Back in 2014 Chancellor Carmen Farina told the news media that the Renewal schools will be sent "highly effective" teachers. Instead, the Renewal schools ended up hiring "newbies" instead. Brooklyn's Automotive High School was the poster child of this failure to hire quality teachers. Some of these "newbies" were from Teach For America (TFA) and few lasted beyond their two year commitment.
Fast forward to the upcoming 2017-18 school year and Teach For America claims it has increased the amount of college graduates, without a teaching degree into the New York City Public Schools. According to Chalkbeat, TFA claims that 146 of their two year wonders have been offered positions in the 2017-18 school year. That means that up to 4,762 children will be guinea pigs for an instructor with no education degree and classroom experience. Maybe Ms. Nicole Thomas's daughter will be fortunate enough to get one of these uncertified "newbies" as her teacher, complete with a five week training course on how to teach (lol)..
This is just another example of principals who hire these TFA "newbies" showing that they care more about their budget and control then what's best for the students of the school/
49 comments:
Nicole Thomas should write an editorial about that. A TFA with a 5 week training course vs a veteran teacher with 20 or more years experience teaching. Those kids will eat those TFA gold fish alive. I've seen it and it ain't pretty.
The TFA fish will likely be pretty young. They will think that attempting to be their "friend" will recruit the students to listen to them and do their work. It will take the students about 30 seconds to figure out how they can push this earnest TFA fish around like a mop on a dirty floor. And when they approach this TFA with their inevitable failing grades and try every kind of sob story on them, the fish will find themselves bending over backwards to try and give them all second, third, etc. chances, "to be fair". Not much learning will take place except learning how to manipulate the TFA fish. What a sad slow motion tragi-comedy. I've seen it and had no recourse but to just shake my head. Dollars over scholars, folks.
That the UFT is silently and passively allowing TFAers to be hired, instead of demanding that ATRs be placed in permanent positions, is indicative of the bankruptcy of the Mulgrew MalAdminstration.
Thanks for reporting on this, and all the good work you do.
I do, however, have a mild quibble with the implications of your using the term "newbie." As I understand the word, it means a "newcomer" or "fledgling." All of us were "newbies" once, but that's very different from being temps - especially ones receiving favored treatment for serving a political agenda - which is what TFAers are.
We need young teachers who have union consciousness, or have to bring it to them. It's our responsibility as senior teachers and trade unionists, and terminology that separates people according to their age, rather than their actions and the purposes they're serving systemically, is counterproductive.
The teacher exodus will be in full force comes 2018. Admins should be kissing ATR's asses as they looming teacher shortage begins. The contract is up Nov. 2018, does anyone have a clue what's going to happen after that or what the new contract will include or not include?
New teachers who are not tenured have to play ball with the administration about grades. One of the main purposes in hiring them. Not just their salary.?
All the rhetoric around veteran teachers is such propaganda. Most veteran teachers I know are miserable. Some are using the same lessons they made 20 years ago. Constantly complaining about PD or any type of training because they know it all. Many are insubordinate and most look like total slobs. Who goes to work in sweat pants and sneakers.... really? Put some pants on you animal! Honestly, when I look around at a staff development meeting I am total embarrassed and disgusted. Everyone was a new once - even you! you miserable POS! Some newbies bring qualities that veterans lost long ago... think back to when you could stand this job, you know it's true. The bottom line is we all checked the wrong box back in college and now we are paying the price. This job is not intended for mature adults or senior citizens - there should be a mandatory retirement age - move on get a life already! Everyone one loves the young new teacher... no one wants a veteran.
Chaz...
Is Anon 6:41 talking to you? What a tool.
6:41,
So you go and quit. Or contribute to our wardrobes or bring in real PD. The only reasons you want those newbies is to fuck them literally and figuratively. Oh well, no gives a shit what you or anyone else thinks anyway.
Anob 6:41
True, we were all new once but we were hired to replace a retired teacher and learned the craft from the experienced teachers of the school. the difference now is that many staff lack experience while there is an ATR pool of certified and experienced teachers left in purgatory and that hurts the students.
TFA's will be eaten alive by these kids....As an ATR for the past 2 years, in schools where there were openings in my field, teaching doing great, accepted by the staff and Administration....Wont get hired! LOL! I have too many years....but not to worry, they wont be able to kick this ATR around anymore... I'm done in October!
Perhaps this is what Ms. Thomas wants so that her child can glide through the system instead of earn the grades given.
@6:41PM - That means you will move on as well and there will have no doubt about that. Your words sound like someone that has a chip on their shoulder. Do tell, what is the profession for "mature adults or senior citizens" since, as per your statement, this is not the profession for the aging? Share your wisdom.
Both young and old, experienced and inexperienced are needed in this profession, but the way this system is going, staff are wanted to fill positions temporarily. The goal of this approach is: no seniority, no tenure, no pension, no institutional knowledge, no union, easy to coerce into grade inflation, etc. @6:41PM - Hopefully this is not the profession you wanted to dedicate your life to. It seems you are not a veteran in the system. This used to be a profession people really wanted to dedicate their lives to. Then things began to change due to politics, Leadership Academy principals, etc. which their purpose has been to dismantle NYC public schools. The only thing is, things have NOT improved. Good luck. By the way, at what age should we all retire????
This is occurring with school counselors as well. Around 2014, NYC DOE hired 250 brand new school guidance counselors while there are ATR school guidance counselors with no permanent placement. Outside agencies and others that are not school guidance counselors are also tasked with college counseling.
Hey 6:41! How long have you been an admin or a wannabe AP? What about some of the new young female teachers who come in dressed like teenagers or showing cleavage? Guess that's okay because you enjoy the show? We did not grow up with technology. Am willing to learn but yes I struggle and it takes me longer than a new teacher. But it's interesting that I can control a class faster than a new teacher can and have had new teachers sent to my classroom by admins to watch and learn what I do. Did I know how to do this when I was a new teacher? No I went t a veteran teachers class to learn how it's done. Thanks for calling me a failure. Good day!
I was told by an administrator at the summer school I work at that a hiring freeze was instituted for outside guidance counselors. I'm not aware if this was mandated for other disciplines as well. Of course the principal at that school needs a guidance counselor but won't hire one because ATR's are to expensive. So he will wait it out and the students will suffer in the meanwhile.
the common thread is atr's are not getting hired, new teachers are. you all complain but do nothing about. more power to tweed the administrators the system it found away to bend you over and make you say more please! farina and mulgrew probably meet once a week to read all the blogs together have a few drinks and laugh they're asses off. keep the complaints coming fools september is right around the corner!!! more power to the nyshitty school system.
Newbies are coming into the system when kids are worse than ever.
They are addicted to their cell phones and no longer have the stamina to read more than a few sentences.
They have less home training than ever before.
The air of entitlement is the worst I've ever seen.
The pressure on teachers to pass, pass, pass now reaches into lower elementary.
Multiculturalism has sown confusion as no one knows who 'their' people are anymore.
I have 6 years to go. It used to be a nice profession where you could really help kids. No more.
I hope I make it.
@2:14PM - Thanks for this information. The UFT hopefully was part of this hiring freeze for outside school guidance counselors. Whether you think the union is doing something or not, it is always good to inform them of what is going on.
In addition, school guidance counselors' tasks which fall within three domains: academic, social-emotional and college-career are being done by others that are not licensed NYC Dept of Education school guidance counselors. Outside agencies, community associates and even school social workers have been doing school guidance work. This creates confusion among the different titles and roles staff should be having.
Hope this city is laughing when there is a severe teacher shortage and people changing their majors left and right in college from educarion to something else. I only tell people that I don't like to be teachers.
@6:34AM - Are you a principal, assistant principal, staff or staff with an ATR status? This is not a fight ONLY for just those that are in the ATR pool. This is EVERYONE'S fight if you want to try to preserve seniority, pensions, tenure, etc. This is even administrator's fight (if they're smart). This mindset is not a positive one. It is to no one's advantage; not for administrators, staff and students. So chill out @6:34AM.
The problem is that the veteran teachers have been so slandered in the media, the newbies not only don't want our advice, but are encouraged by administration not to take it. Our newbie teachers know it all, and are revered by TPTB.
As a former ATR and teacher who was U-rated the year I was put into excess, it can be tough to compete against new teachers, especially if I've had the same position in the same school for the better part of a decade. (Makes the demo lesson that much harder.)
I am curious, at what point does the ATR bear some of the responsibility for not finding a new position? After one school year, two, three ... and during this time if there is only a growing discontent for the system and not over the opportunity to work with the kids again, why stay tethered to it when so many other outlets to serve as an educator exist? In a game of attrition, the DOE can stay irrational longer than any one of us can (or want to) function within the profession.
This is an e-mail that I received.
Good Morning,
Thank you for your interest in the Social Studies Leave Replacement position at The Baccalaureate School for Global Education. We appreciate you taking the time to apply for this position. Unfortunately, due to hiring changes within the DOE this upcoming school year we are unable to offer you a position at this time. However, we will keep your resume in our current file for consideration at a later date should a suitable vacancy arise.
We appreciate your interest in The Baccalaureate School for Global Education and wish you every success in your endeavors.
Regards,
It was nice of them to write back. Most of the time I don't get a response. I have been a teacher for twenty years, an ATR for two years. I have had two provisional positions, have received a lot of praise from parents and students and would love a position. Saw this position on open market.
That was a lovely way of stating, you have 20 years and the school is not interested. LOL. The school is trying to cover itself by conveying the message that they are cooperating. Remember the job fairs? It's all for show. Frame the letter.
Carmen Farina is retiring soon and should be now then later. However, before she goes and writes her book she made sure she sticks all ATRs into forced placement. This is not fair.
Does "Unfortunately, due to hiring changes within the DOE this upcoming school year we are unable to offer you a position at this time," mean: we were instructed not to hire atrs because they will be force placed?
Are you sure about the hiring freeze for guidance counselors?
It is unfortunately that the Baccalaureate School did not decide to pursue your candidacy. I would be curious as to what they cite as the specific changes are to the DOE hiring policies. Ultimately, if a school doesn't want me, then I rather not work for them.
No knowing your specific license area and district seniority, there are still 9 other HS and Secondary schools in D30.
And I wouldn't completely knock the job fairs. It's where I got my first teaching job.
Good luck!
Chaz just a bit off topic, but I have two questions.
1. If a 35 year tenured teacher gets terminated at a 3020a, does that affect his pension and health benefits in any way whatsoever?
2. If a teacher RESIGNS (not retires), is his pension and benefits affected in any way?
I am currently a teacher. I would like to know does my time as a paraprofessional count towards my pension and health benefits. I was told no by the payroll secretary. Please inform thanks.
This would be the second time Carmen has retired. Remember she was retired for seven years before taking this supposed temporary job. She was supposed to hold the seat until a national search for a Chancellor was completed. It could be possible that a search was conducted and no one applied or no search was conducted.
Those in the ATR status should be provided with choices as to a placement. This is all BS that can affect ATRs very negatively because administrators don't want veteran ATRs. You could still be young and be a veteran due to the years served. Many of us need to work for many, many more years in our profession in the NYC DOE. Ludicrous how innocent people get caught up in such injustice.
Anon 11:12
Paras have a choice to join the pension system. Therefore, I am assuming that you didn't. However, you can "buy back" the pension time that you were a para. Contact TRS and their "buyback" unit.
to 11:12 - you made a mistake in trusting what a school secretary told you. I know of cases where secretaries gave the wrong information to the detriment of the teacher.
Thanks, I joined the trs as a paraprofessional.
@11:12PM - Having been a paraprofessional is pensionable. You should have been contributing towards a pension. Contact TRS as Chaz suggests. Good luck
Unlike teachers, paras have the option to join the pension system and most do.
I was able to buy back time as a NYC lifeguard, You can buy back time for any city job.
Yes I'm sure. I don't expect to see any principals hiring ATR counselors though. If you look at the open market there almost no positions available. The principals saw this coming last year and made sure they hired before they were forced to take on ATR's. Like I said previously, I am aware of a principal who is going to wait out this freeze no matter how long it takes. The principal wants a new counselor at half the rate of an ATR. It doesn't matter to most principals that student to counselor ratios could skyrocket during this period. They are under no obligation to have a certain student to counselor ratio. There is no law that dictates a certain ratio as there is in the classroom.
Anon 11:53
Your pension and health benefits are not affected if you retire or resign due to a 3020-a. However, by resigning, you will not receive your retroactive lump sum payments. Therefore, try to retire if your 55 or older.
@7:02PM - You are correct about there not being a cap for school guidance counselor caseloads (student to counselor ratio) although there has been advocacy for it. There should really be a 100 student to 1 school guidance counselor ratio as per the American School Counselor Association with a maximum of 250 students to 1 school counselor ratio. Some schools really warrant less of a caseload pending student population and responsibilities assigned. Problem is, administrators do not care about that. No one enforces it so it's a free for all. There is NO LAW. This year will be very interesting.
Administrators have to report how many school guidance counselors and school social workers there are in a school, as well as, students enrolled. This will be the tip off and principals will have to come up with something to keep out ATR school guidance counselors. This freeze on hiring new school guidance counselors will be interesting.
I wonder if hiring from agencies would be a way to get around the guidance counselor hiring freeze. I guess we will have to see what happens in the fall. Hoping for the best, expecting the worst.
All school guidance counselors need to be placed in schools, not in DOE offices. Working in a DOE office, there is an ATR school guidance counselor placed due to 'special circumstance' that wanted to retire in two to three years, but now with this ATR gig wants to push retirement til as long as this person can. School guidance counselors need to be placed inside schools and the UFT needs to push for this. This person is not practicing what school guidance counselors should be doing.
HERE IS THE QUESTION:
WHY ARE UFT / DOE rating ATRs under the "DANIELSON" and not UNDER the "TEACH FOR THE 21st CENTURY" PROTOCOLS???
This is baffling me because NO ONE IS ADDRESSING THE BIGGER ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.... how has the UFT/DOE been allowing this CONFUSION TO CONTINUE and not one is addressing it any of the BLOGS!!!!
WHAT RATING / EVALUATIONS are ATRs being rated/evaluated by???????????
I heard that there is a current hiring freeze that has been implemented for guidance counselors, social workers, and school psychologists. Is this the case for teachers too?
I am an F-status counselor at one school and was offered more days at another school but was told for some reason she couldn't give me the days because of a hiring freeze. How come, even though I am already in the system, she cannot hire me in her school as of right now?
Does anyone have any information on when the current hiring freeze for guidance counselors will be over? Or does anyone know if the principal can hire you as an exception to the freeze if you're already employed in a nyc doe public school?
same thing happened to me we are basically stuck in the middle. With the extra days I was going to receive I would have finally had a full time position.
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