Jonathan Pelto, a blogger who is considered an “electronic graffiti” artist byPaul,Vallas, is a former Democratic legislator in Connecticut.
Here he summarizes the background of the Vallas controversy, which began when the Dannel Malloy administration dissolved the elected Bridgeport school board and engineered a state takeover. This move was challenged in court and ruled. Illegal. However, the illegal board hired Paul Vallas and gave him a three year contract.
Then a state judge ruled that Vallas lacked the legal qualifications to serve as superintendent.
The lawyer who defended the illegal state takeover is now on the state’s highest court and has refused to recuse himself from ruling on the Vallas issue.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It’s not about the kids!
Would it be illegal if all CT billboards were purchased by the CEA and they said 4 words. “Shame, shame, shame Malloy!”
Hi friends & activists, this is a copy of the e-mail alert I received today from Council for Exceptional Children. We must call & act tomorrow morning or the watered down version of HQT will be added to the ESEA as an amendment Thanks, joan
Marcia Rock has shared AACTE ACTION ALERT 7-22-13 with you.
HOT OFF THE PRESS, TED PALS and GALS! AACTE ACTION ALERT! PLEASE TAKE ACTION TOMORROW (TUESDAY) MORNING BY CALLING THE SENATE SWITCHBOARD (202) 224-3121 AND ASKING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN YOUR REPRESENTATIVES’ OFFICES! SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION. MANY THANKS, MLR
Sen. Alexander (R-TN) may introduce an amendment to the student loan bill tomorrow related to the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) definition in ESEA. The amendment will permanently extend the provision in current law (which is scheduled to expire June 2014) that allows teachers-in-training to be designated as “highly qualified teachers.” This is particularly troubling because we know that low-income students, students of color, students with disabilities, and English Language Learners are disproportionately taught by less-prepared and less effective teacher s. For the past two years AACTE has worked with over 90 organizations to challenge this provision and to ensure all students are taught by fully prepared and qualified teachers.
This amendment may be offered tomorrow when the Senate votes on the student loan bill.
Action is Needed: Call your Senators today or tomorrow morning. If you do not know the phone number for your Senator, you can call the Senate switchboard (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to that office. You can also go to your Senator’s website to find their D.C. office phone number.
Tell them:
Vote NO on Senator Alexander’s Highly Qualified Teacher amendment to the student loan bill.
This controversial issue should be debated as part of the Elementary and Secondary Reauthorization Act. It should not be attached to a bill that is intended to address the high cost of student loans.
The 90+ civil rights, disabilities, education and community organizations that comprise the Coalition for Teaching Quality (of which AACTE is a member) oppose weakening the definition of a highly qualified teacher.
If this amendment passes it will exacerbate the current problem of disproportionate numbers of underprepared teachers serving high-need classrooms.
Federal law should set a standard for teacher quality that ensures that all students are taught by teachers who are well-prepared for the job.
STAND UP FOR CHILDREN! VOTE NO ON THE ALEXANDER HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER AMENDMENT TO THE STUDENT LOAN BILL.
Ct post letter…closing and link:
It is time to start over. Instead of wasting our public money on defending someone who never planned to stay long in the first place, we can start searching for a new superintendent who is qualified and wants to be here. We can hire someone who will work with teachers, students, parents and the Board of Education. Maybe then we can address dropout and graduation rates, community involvement and leadership of our schools, and a more inclusive approach to education that doesn’t prioritize testing over real learning and student engagement.
Bridgeport’s schools are struggling, and the myth of a miracle turnaround has been dispelled. Paul Vallas didn’t come in and fix everything in a year, the way he said he would. He’s made things worse.
Now, with his position in flux, and so many questions up in the air, it is time for us to move on and find the right superintendent. Not one that promises the sky, or comes with a rock star reputation, but one that is willing to get down to work for the long haul and work with us to fix our schools.
Eric Alicea
Bridgeport
The writer is vice president-elect of Bridgeport’s District Parent Advisory Council
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Schools-need-to-leave-Vallas-behind-4680093.php
Linda: thank you for all your efforts in this matter.
With all due respect to the TFAers who have the right intentions—and to former TFAers like Gary R and some others who have done great good—some wag decoded TFA as “Teach For Awhiles.”
Perhaps Paul “Electronic Graffiti” Vallas belongs to a heretofore unknown organization: SFA = “Superintendents For Awhile.” [Graduates of a heretofore unknown university-level independent-study course called Drive By Management: How To Lead Like A Chimp, er, Champion. {darn PC auto-correct!}]
🙂
And to find out that Arne “Beyond Ludicrous” Duncan has leapt to his defense?
“There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.” [Mark Twain]
I think they don’t like the fact that you and others have situated them in the, er, more crowded group.
But we like.
🙂