The Notebook

Stories tagged: Paul Vallas

Cheating: Time for answers

Posted in December 2012 Edition | Permalink

For nine years in a row, up through 2011, every summer brought cheery news that test scores went up in Philadelphia schools. Sure, performance wasn’t where it should be, but things were on the right track. More and more students scored proficient and many schools met their adequate yearly progress targets.

Choosing a high school keeps getting more complicated

By Dale Mezzacappa Posted in Fall Guide 2012 Edition | Permalink

The always daunting process of getting into high school has a new twist this year.

In a system where studies have found that parents are already befuddled by the process, students and their families have a dizzying array of high school choices – small schools, large schools, themed schools, charter schools, themed charter schools, neighborhood schools that have become charter schools – the list goes on.

Cómo seleccionar una escuela superior: Preguntas comunes

Por Dale Mezzacappa Posted in "Fall Guide" 2012 Edition | Permalink

¿Cómo comienzo?

Hite officially hired, will start Oct. 1

Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Wed, 07/25/2012 - 14:52 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

The School Reform Commission on Tuesday officially hired Dr. William Hite as superintendent, effective Oct. 1, at an annual salary of $300,000.

All five members voted in favor of the five-year contract, which will pay Hite $50,000 more than he receives as superintendent of the 125,000-student school district in Prince George's County, Md., but $48,000 less than former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.

Not college-ready

Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink

Gov. Tom Corbett has been slashing funds for higher education. He and other anti-government types are ignoring a growing understanding in the real world: Making college more accessible and affordable is critical not only to individual success but to the nation's future.

A canopy view: 'The Village Proposal' book

Submitted by Samuel Reed III on Thu, 04/12/2012 - 11:58 Posted in Class notes | Permalink

“Reforming our schools to deliver a world-class education is a shared responsibility – the task cannot be shouldered by our nation's teachers and principals alone…” (U.S. Department of Education, ESA Blueprint for Reform 2010)

Christopher Paslay brings his expertise as a high school English teacher, contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Chalk and Talk blogger to make The Village Proposal a timely and compelling read. The book examines the problems in education by juxtaposing Paslay's personal memoir with solid documented research.

You may not agree with some or all of the arguments, but that is exactly what makes Village Proposal a good read. Paslay argues using a narrative structure not found in many books about education reform. He doesn’t bore the reader with an overly complex or over-simplified problem-and-solution approach to education. He presents a nuanced view of shared responsibility.

Authentic learning opportunities

Posted in April 2012 Edition | Permalink

A comment on the post "School autonomy for curriculum to return," from February 17.

Thanks to Frank Murphy for sharing a concise trajectory of how the District's curriculum impacts our practice.

Literacy instruction under 4 District leaders...

Posted in April 2012 Edition | Permalink

Constance Clayton: 1982-1993

Navegando por el mar de cambios en el currículo

por Bill Hangley, Jr. Posted in Abril 2012 Edition | Permalink

Marilynn Holmes ha enseñado 1er grado en la Escuela Elemental Isaac A. Sheppard en West Kensington desde el 1968. Natural de una pequeña ciudad de minas de carbón cerca de Pittsburgh, y graduada de lo que entonces se llamaba el Cheyney State College, ha sido testigo presencial de 40 años de cambios en el currículo.

Riding the waves of curriculum change

by Bill Hangley, Jr. Posted in April 2012 Edition | Permalink

Marilynn Holmes has taught 1st grade at Isaac A. Sheppard Elementary in West Kensington since 1968. A native of a coal-mining "company town" near Pittsburgh and a graduate of what was then known as Cheyney State College, she's been a first-hand witness to 40 years of curriculum changes.

Holmes works at a school that has been targeted for closure due to its low enrollment and aging facilities, but she is quick to laugh about all the challenges she's faced. She worries less about the specifics of the District's curriculum than she does about its dwindling resources.

Here are the highlights of our conversation with Holmes, who talked about the changes she's seen and the advice she'd offer the next superintendent.