ARPS Superintendent Maria Gery answers to Amherst & Pelham School Committees, Regional School Committee (4 towns), and Union 26
They say a doctor who treats oneself has a fool for a patient. But apparently in the operations and management world it's not uncommon to do a self-evaluation for your supervisor -- especially when those overseers are elected unpaid volunteers.
In her personal self evaluation School Superintendent Maria Geryk answered "needs improvement" to only one of 24 statements/traits, "Shared Vision". She checked off "proficient" for another 18 and the highest rating, "exemplary," 5 times.
Interestingly, School officials who evaluated her think "Managing Conflict" was her weakest performance. Five of 13 checked off "needs improvement" and one (Vira Douangmany Cage) gave her the sole "unsatisfactory" of her entire evaluation.
Of the 15 current and recent past School Committee members invited to evaluate the Superintendent, 13 responded and two -- Amilcar Shabazz and Sarah Dolven -- did not.
36 comments:
I've always had problems with the concept of self evaluations -- it is one thing to say what you want to work on for the next year and how you plan to do it, but if you are intellectually honest (and not narcissistic) you will be far harsher on yourself than any objective reviewer ever would be.
Hence do you shoot yourself in the foot, or do you lie? I have a problem with that kind of Faustian choice being imposed upon anyone...
I think that UMass' system is fairer -- it essentially is "what did you accomplish this year?"
Vira is a stain on the school committee.
Agreed 935. It will be a very long 3 years. She contributes NOTHING! She has no interest in making things better for the kids.
She does not. Her interest lies in making things better for herself. Transparent as glass (and as dangerous).
Agreed 955. She is very dangerous. She is the Carol Gray of the SC. Remember what CG did when she was on the Jones Library Board of Trustees. By the time her term was over several excellent members of the library staff were gone. I hope we don't see a similar exodus of school staff.
Anita Anderson Cooper, Chorale Director for 14 years, resigned in July saying, "Sadly, I have come to believe that my work may be valued more elsewhere."
And I don't think it had anything to do with Ms. Cage.
I agree Larry. Sad to lose her. She was a gem.
did I read that only about 225 parent/guardian surveys were submitted? Seems remarkably low (I don't know how to estimate the number of families but would estimate around 2000 and would expect that a mother and father might each submit a survey). So around 10% response rate?
A self evaluation is like being married to an alcoholic. You are too close to things to see the reality. You know everyone talks but can't see subjectively what others observe. In fact even if you are aware of how poorly you are doing, you just ignore it. You can't blame Geryk for giving herself such high ratings. Someone with more self esteem such as the other examples here would have been able to say I'm not doing well and I need to step down. And like an alcoholic relationship, everyone involved with her appeases her.
The so-called leaking of information about the Carolyn Gardner settlement happened in 2015-2016.
Vira's concern may be real, but it did not happen in 2014-15.
There was no way to submit an anonymous superintendent survey. Hence, many parents did not submit for fear of repurcussions to their children still in the system.
Low rate of return is very common in school surveys nationwide so not surprising actually.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBTv7OpdisM
Fail.
EOM
-Squeaky Squeaks
p.s. "Flush".
I wish that there was a little more self-discipline within our schools for school employees and their spouses to stay OUT of the politics surrounding our School Committee. That would include signing nomination papers for candidates (which we saw last spring), running for a school committee seat, campaigning for school committee candidates, etc. I think many people in town see this as a highly politicized School Department, including within the administration offices. I have not noticed the same problem with Town employees.
This lack of a bright line of exclusion for employees from the sphere of electoral politics that determine our local school committees' membership and policies contributes to the apprehension expressed by Anon 7:47 a.m.: that one's criticism of what goes on in the schools, or even one's simple support of certain SC candidates, will have negative consequences for one's children who are students.
Rich Morse
Yeah. They're just a bunch of twats, aren't they?
What ever happened to the requirement/promise/expectation that she'd earn her Doctorate?
Sure it is only a piece of paper, but so are the Diplomas that her high school hands out, and we tell children that those pieces of paper are important...
9:48 am
Phoebe Hazzard electoral papers required to have voter signatures in order to run for public office--was forged! by school administration no less! Check this out. It is quite apparent of the double signature (same person--two different names.)
undoing corruptness
assuming it is a repeated typo "elevator" in "Comments and analysis (comments are recommended for any overall rating; however, ratingsother than proficient require the elevator to provide comments including rationale, evidence, andfeedback for improvement). Unless it is eduspeak, it probably is evaluator. Made me LOL
Anyone know how to find the Superintendent ' s self evaluation and the 13 individual evaluations on the ARPS website?
Or on Gazettenet or Masslive ...
Sorry, Ed, but no one is hiring you.
Who said that I was available?
Can you say "Dr Ed's Kosher Lobsters"?
For all those parents out there who keep following the mess this Committee and administration are in hopes of seeing some change, remember this: The push for change has been going on for over a decade. There is no real change coming, EVER. If your kids are doing well in the ARPS system, then great for you. If they need the division sports that only Amherst can provide to get into college or get a scholarship, then milk it for all it is worth.
If however you moved to Amherst because of the "great schools" and are having doubts that the schools are working for your kids, Stop trying to change the schools. Get your kids help with Kumon, Sylvan, tutors, private school, home school, charter school, etc. Have them tested for issues if you need. Amherst may spend a lot on special needs but they won't tell you if your kids has issues. They will wait for you to do it. If you have any doubts that your kids teachers or counselors are not looking out for your kids, then the teachers or counselors are not looking out for your kids. Trust your instincts and get your kids out of the system if possible. No one in the system will really help you or your kids. They will talk all you want. They will be nice and kind. They will tell you everything will be ok. They will push your kid along and use grade inflation to make it all look alright. But it is not alright, and it will NEVER BE ALRIGHT. Don't believe them. Find help outside the schools, because in the end the schools really don't care and your child will not get a second chance. The schools wasted years of my child's education ignoring the problems that were right in front of them. We moved on and it has made a world of difference. I will never recommend the Amherst schools to anyone ever. They don't work for all kids, the administration is corrupt, and will never change. RUN folks RUN, if it seems bad it is really worse than you know. GET OUT NOW.
Re 11:52: That was not our experience of teachers and counselors. My child's elementary teacher identified problems, and recommended testing for special needs - which turned out to be accurate. The teacher then advocated for accommodations during the IEP evaluation period. We are very grateful for that teacher's actions.
Mrs. Cooper will be a tough act to follow. Her choruses were award-winning. I regret that some of the Middle Schoolers will miss out on performing as an ensemble under her direction. I'm sure that the cutting of musical ensemble time played a huge part in her leaving.
The expressions of unhappiness are not coming these days just from parents. Strike up a conversation with either a retired or veteran teacher about the system, and pull up a chair, because you're going to be there for awhile.
11:52
Not my experience either. Our kids are thriving in these schools with extremely caring teachers and staff, great opportunities - 3D printing workshop in elementary school anyone? and a high school student getting straight As and being accommodated with extra public service activities when requested...
4:44
Hi Ms. Cooper...
RE: 2:50: I think you will find that not all disabilities are treated equally.
Exactly how does 3D Printing Workshop fit into an elementary school curriculum?
I hadn't heard of Ms. Cooper's departure until now. What a big loss for the Amherst schools. Her choral groups are outstanding & the ARHS musical is inclusive and showcases the talents of so many students. It will be hard, if not impossible, for ARHS to find an adequate replacement. Good luck and best wishes to Ms. Cooper.
6:11
Hi Ms Cooper!
No. I'm not Anita. But a fan, yes.
I am an Anita Cooper fan too. She will be missed!
Musicians are, and have always been, 2nd class citizens. That we cut more and more of it out of our school life is only one piece of evidence. There is little in life more glorious than collective human voices raised in song. Sadly, ( or is it predictably) we value this less and less.
You can thank Title IX for the cuts in music programs, and this is yet another example of where the feminists made the mistake of going for equality instead of equity -- of demanding that the girls be treated *as* boys instead of as being considered as valuable as the boys, with equity of resources.
While there are boys interested in music, drama & performing arts, and girls interested in competitive sports -- the interest disproportinately breaks down along gender lines, and this is NOT social conditioning. Yes, boys will play with dolls (anyone remember GI Joe?) -- they will just play with them quite differently. And in a classic experiment where girls were allowed unsupervised play with toy trucks, they created truck "families" of "Daddy Trucks", "Mommy Trucks", and "Baby Trucks."
The mistake was not being able to count extracurricular music and such as a "sport" (as Cheerleading now is) and hence toward Title IX compliance. There might be fewer girls sports, but -- collectively -- more female students would benefit.
And the larger problem is perception -- with sports, someone "wins" and someone "loses" and the media can report on the "winning" team -- not so with most music, drama and the rest and hence it tends to be overlooked.
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