Monday, September 21, 2009

Commissioner's Corner

This Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock we will be meeting with the Vermont Commissioner of Education, Armando Vilaseca. Please use this space to suggest initial questions that he can respond to in this 'town meeting' format in Jeffords Lecture Hall. Questioners will have the opportunity to 'follow-up' the Commissioner's response with an additional question...if the format holds!!!
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9 comments:

  1. N. WollumSeptember 21, 2009 at 4:46 PM

    Here's are a couple of questions and I would appreciate anyone editing them!
    1. Vermont has many small, socio-economically impoverished rural schools that struggle with the NCLB requirements. I would love some suggestions on how you think these small schools could show significant improvement. Do you have examples of underperforming rural schools that have had success "coming back" and what did those schools do that was so successful?

    2.How can schools effectively and fairly remove poor teachers while allowing good teaching to thrive? Karl Thelen, a Teacher of the Year and Author of 'A Nation Of Idiots' says Vermont's Standards designed to "catch poor teachers" are also "catching good teachers and slowing them down." "A poor teacher can hide for several years" (p.117) Do you think this is true?

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  2. jgilesSeptember 21, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    Nancy, your second question was similar to one I had. You said it very nicely! I, too, would like to know what the Commissioner's thoughts are regarding effective support for teachers who struggle and when enough support has been offered but there is still no change, then what next?

    I have also heard teachers saying education has become an "assessment nightmare." There is simply too much assessment being mandated. It is taking time away from teaching and while there is definitely a need to do some assessment, when is it too much? What is the Commissioner's view of assessment, and what does the future hold?

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2009 at 6:40 AM

    I think that we need to ask something about Technology here. Maybe something like with the addition and push for technology in our school is there going to be any funding to support efforts of districts and schools to update equipment and other materials?

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  4. MMerrillSeptember 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM

    1. What are some of your ideas to support low income families while at the same time not enabling them?

    2. A lot of people talk about how Social Security will run out by 2012... What is the status of the Vermont Teacher Retirement Fund?

    3. I believe that NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND, but I feel that the NCLB initiative does not account for children on IEP's. What do you see happening in the future to have these two concepts meshed?

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  5. edechenSeptember 22, 2009 at 3:21 PM

    I am interested in the commissioners ideas centered around what is going to happen to the schools that fail to meet the standard on the NECAP tests. Rutland is in their 6th year as a checkmarked school. We are already experiencing different protocols in our meetings. What is next. As I understand it schools must be at 100% meeting the standard by 2012. Is this information accurate?

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  6. N. WollumSeptember 22, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    And one more?:
    There is so much talk about the consolidation of the state's school districts to control costs, but I've not heard much on how consolidation will affect students and the teachers that teach them. Would you speak to that, please?

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  7. Tim ClearySeptember 22, 2009 at 4:47 PM

    These are great questions! From poverty to technology to consolidation. Should be a fun conversation. And certainly a host of 'current issues'.

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  8. carolleisabelleSeptember 23, 2009 at 3:51 AM

    There are so many impoverished families who are also VERY proud and do not come forward with their needs. How can teachers make sure that their students are getting what they need both physically and emotionally and still maintain a postive, thriving relationship with their parents?

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  9. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM

    I also am interested in knowing where he stands on k-12 schools...since I work for one.....

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