoyed making new friends.
"I love to hear laughter on the first day," teacher Kim Mobley said.
The schedule for the day was to "get adjusted to school" and learn the classroom rules, Mobley said.
On the Menu
Summer foods are on the menu for the first day of school.
At White Plains Elementary School, students will lunch on hot dogs, potato chips, pickles, salad, baked beans, peaches, and Teddy Grahams. Carol Brimer, the cafeteria manager, said she chose this menu for the first day because it's "easy, something quick that the kids can go through."
About 90 percent of the students at White Plains Elementary buy lunch, Brimer said. The cafeteria also serves breakfast.
The back-to-school menu at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School in Anniston includes hamburgers -- plus toppings and chips -- and ice cream sandwiches, said dining staff member Lori Champion. She chose the meal because it's one of the kids' favorites, she said. Tomorrow the dining hall will serve another favorite, pizza from Little Caesar's. About 85 percent of the students at Sacred Heart buy lunch, Champion said.
Waiting for class to start in Heflin
Just before 7 a.m. today the Cleburne County Elementary School cafeteria quickly filled up with children and their parents as they waited to go to class.
At a table near the entrance sat five-year-old Kya Battle and her mother Christina Battle. With new clothes and colorful beads in her hair, Kya waited patiently. She wasn't nervous about her first day.
"I'm excited," she said.
Her mother was too.
"I'm happy you're going to school," Christina Battle said to her daughter. "You're going to behave and not bring home a note that you talk too much."
Kya smiled and said she wouldn't.
At the other end of the table sat five-year-old Kaleb Angle and his parents Tanya and Terry Angle.
Kaleb was ready. He had his bright blue backpack on his back. He didn't talk much.
Tanya Caleb asked him if he was going to learn his ABCs and colors at school. Kaleb just nodded.
"It doesn't seem like he should be in school," Tanya Angle said as she fought back tears.
