I guess the thought was that since schools were not closed or delayed, there was no need to communicate. Right?

Does anybody out there really believe that MNPS “puts the safety of our students and employees at the forefront of all weather-related decisions”? One more example of district leadership thinking that just saying something makes it true.  As one parent put out in a tweet: 

In the past I’ve written about the unwritten expectation that teachers will sacrifice weekends to work unpaid hours for the good of kids. Here’s another example of unwritten expectations. Nobody from the district makes a single attempt to assuage teachers fears, concerns, or even express appreciation. It is just assumed that teachers will risk financial cost – car accident, slip and fall necessitating medical treatment – in order to show up and take care of kids. Not a word is communicated because why should it be? Teachers have shown over and over that they will sacrifice above and beyond without recognition, so there is no reason to acknowledge. We’ll just hand out some J Crew and Starbuck gift cards on Teacher Appreciation Day and call things square.

Unfortunately, not all teachers were able to make it today. One quadrant alone is indicating over 100 teachers missing. So what’s the brilliant leadership strategy to counter those absences? Central office folks are being sent out to fill in where they can. Which results in more people being put in a dangerous position. Furthermore, nothing says essential positions like being used as classroom subs, not to mention the message that teaching is an easily replaceable job. Don’t any of those central office folk have their own responsibilities to take care of? Are they really capable of meeting the standards set by regular classroom teachers?

AARTS’s reported to Martin Center for meetings this morning only to be instructed halfway through the morning that they would need to go to schools to assist with shortages. Apparently, it’s not enough to put them at risk one time, twice is the charm.

As I write this piece, the following words scroll across my social media feed:

Let’s be honest. The whole day is just an exercise in futility. There is no rigor taking place today. We are putting people at risk for a day of warehousing. That’s the sad uncomfortable truth, and one district leadership seems comfortable with.

I understand that for some students, school is the only safe place where they can also get a meal. But let’s deal with that as a separate issue and develop a plan that utilizes more community resources and doesn’t put the burden solely on the back of teachers and administrators.

But will anything change? Already the defense of “surprise storm,” “unpredictable weather,” “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t” are springing up. I’m sure a few people will trot out the “Jesse Register” complaints as justification for once again failing to keep people safe. My personal favorite though is, “Parents can always choose to keep their kids home, you know what’s best.” If I know what’s best, why am I not the one getting paid $300k a year? No need to hire a director since I know best.

This is all symptomatic of what I’ve struggled with over the past year. Maybe this is the best we can do. Maybe my expectations are too high and I should just accept that this is what it is. I don’t know, but what I do know is that if nobody holds this administration responsible, nothing will change. And as it is, there doesn’t seem to be an abundance of people willing to hold the director and his team accountable. And if you do, you run the risk of being painted as a racist. That is not a healthy combination.

If we continue to not hold people accountable, then we get the system and the leadership we deserve. I’m reading a book on leadership by General McChrystal called Leaders: Myth and Reality. In it, he talks about leadership myths. Per McChrystal:

The other myth he discusses is the formulaic Myth:

I think it’s pretty evident that as a district, MNPS is suffering from both of these myths. The leadership team of an educational system should be able to model learning, and this administration has not. Leadership needs to compel people to aspire to greater heights, and this team has not. A leadership team needs to provide role models of excellence, and this team has not.  It’s about time we start dealing with reality. Or we just accept that this is the best it’s going to be and move on. In the end, the choice belongs with each of us.

You might remember that a couple of weeks ago, MNPS’s school board voted to televise all committee meetings but not retreats. There was some gobbledy gook about how that anonymity was needed in order to ask the hard questions.

Looking at the board calendar and it seems that there is a retreat scheduled for this coming Saturday from 10:00 until 12:00 to discuss budget advocacy. Hmmm… forgive me, but that sounds an awful lot like a committee meeting. They wouldn’t be scheduling a retreat instead of a committee meeting in order to avoid cameras, would it? Nah… this is the most transparent administration evah.

In keeping with that spirit, it was announced last week that those wishing to speak before the board would now be able to do so by signing up online. The good news is that the deadline has been changed to the day before the meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, but with the new sign up process comes with some new caveats as well. Per the MNPS website:

Here are some protocols and processes that apply when addressing the MNPS Board:

• Please be a few minutes early to check the speaking order on the agenda. Staff members will be present to assist you if needed.
• All speakers are limited to three minutes. The length of time may change at the chair’s discretion.
• Your name will be listed in speaking order on the screens in the board room. Please be alert and at the microphone when the previous speaker finishes. Your time begins when the previous speaker finishes. Any additional time it takes you to walk to the microphone may count as part of your time.
• You should begin your comments by stating your name and your address (or school assignment for MNPS employees) for the record. For example, “Good evening Chair, members of the board, and Dr. Joseph. My name is John Citizen and my address is 123 School St. in Nashville.” It is important that we have your contact information in case follow-up in necessary.
• Avoid repeating points made by other speakers. Board members appreciate any new information you can present.
• During your comments please be mindful to not disclose any information that could jeopardize the privacy rights of any students, faculty, or staff members.
• You may not distribute materials, printed or otherwise, directly to board members during the meeting. If you would like to distribute materials please submit these by bringing 20 printed copies to the meeting. Staff will distribute the material as deemed appropriate by the chair.
• You are not required to speak for the full time. If you complete your thoughts early that is fine.
• At the close of your comments simply say, “Thank you for your time,” and return to your seat.
• If you would like to contact board members outside of the board meeting visit http://www.mnps.org to find contact information.

The first red flag for me is that in both signing up, and upon speaking, a speaker must give their home address. Huh? Why? Based on the climate of the last several board meetings, how many potential speakers would demure based upon fear of divulging that information? Remember at a recent meeting a speaker who was critical of the director was barely permitted to finish uninterrupted because of people in the gallery. In the past, speakers would divulge the individual school they were affiliated with, and it seemed to work just fine.

I’m sure the defense from MNPS leadership will be that the director just wants to meet with speakers individually to gain a better understanding. But as evidence of retaliation – sexual harassment lawsuits, program cuts, and favoritism – mount, how many will see a different intent?

QUICK HITS

Congratulations to former MNPS teacher Cicely Woodard for being a recipient of this year’s Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.  She is one of 5 recipients that will be honored at NEA’s Gala on Friday, 2/8. You can join in celebrating them by tuning in to the live stream of the Gala at http://www.neafoundation.org  @MaineEA

Blogger and teacher Peter Greene has an interesting take on the national teacher shortage. Per his latest:

There is no teacher shortage.

There’s a shortage of willingness to invest the profession with respect and support. There’s a shortage of willingness to make the jobs appealing enough to attract and retain all the people schools want to attract and retain. There’s a shortage of will to make the job appealing enough to hold onto the people who start out. There’s a shortage, not just of money, but of respect and support and empowerment.

There is no mystery to what is happening, but to deal with effectively, to actually face it, the People In Charge need to stop calling it what it is not.

There is no teacher shortage.

I urge you to read the whole piece.

Nashville blogger Vesia Hawkins writes this week about the pending deadline for MNPS’s School Choice process. It’s a good read and I urge you to check it out.

That’s a wrap. Check out the Dad Gone Wild Facebook page. It’s a good news station with lots of inspiring pictures from last week. If you need to get a hold of me, the email is norinrad10@yahoo.com. Keep sending me your stuff and I’ll share as much as possible.

If you think what I write has value, please consider supporting the work through Patreon. I’ll be honest with you, January and February are slow bartending months so I could use any support you can throw my way. To those of you who pledged money this past week, thank you, thank you, thank you.