Educators and parents, It’s been a tough decade for us here in NYC. Unfortunately, many of those responsible for the poor policy, including emphasis on high stakes testing, school closures and co-location, are still here . My battle, initiated by a growing number of NYC Department of Educationemployees, hits the… Continue reading
Continuing with our effort to get donors to support teacher’s classroom projects every Tuesday with Donors Choose… Choose to Support Ms. Pollack’s Classroom! “My students live in an urban neighborhood and attend a charter school. At least 75% of the students at my school qualifies for a free or reduced… Continue reading
Before we get to Ms. Soto’s class from PS 13. I want to update you on the past two Donor Choose-Day projects. Ms. Wilbers At-Risk Teenproject was fully funded! Thank you donors! Mr. Valia’s 3D Printer Academyhas about $300 to go. Please consider clicking the link, donating and helping the… Continue reading
I recorded the video on my phone on April 18, 2012 and was removed a week later. I have been out for over 700 days now. Before I sent it to SCI, or anyone, I ran it through a video editing program. I did that so I can hide the young girl’s identity to abide by COPPA and FERPA laws and focus on that part of the hallway. The original was a wider angle. When the laws describe hiding the identity of children, they don’t only mean visual, but all biometric features. This includes voice. Continue reading
You may have already read about the epidemic, in regards to railroading young and new teachers in order to obliterate tenure protections for teachers. The post is here:Can Bloom-Kleins DOE Attack on Probationary Teachers Be Remedied Now read an open letter from one of these teachers. It was originally posted… Continue reading
Imagine you can see the emails of the principal and assistant principal where you are mentioned. “If Ms. Smith wants to bring up the UFT, then let’s go observe her class. Maybe she will think twice next time.”
Did you email the superintendent and never hear back Imagine you can see if they forwarded the email to others.
Do you believe the funds in your community school are being misappropriated Imagine you can see where the money is going and what the recent audit done on your school looks like. Continue reading
[Note: there was an error and this did not post properly, so I re-posted.] “In the time of chimpanzees, I was a monkey.” -Beck Look, relax…it’s no big deal. We are just talking about the educational neglect of countless students and the squandering of millions of taxpayer dollars. Don’t… Continue reading
Please consider giving just $10 or more to Ms. Wilber for a Donors Choose Gift Card. Support Ms. Wilber’s Classroom High School M560-City As SchoolinNew York, NY|12th grade|Highest Poverty “I teach high school Special Education, English, and a class about zombie movies at an alternative transfer school in New… Continue reading
Over the summer I had the idea to start writingDonorsChoose.orgproposals for teachers who were too busy to do it. For those who do not know,DonorsChoose.orgis a great site where generous philanthropists pay for some or a teachers entire class project. Some pay $5 and some $2,000 or more. This is… Continue reading
We continue with theTheSCI Files… There has to be a professional and adult way of saying “Told you so!” Sit down and grab some popcorn again, because the craziness never ends here with this saga. I feel like I’m writing fiction or a John Grisham novel. I also felt as… Continue reading
Unfortunately, our colleagues are still under attack three months into the new administration. The lawyers that ran the last administration are still in power and we need to educate ourselves in order to survive. Continue reading
I didn’t think that I would have to update my “Allegations Against Mr. Portelos” list again, but unfortunately I did. Those who have been working tirelessly to end my career hit a new low. A new allegation came in through the NYC Police Department, not the Special Commissioner of Investigation,… Continue reading
It appears as though, the new administration has not flushed out any of the attorneys that run the NYC Department of Education yet. Their poor decisions have negatively affected the lives of countless educators and students. They hide behind the curtain of “DOE Legal”, rarely having their named mentioned. They… Continue reading
It’s pretty surreal to go from missing union meetings during my probationary years to becoming UFT Chapter Leader and now running for a NY State United Teachers (NYSUT) position this April. Running for At-Large Director of NYSUT ED 24,25: “During my first years of teaching I missed almost every union… Continue reading
For those not up to date on the lingo, TBT or Throw Back Thursday is in reference to the act of posting pictures or sharing memories from the past. It’s becoming an increasingly popular term and I thought to throw one out there. Maybe I will do it weekly. The… Continue reading
Other dates on the real estate files found on my DOE computer show house sales that took place as late as July 26, 2012. That is 5 months AFTER the devices were out of my possession. Continue reading
In the wake of thePS 106Q Marcella Sills “School of No” fiasco, I decided to make a list of the cases I initiated, or knew about, pertaining to my own community school of Berta Dreyfus IS 49. —- Cases and Investigations. The NYC Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) has… Continue reading
You think it’s by accident that there is a high turnover rate for teachers these days You think the new “rigorous” standards are to get all the millions of children college and career ready Wait, you think that the new evaluation system is here to make you better at teaching… Continue reading
On Wednesday February 12, 2014 at around 6pm we finally heard “nothing further” from both sides. Closing arguments were now compete and my 3020-a termination hearing was over. We were official off the record and what a record it was. When my hearing first started on September 12, 2013it was… Continue reading
In January of 2014 , Sue Edelman of the NY Post labeled PS 106 in Queens “The School of No.” They allegedly had no books and a no show principal or rather that she would always arrive late. The admin was actually cornered and repeatedly hit with follow… Continue reading
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