Tuesday, February 13, 2018

ST CAUCUS LETTER ON TEACHER EVALUATION CRITICAL OF MULGREW

The time is right to repeal the awful teacher evaluation laws (APPR) that were passed by the State Legislature to allow NYS to compete for President Obama's disgusting Race To The Top money. New York State United Teachers is taking the lead here.

NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said in testimony before the State Legislature that we must get student assessments out of teacher evaluation. NYSUT at last year's Representative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling for student performance to be removed from teacher ratings.

The UFT is the largest union that is part of NYSUT. UFT and NYSUT are both controlled by Unity Caucus. UFT President Mulgrew and NYSUT President Pallotta are both from Unity. Pallotta was once a UFT District Representative. This makes Mulgrew's actions in Albany, where he testified that the NYC teacher evaluation system could be used as a model by NYS, both confusing and infuriating.  Mulgrew is pretty much contradicting NYSUT and what he  and his people voted for.

I am not the only one who discovered President Mulgrew's troubling testimony. When we printed it on this blog, our posting received thousands of hits (many more than we usually get). Now, the opposition to Unity at NYSUT called ST Caucus (Stronger Together) has written a letter on evaluation in support of NYSUT's position while critical of Mulgrew and urging action on repealing the current evaluation law. It is copied in full below.


ST Caucus

James --

Urgent Call To Action On APPR

With the Committee of 100 quickly approaching, we want to take some time to address the important legislative issue of APPR. The moratorium is expiring and Commissioner Elia is looking at various approaches to solve the problems of the current, flawed APPR model. It is critical that we get APPR right!

At last year’s Representative Assembly, NYSUT delegates voted unanimously to oppose the mandatory use of student performance measures in teacher evaluation. We are excited to see the NYSUT officers supporting this resolution in their lobbying efforts in Albany and in regional meetings around the state.

In his testimony on January 31st, Andy Pallotta urged lawmakers to make statutory changes ensuring teacher evaluations are “returned to local control with no state mandates.” While this is a tremendous step in the right direction, members will need to continue to put pressure on lawmakers to secure appropriate statutory changes to the APPR law. We will not be able to fix New York’s flawed teacher evaluation system without standing in solidarity through a sustained campaign educating legislators and the public.

All current metrics tied to student performance lack validity and reliability, so eliminating any mandate is the only solution that will ultimately return stability to the teacher evaluation process in New York. At a time when NYSUT has been clear and unanimous about removing state mandates, it is troubling to read the testimony of Michael Mulgrew. He had the following to say in his budget hearing testimony on January 31st:

Expand authentic measures of student learning

New York City’s teacher evaluation system gives schools choices about the kinds of student assessments that can be used in teacher evaluation, including essays and other ways that students can demonstrate their skill. We also give schools choices about how to measure student growth. We know our system is more responsive to the needs of individual schools and their students. It is a model that moves away from one-size-fits-all systems mandated by the state. We believe that the city’s approach could be a model statewide. The UFT believes we need to avoid a return to the testing craze that gripped New York for too many years.

While this system may be what UFT leadership desires, teachers in the rest of the state reject this idea as yet another mandate from the state. This can only be seen as more of the same. The fact remains that whether essays, portfolios, or tests, there is no valid or reliable formula to integrate student work into a teacher evaluation system. We agree with Andy Pallotta as he brought forward the unanimous position adopted by the NYSUT Representative Assembly: there should be no state mandate on student performance in our APPR. Michael Mulgrew’s position is not consistent with the will of New York’s teachers, the NYSUT Representative Assembly, or the NYSUT Officers.

Commissioner Elia’s survey on New York’s APPR is a tool of misdirection; we fully support NYSUT’s boycott. The format and lack of organized distribution make this an inherently flawed instrument. As we have seen in previous surveys from SED, ridiculously small sample sizes are used to represent the views of the state’s parents and teachers. We are in full concurrence with Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango when she asserts, “The state has had at least six years to listen to the voices of teachers and parents who are angry and frustrated with this broken teacher evaluation system. We don't need any more surveys or delays. This is the year to fix it. Evaluations must be returned to local control with no state mandates.”

In response, we are urging you to do two things:

Do not promote or respond to Commissioner Elia’s survey on APPR. If you have asked your members to fill it out, we are encouraging teachers to weigh in against using ANY form of student performance. Phrases such as “there are no effective or valid student performance instruments appropriate for use in teachers’ evaluations” and “return APPR decisions to local control” should be used frequently!

In the upcoming Committee of 100 meetings, we are encouraging NYSUT members to impress upon lawmakers the importance of getting rid of state mandates and returning local control to APPR. We do not need more flawed and invalid models of evaluation-- we need local control!

We look forward to seeing you at the Committee of 100 meetings and the NYSUT RA!

In Solidarity,

ST Caucus Executive Committee



25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fully agree with getting rid of invalid metrics such as testing and portfolios. We also must get rid of the HEDI metrics. I don’t know about anyone else’s schools but the brown nosers & sycophants and newbies are always highly effective while the vets; with decade plus experience, get told they’re developing in certain areas. Always happens and it’s insulting to be told after 20 + years that you are developing based on a 15 minute drive by. Bring back Satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are one or the other no matter how well you kiss ass. This sort of patronage goes against the grain of civil service and is ripe with corruption. Also the burden of proof for a teacher being unsatisfactory must be placed back on administration. How on earth it ever was agreed upon to be placed on the teacher is mind blowing. Mulgrew and his lackeys suck in all ways, so I won’t hold my breath for any of this. While they shouldn’t hold their breath for our dues if they continue screwing us.

Anonymous said...

YES, YES, YES! Nothing, and I mean nothing, would bring I and my colleagues more peace of mind than to bring back the S/U system. I also have over 20 years experience and I lived in peace for the majority of those years until the arrival of Danielson, multiple observations, and the HEDI scores. NYSUT is stepping up to the plate and the legislature is actually taking the time to listen to what they are saying. Mulgrew is once again being the biggest asshole on planet earth by throwing a wrench in all of this. Does he not know or care that the rank and file want a return to decent and fair evaluation system? Is he not aware that if he continues to support our current evaluation system that there will be tons of teachers who will stop paying dues after Janus?

Anonymous said...

The teachers from around the state who get two observations and have nothing to fear want to go back to a rational evaluation system. NYC teachers told by Mulgrew to eat another shot sandwich. How much more?

Anonymous said...

Why can't we get a petition with 80,000 signatures like the paternity leave petition that shows our desire to get a sane evaluation in NYC and NYS? Not a single teacher I know likes our current evaluation system. We all want a return to S/U and the elimination of Danielson and HEDI. As for Mulgrew, I have no idea what he has been smoking. He does not give a shit about the rank and file. He just wants his stupid "seat at the table" with the Mayor and the DOE. He thinks that if he tries to fight our current evaluation system that City Hall will be unhappy and will not be his buddy. Well guess what? He is not supposed to be a buddy with City Hall! He gets paid big, big, bucks by the teachers of NYC to do what is right to make our working conditions decent. We all know that is not the case. Mulgrew is not even trying to hide his position on the evaluation system. He supports it in it's horrible, current form. If he stays on this path, he will be out of a job very soon due to Janus. He really underestimates how furious that rank and file are over him and the evaluation system in particular. Get with the program Mike!

Jerica said...

Evaluate this, my principal told us to hand over money so they could take that money and buy the kids donuts tomorrow

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew is extremely sleazy. Mulgrew nailed his wife in his vocational school's woodshop. Mulgrew and Weingarten took money from Bill Gates and they have been bought out by the Ed Deformers. They work for the interests of the DOE. They are corporatists. They do not work on behalf of teachers. Mulgrew is a neo-Quisling. Wingarten is a neo-Quisling.

Anonymous said...

Most UFT members do not know that the UFT accepted money from Democratic President Barack Hussein Obama’s race to the top funds (RTTT) to agree to the Danielson rubric and to multiple observations and to test scores being a part of APPR. Keep speaking truth to power as the UFT will keep telling it’s members to vote Democrat beacause it fattens their wallets. Wake up membership!!! Stop being Sheeple. Question authority!!!

Anonymous said...

Most of the signatures for the paternal leave are not UFT members but bots and those who will sign any and all petitions. Mike Shulman has been crying for family leave for decades and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s behind ALL of this. Truly poll membership. Guarantee that the elimination of HEDI, Danielson, APPR, multiple observations and the return to the S and U system would out poll Paternal/Family leave by a large majority. Paternal leave is a straw man argument to deflect from the UFT not doing a DAMN thing about the multiple complaints from the majority of membership about the evaluation system!

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that it was his girlfriend/Gummata who he banged in the wood shop classroom and not his wife, who both the UFT & the Board of education worked In Conjunction with to hide so Michael Mulgrew; the Golden Boy, could have his strings pulled by the powers that be to deliver inferior contracts and apathy to his members demands.

James Eterno said...

Or maybe since Mulgrew helped craft the evaluation system, he truly believes in it and is now defending it against his rank and file and the state union. In the Unity Caucus bubble, they do not hear what we have to say. We truly have a chance to make a difference here. Let our voices be heard.

Anonymous said...

EACTLY! We truly do have a chance to make a difference here. However, this chance will not last long. Legislature is willing to listen to us but they won't forever. We also have a new contract coming up that could be many years in duration. Mulgrew could at the very least, fight to get us 2 observations in the current round of contract talks with the City. He should also change his tone and support NYSUT to gut the entire NYS evaluation law. Teachers at my school are very aware of his nonsense and they are already planning on pulling union dues if our evaluation system does not improve. This is a very critical time. We must be heard. And I also support a petition to get the evals changed. MORE should take the lead on that and the readers on this blog can put the word out to our colleagues to gin it. Go for it MORE!

Anonymous said...

Teachers in every single NYC Public school are aware of his nonsense!
Let our voices be heard.
Petition
Petition
Petition!

Anonymous said...

We need to get Mulgrew out before he does more damage.

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew needs to step down.

Anonymous said...

MORE won't do shit if it does not have to do with some bullshit, social justice, anti racism, restorative justice crap. The real teachers in the schools have to make this happen.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with that. The only way to get Mulgrew out is the same way the Italians got Mussolini out.

Anonymous said...

a 13 year was having sex with an 18 year old in the steps and it was being recorded on a cell phone, but this a a good school with good kids. and the kids need their phones for emergencies.

Anonymous said...

Appreciate the column and all the wonderful comments Maybe the few dozen locals in NYSUT who let the powers that be know they were ready to walk over the evaluation issue have contributed to the change of tune from Latham. We shall see. There are alternatives to NYSUT.

Anonymous said...

What happened to the school budget? Never heard of such a thing. This is the kind of thing the chapter leader can take care of in discussing with your principal.

Bj said...

Great news, we had a moment of silence today at school for eric garner, he only had nearly 40 arrests, thats a role model.

James Eterno said...

Try to at least attempt to stay on topic Bj. The Eric Garner comment might be more appropriate on the UFT not backing Black Lives Matter post but it makes little sense on evaluations.

Bj said...

Sorry, just making a statement of what nonsense goes on, certainly not a model, would you want your kids to have 40 arrests? And thats what we salute in schools? No wonder we have problems.

Anonymous said...

Petition update?

Anonymous said...

Buyout update? contract update?

James Eterno said...

On the road Thursday after school and Friday to go to visit Camille's brother and sister in Georgia. This is also crunch time as Middle College works on trimester model so I have lots of final projects I am looking at. I didn't forget petition. I need a little time to do it right. Sorry for delay.