Welcome To Alafia Lisa Tierney-Jackson!
Alafia Elementary welcomes new principal -- former Cypress Creek Elementary principal Lisa Tierney-Jackson.
Nov 5, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
BREAKING NEWS...
- Dec. 25th 2008 Tampabay.com: Frustrated Alafia Elementary parents welcome change in principals
- Dec 16th Alafia Elementary names new principal
- Dec. 9th Tampabay.com; Alafia principal to leave school
- Dec. 9th Tampa Trib; Alafia Elementary Principal To Leave Post
- Dec. 9th The Gradebook; Alafia principal to leave school
- TBO.com Dec 8th Coaching Alafia Principal Could Cost District Thousands
- TBO.com Dec 3rd Alafia Parents Not Happy With Fixes
- TAMPA TRIB. November 26, 2008 Alafia Principal, Parents Begin Reconciliation
- November 28, 2008 ST PETE TIMES Alafia Elementary parents vent to superintendent about principal
- November 26, 2008 Parents Complain About Alafia Elementary Principal w/links
- November 21, 2008 Parents voice concerns about Alafia Elementary
- November 21, 2008 Superintendent gets an earful from Alafia Elementary parents
- Video from Elia Meeting 'BAY NEWS 9' November 20, 2008
- November 20, 2008 Parents Level Criticisms At Alafia Principal At Meeting
- November 19, 2008 Alafia Elementary to host parents' meeting
- November 19, 2008 Bay News 9 Alafia Elementary VIDEO
- November 19, 2008 Bad timing: Hillsborough portable classroom lacks heat
- November 19, 2008 Team Suggests Fixes For Alafia Elementary
- November 11, 2008 Anxiety, stress at an A-rated school
- November 11, 2008 MSNBC Assessment Team Reports On Alafia Elementary
- November 11, 2008 Alafia principal keeps her job for now
- November 10, 2008 Hillsborough School Board wants better PR
- November 10, 2008 Assessment Team Reports On Alafia Elementary
- November 7, 2008 Alafia Elementary Staff To Get Report On Principal
- Oct 24, 2008 Parent complaints bring school board action
- Oct 24, 2008 Parent complaints about school principal bring action by superintendent.
- Oct 21, 2008 Alafia Elementary School under scrutiny after parents complain
- Oct 17, 2008 School official's reaction upsets
- Oct 10, 2008 Parents take beef with Alafia principal to School Board
- October 9, 2008 Alafia principal on the hot seat
- Oct 8, 2008 Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal
Previous Blogs
- 1.) Dec 9th Board Meeting Info (1)
- A.) Smith's People Skills - Can She Learn? (1)
- B.) Elia's ACTION PLAN (1)
- C.) Elia Meets with Parents (1)
- D.) Questions For Parents Meeting on 11/20 (1)
- E.) Questions for 11/20 Meeting (1)
- F.) 11/18 Board Meeting Review (1)
- G.) Board Meeting Video Nov 18th (1)
- H.) Elia meets with Teachers. (1)
- I.) PARENTS SPEAK OUT (1)
- J.) TEACHERS SPEAK OUT (1)
- K.) Link To Another Blog with insite on Alafia Elementary (1)
- L.) Contact TBO'S 8 ON YOUR SIDE (1)
- M.) Opinions on the Renovation (1)
- N.) Charter Option (1)
Nov 26th 2008 Tampa Trib article....
"The beleaguered principal of Alafia Elementary School began her work week Monday as she usually does – standing in front of the Valrico school as the students arrived by car, bus or holding the hands of their parents.
This time, however, Principal Ellyn Smith had company. Longtime educator Grace Ippolito was by Smith's side, greeting parents and students. Ippolito, who was principal when Alafia opened in 1987, returned to the school last week under an hourly paid contract with the Hillsborough County School District to serve as Smith's mentor and coach for an unspecified period of time. Her mission is to teach Smith the people skills Alafia parents say she's lacking."
***To read Full article, please click here:
Alafia Principal, Parents Begin Reconciliation
By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE
Published: November 26, 2008
This time, however, Principal Ellyn Smith had company. Longtime educator Grace Ippolito was by Smith's side, greeting parents and students. Ippolito, who was principal when Alafia opened in 1987, returned to the school last week under an hourly paid contract with the Hillsborough County School District to serve as Smith's mentor and coach for an unspecified period of time. Her mission is to teach Smith the people skills Alafia parents say she's lacking."
***To read Full article, please click here:
Alafia Principal, Parents Begin Reconciliation
By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE
Published: November 26, 2008
Quotes From The Board.....
November 11, 2008:..... "It's usually not a good thing to have an assessment team come into a school," Faliero said. "It indicates there is enough evidence to suggest there were things that were not working for this school, that there is just cause to go forward and look into it."
November 10th, 2008:......"I thought it was a good meeting," Hegarty said after meeting with the Alafia faculty. "People spoke from the heart."
October 24th, 2008:.......Elia said school officials have held six meetings regarding the Alafia situation since June. Elia also met directly with the principal. "I want to make it clear that this is something that we have been working on," Elia said.
October 24th, 2008:....."When a school is polarized, it's not a healthy environment for students or staff to be part of, and it filters out into the community as well," Faliero said.
October 10th , 2008: ....."The superintendent needs to get involved, and she needs to find out if there is just cause to these things that they are saying," Faliero said, adding that if true, the charges could be cause for dismissal.
"I just don't see that kind of unified concern from east Hillsborough unless they truly believe something is wrong."
Board chairwoman Jennifer Faliero said she has never seen such a large group of parents complain publicly about their school leader. She asked superintendent MaryEllen Elia to work with the parents and look into the situation.
November 10th, 2008:......"I thought it was a good meeting," Hegarty said after meeting with the Alafia faculty. "People spoke from the heart."
October 24th, 2008:.......Elia said school officials have held six meetings regarding the Alafia situation since June. Elia also met directly with the principal. "I want to make it clear that this is something that we have been working on," Elia said.
October 24th, 2008:....."When a school is polarized, it's not a healthy environment for students or staff to be part of, and it filters out into the community as well," Faliero said.
October 10th , 2008: ....."The superintendent needs to get involved, and she needs to find out if there is just cause to these things that they are saying," Faliero said, adding that if true, the charges could be cause for dismissal.
"I just don't see that kind of unified concern from east Hillsborough unless they truly believe something is wrong."
Board chairwoman Jennifer Faliero said she has never seen such a large group of parents complain publicly about their school leader. She asked superintendent MaryEllen Elia to work with the parents and look into the situation.
ALAFIA'S REPORT CARD
** WSE FACTS **
2007-2008 WSE Survey conducted - April 2008
• 92% of teachers indicated they felt strongly that Mrs. Smith does not interact with others fairly and empathetically.
• 85% of teachers indicated they felt strongly that Mrs. Smith does not recognize and reward staff when appropriate.
• 69% of teachers indicated they felt strongly that Mrs. Smith does not promote a safe and orderly school culture that is conducive to learning.
*** SCROLL BELOW TO VIEW COMPLETE REPORT ***
• 92% of teachers indicated they felt strongly that Mrs. Smith does not interact with others fairly and empathetically.
• 85% of teachers indicated they felt strongly that Mrs. Smith does not recognize and reward staff when appropriate.
• 69% of teachers indicated they felt strongly that Mrs. Smith does not promote a safe and orderly school culture that is conducive to learning.
*** SCROLL BELOW TO VIEW COMPLETE REPORT ***
** KEY Observations ** Assessment Team - November 2008
- The Team found a very stressful work environment for teachers and administrators. In addition, the community is experiencing the stress felt at the school.
- Some parent and staff interviews revealed a fear of retaliation for speaking honestly and openly to our assessment team
- Faculty, staff, administration and parents appear fragmented and in distress.
*** SCROLL BELOW TO VIEW COMPLETE REPORT! ***
- Some parent and staff interviews revealed a fear of retaliation for speaking honestly and openly to our assessment team
- Faculty, staff, administration and parents appear fragmented and in distress.
*** SCROLL BELOW TO VIEW COMPLETE REPORT! ***
Parents Speak Out
"You're going to give her a life coach? In the real world, we don't get a life coach. We get fired!"
PETITION UPDATE
285 SIGNATURES & STILL GOING!
Posts
Alafia is a public school, you can not take it over. If you wish to start a Charter school you would need a board of directors that would be made up of educators, facilitators, business and community leaders and you would secure a private facility. It is not like deciding to home school and getting certified, it is quite involved.
ReplyDeleteCan you post information on what a Charter school is? I am not aware of what that entails.
ReplyDeleteRe: Anon 11:34 PM: We can get all of above and we sure can apply for Alafia to be a Charter School. I don't think anyone thinks it isn't "quite involved" but to keep our kids safe we will put it together and make it work.
ReplyDeleteAre you wanting to be on the board? Are you a community leader wishing to get involved? Step up!
Are YOU an educator and what qualifications do you have that would enable you to run any school? I am not a Smith sympathizer but I do recognize when a situation is spiraling out of control.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does appear that the situation is spiraling out of control.
ReplyDeleteWe only have the superintendent and other seen and unseen forces to blame for that.
As a board member so aptly noted, why wasn't this taken care of sooner?
I'm not interested in being involved in a charter school, but I am interested in holding our elected officials and PAID PUBLIC SERVANTS accountable.
What are public charter schools?
ReplyDeleteCharter schools are public schools with unique traits that increase the likelihood of a successful education for a child.
What makes charter schools different?
Charter schools have increased flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of individual children, make timely decisions about developing curriculum, structure the school day, and hire teachers who meet the needs of their students.
Charters operate within a multi-tiered accountability system – to parents, authorizers, the state, and lenders – that leads to quality schools and high achievement.
Parents elect to send their children to charters, and teachers choose to work in them.
How many students are enrolled in charter schools?
There are over 4,600 charter schools across the country, educating over 1.3 million children. The first charter school was created in Minnessota in 1992, and since then 39 other states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation creating public charter school.
www.publiccharters.org