Kevin Strang, a high school music teacher in Orange County, Florida, won an $810.87 bonus for teaching in an A-rated school. He is donating his bonus to the Network for Public Education to fight high-stakes testing, school grading, merit pay, and the other corporate reforms that treat teachers as donkeys in need of carrots and sticks.
Kevin is a professional, and he expects to be treated as a professional.
“Strang, who has taught in Florida schools for 15 years, sent out a press release Wednesday stating that “the $810.87 received for his school’s ‘A’ rating will instead be sent to the Network for Public Education, an organization dedicated to ending the practice of linking high-stakes testing to teacher evaluations and pay….”
“Strang’s own teaching evaluation was tied to math and reading exams of ninth-graders, though he teaches music.
“I don’t feel right taking the money when there are teacher teaching at schools with different populations not receiving the money,” he said Wednesday. “It’s like I’m being rewarded for parenting skills.”
Thank you, Kevin!
You inspire all of us at NPE to fight harder for you!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Excellent!
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Thank you, Keven. You rock.
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You give me hope Kevin. Thank you. The hits just keep coming here in Ohio. People like you keep me fighting.
^o^
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Thanks Kevin. Cracks in the media wall. A Tennessee paper in the Gannett chain actually published a well-informed criticism the VAM used to judge teachers in that state. The teacher’s views are at http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2014/03/27/tvaas-data-flawedin-gauging-teachers/6880555/
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I just created this at petition2congress.
Petition Title is, Dump Duncan
Please sign. It will be forwarded to all Senators, Congressmen, and President Obama as well.
http://www.petition2congress.com/14914/dump-duncan/
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Signed, sealed, delivered!
Easy
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The letter can be edited and is sent only to your senators and representative, Obama too.
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done
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Reblogged this on 21st Century Theater.
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Kevin, what an incredibly noble and generous gesture! You’re now one of my heroes.
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KenS: what you said.
But think of the times we live in when—
“One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.” [Mary Sarton]
😎
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Kevin, this was quite a sacrifice on your part. As a parent and taxpayer and educator in a state which listens to what happens in your state, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Kevin exemplifies the type of person that becomes a teacher. Thank you Kevin. You make me proud.
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Thank you Kevin. Just when I think I’m done and can’t take the stress anymore, someone inspires me to keep fighting. Tonight you are my hero!
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I think Mr. Strang might be onto something with his remark at the end. It’s like he’s being paid for the actions of the childrens’ parents. I wonder if that is on anyone’s agenda. Parental interest dictates teacher pay (to some extent.)
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thanks for your solidarity with your brother and sister teachers!
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Your welcome! Your comments inspire me to keep sticking my neck out. Those in the system know what I mean.
I Spent the morning campaigning with Josh Katz who is running for School Board in District One in Orange County, Florida. I can’t tell you how gratifying it was to do this. If you are unhappy with education policy in your area you CAN do something about it. Volunteer for a candidate who supports your views. If you can’t do that then pony up 50 or 100 buck for their campaign. You can make a difference, you can do something to change bad policy, you are not powerless.
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