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Welcome To Alafia Lisa Tierney-Jackson!
Alafia Elementary welcomes new principal -- former Cypress Creek Elementary principal Lisa Tierney-Jackson.
Nov 19, 2008
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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
I heard that a student was accidentally stabbed in the palm of the hand by another student with sharp scissors during a class project and Mrs. Smith never responded to the parents request for callback on the issue. What an uncaring, cruel individual she presents herself to be.
ReplyDeleteQuestions for the Board:
ReplyDelete1.) Why haven't the parents been provided the results of the assessment team?
2.) Can we have a meeting scheduled with Elia as the newspaper articles mention to go over the report?
Board - Will we be provided with updates or a time frame for improvements to be made? 30 days? 90 days? What happenes if at the end of this time no improvements have been made? Will another assessment team be brought in?
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that the "assessment team" included five principles, two of which are Mrs. Smith's friends. Should an assessment not include a variety of members such as school board, faculty, parents, and members of the community? How is it a fair assessment of the principle when her peers are assessing her?
ReplyDeleteCan there be better communication implemented immediately? Open house was near a no show this year because the notes did not go home until the day of. I personally missed my oldest son’s 5th grade ‘clap out’ because we were new to the state and did not know it existed and never received a note about it.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Does anyone have the names or positions of all 15 assessment team members? How many were her HASA cronies? What other drones of Elia were there besides the Public Relations Officer (Hegarty)?
ReplyDeleteWhy was Ellyn Smith not suspended with pay after some of the allegations were brought out to the assessment team? Several of the interviewers made comments like "that would be grounds for termination. If there are things that took place that could be grounds for termination, shouldn't they be investigated seperately and be pending an outcome?
ReplyDelete***Carpool info is now posted on the site ***
ReplyDeleteSign up for carpool at one of the Petition Sessions on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.
If the decision is too keep Mrs. Smith on as Principal of Alafia Elementary will the teachers be given the opportunity to select schools to be moved to prior to the transfer period?
ReplyDeleteAlso if the decision is too keep Mrs. Smith on as Principal of Alifia Elementary will the parents be given the opportunity to select schools for their children where they can be kept with their peers?
ReplyDeleteThe School Board Policy Manuel section 6.19 states a Prohibition of Harassment.Does this extend to teachers and parents being harassed by the adminstration? Is this being ignored? What are the legal implications?
ReplyDeleteWill there be an opportunity for the parents that would like to keep Mrs. Smith on to speak without the other parents?
ReplyDeleteThis question is for Ms. Faliero...
ReplyDeleteThank you for suggesting that an assessment team come to Alafia Elementary. After viewing the assessment survey on line, only 12.5% of the teachers either agree or strongly agree that they are working in a safe environment. With the board having read the rest of the poor results of this survey and presented with a threatening letter in which it is allegedly stated by Mrs. Smith that a teacher "needed to be taken out", how is it possible for her to remain in the interum as an administrator? These are only a few of the numerous sad and scary events and situations that have occured and brought much of the community together in a request for a new principal.
In other businesses, this could be considered by their Human Resource Department as a hostile work environment. Does the county have a Human Resource Department, and are they aware of this problem? Awareness of these incidents, grievances filed by the teachers, allegations reported to you by the assessment team, media articles, and rightfully upset parents along with other sources should not result in a status quo situation with the Board's approval. Is the Board prepared to expose the taxpayers to the possible litigation that could arise if something were to occur at this school?
Our children's safety should be our #1 priority. Maybe the Board might consider reassigning Mrs. Smith, with pay, until this entire matter is resolved. I am sure she is a good administrator, just maybe in a wrong situation. Thank you for being intuitive with your rapid response by sending in an assessment team and realizing there IS a problem.
I thank you in advance for your help in resolving this very serious and ever growing problem.
To the School Board
ReplyDeleteCan we divide this up into 2 parts?
1. The grievances between the parents and Mrs. Smith and include situations that have taken place.
2. The grievances between the Teachers and Mrs. Smith.
NO!!!
ReplyDeleteGo NOT diivide the teachers and parents. It is IMPERATIVE!
We all want Mrs. Smith to go.
Do not allow the district to DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Instead of us having to prove our case, could you give the teachers and parents a list of reasons WHY Mrs. Smith should continue in her current position DESPITE ALL the findings of the assessment team and the past complaints of the 10 years she has been a principal in this county? Although the assessment team did not call for her immediate dismissal, the report was not in her favor. Please tell the taxpayers of this county why we should continue to fund a principal that is CLEARLY NOT doing her job the way the other principals and assistant principals are expected to do their jobs.
ReplyDeleteWe MUST stay behind the teachers as parents.
ReplyDeleteIsn't our number one concern the departore of so many teachers???
Be careful, parents of Alafia, the district will try to manipulate the situation to their own end. Do NOT LET THEM.
Note the word "divide".
ReplyDelete"Divide and conquer."
Don't let it happen.
I agree...the big plan is to divide...we must not let them. They have already not met with all of us as a group...they only met with the teachers with threats in their own underhanded way...if we divide ...they will win...keep on standing our front..it is exhausting but not without gratitude.
ReplyDeleteJust signed the petition - folks if you haven't done this yet you need to get out there and sign! They have over 250 names and going strong! It is time for you to make a difference for our teachers. They can't speak up or chance losing their job, we need to protect them.
ReplyDeleteThey are the best and we need to keep the best teachers at Alafia for our kids!
I'd like to second the request for communication from the school. I just found out that my child's classroom is suddenly being relocated to a portable classroom. The portable class is fully set up, unpacked and ready for use....as soon as their desks are moved in the next few days. So I guess they're to be taught in a virtually empty classroom in the meantime. NO INFORMATION from the school has come home regarding this, just bits and pieces I'm learning from my child, the teacher and the homeroom parent.
ReplyDeleteI might have also heard the library was also being packed up? Hearing this from a 2nd grader, hoping that also isn't happening with out notifying the parents.
Open House, my childrens' teachers scrambled to print off notices to parents day before and/or of open house since the school administration FAILED to send home that notice, then that night Mrs Smith was on the intercom telling parents to wrap it up and leave, faclty has other things to do now.
I found this site’s polls very interesting:
ReplyDeleteDo You Agree With The Assessment Team's Report?
79% say NO
Remove Smith?
88% say YES
This seems to match up with all of the other stats. Sounds like there is a big issue.
Board - How are you going to handle this and will we be notified anytime if ever....?
If you want to unite the school and give it a new beggining, why has the board, district, area director and administration in the school not met with parents AND teachers? Is there a reason that you need to meet with everyone divided by groups? Arent you the ones suggesting to become a whole once again? When are we getting an answer as a school?
ReplyDeleteThe portable issue is a huge example of how Mrs. Smith CONTINUES to fail as a principle and lack communication skills that are necessary. It doesn't even cross her mind that parents should know AHEAD OF TIME which portable their child is being moved to. That is another shining example of how much she really cares about her students, parents and teachers. Good thing she's been warned by the board to improve!
ReplyDeleteIt is important to remember not to quote "facts" from this website- especially based on the online polls. It is very easy for one person to vote more than once on different computers. With these possible inaccuracies in the data, the board will be less likely to hear your concerns as valid. Also, some of the "stories" presented may not hold all the facts/information. Be careful what you share without true factual information... especially if you want to your voice to be heard. Opinions and second and third hand stories certainly carry less weight. Maybe that's why the board has been hesitant thus far.
ReplyDeleteDon't expect any support from the superintendent about communication. She's not any better at giving parents and staff input or notice.
ReplyDeleteSpringboard, losing a planning period, bus schedule changes...need I say more?
Should Elia be held accountable for her lack of leadership skills as well? School Bboard members: Certainly you can find a more qualified leader who will set up to the plate and admit when there are problems, and to address those problems in a timely manner. This is not a power struggle, but an issue of "Is this principal suited for this position". If Elia refuses to solve the problem, then the School Board needs to address it directly with the Superintendent, and require some accountability. This issue continues to grow and grow in this community, it can no longer be ignored. There is a huge ground-swell of support for change in the Alafia School District.
ReplyDeleteWhat were Ms Smith's ratings when she was at Seffner Elementary? She was disliked by both parents and staff. She was a poor administrator who felt she was great. She did many of the same things there and still was given Alafia....why???
ReplyDeleteIf we at Alafia are to build community we should at least be able to communicate with each other. Why then are we not allowed to converse via telephone for over a year now and all calls screened through the office?
ReplyDeleteRegarding the assessment report and recommendation. From a very reliable source - the report was 22 pages not the 2 page "summary" presented to the press and teachers. And the 16 people all recommended Smith be removed as principal.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with this bit of information? Where this was suspressed - your guess is as good as mine.
At this point does it really matter whether Smith is unjustly accussed or not? She has lost the confidence of her staff, teachers and parents. If she were a general - she'd have been removed by now. A general who isn't respected by the troops is ineffective. Sounds so much like the current situation.
The real pitty of this - its nothing new. She was a problem at Seffner and they just moved her to Alafia. She had bragged over the fact they (teachers, staff and parents) had a celebration when she was leaving. I know of a teacher at Seffner that said the night they heard she was leaving they all celebrated. Would you brag about people excited because you were leaving? I'd keep that one quiet.
There also were recommendations and statements in the report that wouldn't look too kindly on staff members. Fortunately, those were left out. Maybe everyone should stop pushing this before we all suffer even more.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know who reported that information that would not reflect the teachers in a positive light. Could that be another form of intimidation? The teachers are scared and sadly not willing to speak up anymore. I have witnessed several teachers in the past week bad mouthing parents and their efforts. Some of them were the ones complaining from the start. Mrs. Manget, a total supporter of Smith, talked openly to her AGP class about the situtation concerning Smith and how she wants her to stay. Do you know why she did that? Because she can. Do you know why she can? Because she and Ellyn have taught for 29 years together and so on and so on and so on...If any of the teachers that do not support Smith blatantly told their class how they should view their prinicpal and their school, they would be called out in a minute. Be careful, Mrs. Manget, you have NO RIGHT to try to influence our children on the situation with Smith at the school. Spend more time becoming a BETTER science teacher. There is always room for improvement.
ReplyDeleteHow do you all know what is in the full 22 page report? Is that available to the public?
ReplyDeleteI also have a child in Mrs. Manget's class that has oonfirmed this story.
ReplyDeleteShame on you, Mrs. Manget for involving my child that I have worked so hard to insulate form this.
I have a question for Elia, why does she keep trying to "justify" how the 33 of 38 teachers have left? All schools lose teaching lines or have teachers move - that is why the average school has 10% turnover. We are over 80% turnover. Ms. Elia try to cover it up but the facts are obvious, no matter which way you spin it.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Manget,
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck were you thinking? Why would you involve our children in these issues? You have just lost ALL respect that I had for you. How can we as parents shield our children from the chaos at the school when you feel it is appropriate to include this in your daily lesson plans? I will be speaking to the Superintendent about this matter.
On a TBO blog , a parent said they were going to call Barry Cohn. I think Barry should be invited to this meeting. If not Mr.Cohn, call John Morgan. Make sure April and Susan and Steve G. are there as well. I say, hey Alafia ... Go Big or GO home !!
ReplyDeleteLet Elia know... The teachers are watching. Remind her the SDHC is nothing with out the teachers and parents working together. Give her this : Teacher + Parent = Student Success
ReplyDeleteMany teachers from many other schools in the county and watching. Mrs. Elia and the board should take teacher and parent concerns seriously. I'm sure if they look back they would see many warning signs that things were just not right at Alafia. Let this be a lesson to not ignore teacher surveys and parent phone calls. They could have prevented all of this bad press by actually doing something to help Alafia before it got this bad. I'm sure no one, on any side of the issue, likes what is going on that this point. Please do something to help the parents, teachers, and staff because it does not appear that things are getting better with the efforts thus far.
ReplyDeleteQUESTIONS for Ms. Elia....
ReplyDeleteWill the teachers be compensated for their TIME - their own PERSONAL time they had to take in order to move their classrooms? This past weekend I believe most of our teachers who had to move were using their own time to keep from having total chaos out of this move.
Why could this not have been done by professional movers? Over winter break?
Should teachers have been required to MOVE boxes, pack boxes, reorganize new rooms WHILE teaching our children?
Should children have had to spend two and three days watching BOB THE BUILDER so their poor teachers could get their classrooms in boxes?
Should our children have been required to HELP in their own move? Little guys carrying boxes....dropping books, materials, etc along the way? I saw them....there were many who were frustrated and upset.
Would it have been so AWFUL to have a "parent workday" on a Saturday to make this a cooperative effort instead of a bull headed attempt at alienating your best resources....your parents?
Would it have created too much inquiring if a letter had been allowed to come home the week before, letting us know what all the move/transition would entail so we could help our children prepare for moving?
Was it too costly to have an adult posted around the portables to help the crying, troubled little ones who could not "find" their teachers today?
How about those volunteers for the Great American Teach In, today? Where were their welcome banners....signs? Where was the marquis showing we CARE that they even came? Lord knows they weren't ENCOURAGED to come.....NOTHING came home about it. But we could have at least PRETENDED they were welcome for the sake of good manners.
Why does Cimino have FIFTY LIBRARY volunteers and we have maybe a handful? And why was there no effort to get help relocating that library and helping ease the transition? Imagine how many parents could have just given an hour or two and gotten the media center up and running with much less impact on the students.
Ms. Elia.....these are my questions for JUST THIS WEEK. My REAL question for you, however, is exactly what DOES it take to remove such a poor manager?
I would like a simple question answered by Elia:
ReplyDeleteWe have given you plenty of horrible stories about why Smith should go, please give us the reasons why she should stay. In particular, I would like Elia to finish this sentence: "Smith has been an asset to Alafia because . . ."
EXCELLENT POINT!
ReplyDeleteFor those parents who will be unable to attend, will this meeting at Alafia be taped and made available on the Net such as through YouTube or something?
ReplyDeleteHow much is the former principal being paid to "retrain" Ms Smith?
ReplyDeleteWhere is that money coming from? Why isn't someone who is already being paid by the county doing this job?