On Friday morning, our local paper The Colorado Springs Gazette carried a story on the first page of the Metro section about a hiring decision made by the Acadamy District 20 school board. The story, by Jeanette Jackman, headlined: Kids, parents protest D-20 decision. A couple of excerpts from the story are in order:
Academy School District 20 officials faced a roomful of protesters Thursday night over the decision not to renew the contracts of two popular Rampart High School teachers.
About three dozen students, former students and parents told the Board of Education that Tom Stout and Rosemary Taylor should not have been among the probationary teachers whose contracts were not picked up for the fall semester….
Before hearing the protests, the board voted unanimously not to renew the contracts of 84 probationary teachers, including Stout and Taylor, angering many of those who attended the protest….
Board President Richard Valorose declined to give a reason for the decision on which teachers would be returning.
"I hope you will continue your level of involvement with your school no matter how it goes," Valorose said….
Rampart senior Kimberly Hartsfield obtained Stout’s evaluation from the teacher.
According to the evaluation, Hartsfield said, Stout apparently lost his job because he has a hard time relating to authority figures and grades harder than most teachers.
That last really got my goat. I know Rosemary Taylor and think she is an outstanding teacher. I’ve heard of Tom Stout several times and would consider him to be an excellent teacher as well. So, a letter to the School Board copied to the newspaper was certainly in order:
April 26, 2003
Board of Education
Academy School District 20
7610 N. Union Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80920Gentlemen:
I read with shock and dismay in the Gazette about District 20’s decision not to renew contracts with two probationary teachers. The Board’s actions further solidify the public’s dismal opinion of the state of education in the public school system. Both Mr. Stout and Mrs. Taylor have been outstanding teachers, worthy in every way of the title "Educator."
I am particularly disturbed at the report that Mr. Stout’s evaluation criticized him because he "grades harder than most teachers." If true, that statement is a serious indictment of Rampart High School’s administration and management. Grade inflation is a significant concern throughout this country’s education community and the eroding of educational standards is a serious concern of citizens in the State of Colorado and in Colorado Springs. In my employment, I make hiring decisions about high school graduates being considered for employment in our call centers and customer support systems. I am appalled by the number of graduates who cannot spell, cannot write, and cannot think logically, all the while touting their 3.0+ grade averages in high school.
The Academy District 20 Board of Education had an opportunity to do something worthwhile and to take a stand for quality education in the district. Instead, the Board has taken the low road once again and bypassed excellence in favor of mediocrity. Shame on you. The pity is, all of us in Colorado Springs are the worse off for it.
Regretfully,
Roland Smithcc: Editor, The Gazette
And mediocrity wins once again. Why is it that School Boards never strive for excellence?
Their back at it again. Principal Gil Bierman non-renews five more teachers in 2005 and the Board of Education approves the non-renewals. See http://www.aboutrampart.com for details, including statements from six former Rampart teachers.
Bear in mind, not only are there teachers who are non-renewed, there are also the others who are threatened with non-renewal and just quietly resign, with the hope that anywhere else they go will not be seen as a step down, so they can get another job.