By Davidss2

May 19, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Avoice says it right. The bigwigs rub shoulders with the business “important” people and each other. They can’t get out in the schools. They haven’t taught in a classroom for decades, if ever effectively. It’s like the people on the boards of corporations like DPL: they nurture each other and ignore the real purpose of the job at hand—to supply education to kids.

By Concerned Mom of 3

May 18, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this

Scott- Can you get Ms. Brathwaite to comment on why she is actively interviewing? I wonder if she is even interested in staying the course with DPS… I mean really, when you think about it, who in their right mind would want to have the superintendent’s job in Dayton? The DPS district seems to be a sinking ship… Why would she want to take on a “sinking ship” as her first superintendent job? Whoever comes to Dayton next is going to face the challenge of their lives. On the other hand, what kind of a conscience does she have to walk away and leave the ship to sink on its own? If I were Princeton or Cincinnati Public- I would be asking some pointed questions about why she was willing to leave the district in such a lurch… Again, I haven’t heard her side of the story, but I would be very interested to know her thoughts. She seems OK from an outsiders point of view.

By Barb

May 18, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

Perhaps that is why the coaches who report directly downtown get just as frustrated. It is such a problem when they also say no one listens and imply they are to also be “yes men.” I am keeping my fingers crossed with a newer board we will see improvement. My hope is they do read all that is thought about the “ship they are captaining” including blogs. My every wish is they will begin to think out of the box, use real introspection about where we are now and how we actually got her and what we can do to change. We have so many who are eager to point out the students and parents should be accountable so maybe the board feels there is nothing they can do. Ms. Brathwaite maybe it is time to stop with the academics, roll your sleeves up and see what actually works. I believe 100% if people think morale is low now the next superintendent will make or break our system. Perhaps someone will begin to realize this is not a job everyone can do and trained monkeys are not the trick.

By Avoice

May 18, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Ah Barb, you are being too hard on the old gal! She has papers to write and had to change her thesis when the data on school re-design did not fit her premise. After all Barb, did you really think Debra would actually come to a school and do some follow up? Did you think that what she said she was going to do and what she actually did were going to be the same? Did you really think that the Superintendents� cabinet was actually going to listen to recommendations from teachers? Oh my, that would actually take someone with the ability to listen to people that are actually in the field teaching. Cabinet members are much smarter than that. She was the queen of delegation. Make the little people do her bidding while she stayed out of sight. You see folks; it actually takes hard work, dedication and commitment to students to do these things. These administrators can not possibly further their careers by working with small people like students and teachers. They know that there future job lies in hopping from district to district before the media finds out what actually has been happening. Why would they stick around and insure long-term results when school boards are not willing to investigate these administrators when they are hired? They are long on promises and short on meaningful results.

By Barb

May 18, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I hope the board does not choose another candidate who is just making a climb for their career. They will just be replacing Braithwaite sooner than later. I know any contact I have tried to have with her as a teacher has been fruitless. I would like to see the board really track what she does during the day before they consider her. What does she really know about the schools. I know as the CAO person who sent out a letter at the first of the year she told us she would be in buildings weekly, she would have ultimate say so over the building. In our building we have see her probably twice this year. These visits are merely walks through the building. She sends a representative about every couple of weeks who spends about an hour in the building. Everyone says the same thing we know things are out of control in your building. I am waiting for the what they are going to do about it. Nothing has been done although the whole district knows about it. BoE PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR CANDIDATE WISELY. DO NOT LET RACE PLAY ANY PART IN IT. LOOK FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE. One of the ways this district can improve is to get rid of the “Good Ole Boy and Girl” network that has been established here.

By Oldprof

May 18, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately, the current DPS board has seriously diminished in capacity to make quick decisions. Five years ago, all seven members of the board had a degree of flexibility in personal time. That no longer is the case, so reaching consensus is going to have to happen when people are available—not according to what opportunities arise.

By Avoice

May 17, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

I am truly shocked again. DPS is in trouble and both top administrators are busy job searching. Those of you that have been out of a job know how difficult it can be to secure a new one: networking, writing cover letters, writing resumes, educational vitas, answering questionnaires, attending press conferences, meet and greets, interviewing, etc.. These two pros are fully employed, working for a district that is in more trouble than it has been in decades and they are busy traveling to different districts looking for work while your kids can�t get into a classroom with less than 30 students or more. No wonder why they don�t have time to answer teacher or parent questions/e-mails. Now I know why they have that security downtown at the Ludlow buildings. You might interrupt them while they are busy looking for work! Makes you feel good all over doesn�t it? This lady is supposed to be Percys’ point person and she is busy being on the short list on not one but two school district this past month alone. If I think back the only time I heard of her being in buildings was when she tried to explain to parents the process of redesign. Principals even have to leave their own buildings and travel to her office downtown for their evaluations. She is too busy writing her thesis and job searching to visit your kid�s school. If I were a member of the DPS board I would begin to think that it is like �rats leaving a sinking ship.� I wonder who will be next?

By James

May 17, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

Dayton needs to look for the best replacement superintendent who will make the difficult cuts and put the money back into the classroom. Get rid of athletics and overpaid athletic directors and turn colorblind when picking the replacement. The idea that only a black superintendent can understand and be respected by the teachers and staff is baloney. Let’s pick the best replacement who will CUT downtown.

By Laura

May 17, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

Many of us within DPS could only hope that someone, anyone will “steal” Dr. Brathwaite before DPS can offer her the job. Remember the saying: Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.