Anthony Cody writes here about a new low in efforts to silence parents who oppose corporate reform.
Kathy Korte is a member of the Albuquerque school board who is active in an organization called Stand4KidsNM. This group has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. It opposes high-stakes testing and supports public schools. The group held a demonstration and invited political candidates from all parties. Only the Democrats showed.
A state legislator then filed a formal complaint with ten state attorney general, claiming that the group had violated state law and demanding that Stand4KidsNM register as a PAC.
But that wasn’t all.
As Cody writes, “But this is not the only effort to silence Korte. A nationally known GOP “opposition researcher” by the name of Tim Killeen put in a request in August for disclosure of “any and all emails and letters sent to APS board member Kathy Korte that discusses or mentions Stand4KidsNM.”
“Korte’s activities fall clearly in the realm of free speech and free association that is protected by the US Constitution. It is apparent that she has been made a target by politically powerful people, who have managed to cost her the job her family relies on.
“But the story will not end here. Korte has responded to the charge that she has violated state laws, and if there is any justice at all, this will be dismissed. She recently told the Santa Fe New Mexican,
“As a public official representing teachers, parents and citizens, and as a mother of four children impacted by public school policies, I have a right to speak my mind and I have a right to do it on FB [Facebook] and Twitter. I don’t deserve to be intimidated and harassed and my good character attacked by all these political hit women and hit men.”
The attacks on Korte and the group Stand4KidsNM are clearly an effort to frighten those who use social media to defend public schools. I urge anyone who lives in New Mexico and supports public education to join Stand4KidsNM. This is a time to show that you will not be intimidated, you will not back down.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Sorry to say not the first and certainly not the last time:
Douglas County, 2012
Dougco parent Jed Walker wants to know why a parent group that supports Dougco’s school board filed an open-records request to get all emails sent by 19 people who question the board.
Recently, supporters of the Douglas County School District Board of Education upped the ante in their battle to support the school board. A group, called Parent Led Reform, requested email records of community members who have been vocal in their opposition to the direction of the board. It was standing-room-only at a Dougco board meeting earlier this month.
These requests were made via the Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA. The organization did not provide the reason they wanted these emails. Parent Led Reform later claimed it had found a “significant number of possible violations” but has yet to provide tangible evidence.
I see the request by Parent Led Reform not as an attempt to find wrongdoers but as an attempt to intimidate and silence people who do not approve of the board’s attempts to violate Colorado law with its support of a voucher program and hold back money from the schools and their students through flush reserves.
When one of the targeted individuals requested the reason for being on the list, Parent Led Reform would not provide a valid response.
MORE: http://co.chalkbeat.org/2012/10/01/voices-reform-group-resorts-to-intimidation/#.VCRwUWMlJ-1
This is a reminder that do not conduct this business using your work email, especially if you are a teacher/principal/aide/school worker/BOE member who is opposed this crap. I would suggest not using your work email as your contact info/log-on credentials for Facebook/Twitter/ etc. Hold off commenting until after work, even if you were using your own device on your own data plan. Forward emails to your personal account and respond through that account.
I’m not sure how that might apply to using a school issued laptop after hours to post a comment on Facebook/etc.
As The Clash album from 1978 is titled, “Give Them Enough Rope.”
ed, solid, practical tips, for all workers. she is targeted and she must fight back.
I prefer the Clash song, “Guns of Brixton,” , from the album “London Calling”.
I have done all of those things, and yet I have been told that I cannot even suggest opting out of testing on my own personal Facebook, on my own time, at my home, and on my computer.
Yes, we are finding that sentiment here in NM. Teachers are afraid to mention opting out. And boards of education are afraid to help parents know that right. We live in NM in a time of great fear and intimidation tactics by Gov. Martinez and her political allies. It’s not America and it’s a crime. I tell teachers: Outside of your contract hours, you are an American citizen and your rights to free speech are protected.
Proud supporter of Kathy Korte and Stand4Kids. They are my after school support group! Not afraid to sing it from the roof tops either. Our governor is a mean and vindictive politico who has done nothing but run off good teachers and impose misery on students and the teachers who stay.
We just produced a Webisode featuring these remarkable New Mexico activist parents (and one student). Gary King for New Mexico Governor is endorsed for Network for Public Education. He GETS IT!!!
Help us send this Webisode viral by SHARING on Facebook and Twitter. Kudos for speaking out to Stand4Kids!!!
What is currently happening in Denver with students walking out of their classes because they are being asked to learn made-up history and not real history prompted me to leave this reply. History IS important and I think a background history of this NM group IS also important.
Supporters of public education fight everyday to get our message out to change the thoughts of those supporting corporate “reformers.” Part of the human experience is to change our minds and to tweak our philosophies. Diane, I know that you probably agree because you showed us how change evolves; it is a thoughtful and not always a rushed process.
Up until 11 months ago Ms. Korte was a BOE member who refused to vote on the negotiated contract, because the “union made it too difficult to get rid of all of the LOUSY teachers.” Ms. Korte has always made it very clear that she is anti-union. Her first newsletter to her constituents stated that “it is now time to attack the union.” When running for the Board she spoke of the infamous ‘Lemon Dance’ and used the corporate “reformers'” favorite stereotypes of teachers: sleeping at their desks, being bi-polar, beating students out of the parking lot at the end of the day, etc. She is on record as saying that the district had too many bad teachers and that was why she was running for the BOE. She will not hesitate to publically talk about which of her children’s teachers are doing a good job and which ones are doing a poor job.
Ms. Korte is against the negotiated agreement allowing educators time off once a year to serve as elected legislators during our legislative session and was “suspicious” of the local union’s Committee on Political Education chair whose task it is to get educators elected into office. Activists believe it is important to have educators in the legislator fighting for public education.
For the majority of her tenure as board member she has publically stated that one of the reasons she does not care for the president of our local union is because she is against standardized testing, and “how else can teachers be evaluated without using test scores?” She did not like the fact that the local union has always fought against merit pay. She continues to be extremely disrespectful of our local, state, and national unions. She uses innuendos to attack and smear our leadership and membership.
Her change in the last months has come about because she has four children and as she states in the video that is why she fights. She has never mentioned fighting for the greater good, the commons, the social contract, the public trust, or other altruistic reasons.
The many folks in New Mexico who have for decades been fighting the fight to save public education are pleased that this board member has come over from the Rhee side to the Ravitch side. However, the change seems a bit too rapid and the attack on our unions continue. So forgive those of us who just can’t seem to completely trust the motives.
Dotconnector: You are kidding, right? You felt it was so important to write in to “diss” Kathy Korte’s efforts despite the amount of attention she has brought to the table at her own expensive to support New Mexico teachers, students, parents and public education? We finally gained Diane Ravitch’s attention and your response is to write in and cry foul because Korte advocates for her children, has called out “bad teachers” and she has not always supported the local teachers’ union? I know many individuals who feel exactly like Korte. I know many teachers who do not support the union, are you going to call them out too? I find your comments ridiculous considering I have personally sat in many APS board meetings and forums and witnessed Korte argue for fairness and equality in support of teachers and students. What offended you so much in the attached video and article Dotconnector? Is it the fact that Korte is fighting the big fight without any financial gain or affiliation to anyone such as the BROAD foundation? Is it because she calls it like it is? Are you upset with Korte for reaching out to bring attention to our public education concerns? I question your intentions and ability to connect the dots Dotconnector.
What I wonder is: why has “dot connector” chosen to post anonymously? Don’t you believe in transparency? If you believe in what you are saying then say it and let’s move the conversation forward.
This is the moment to #SaveNewMexico.
Dotconnector’s motives should be questioned. I’m working on that now. This certainly isn’t the first time this individual has attempted to slander those whose questions and insights have been inconvenient.
Welcome to the world of being a parent in a US/ Turkish run or for that fact any charter school with a special needs child. Only it’s the siblings that get harassed. The game is to get rid of the special Ed child with moderate to severe disabilities. Special education is terribly under funded. These kids cost the charter school too much money and will not bring in the desired test scores. So time to pick on the sibling and make the sibling miserable. It the sibling leaves the charters schools know … so will the special Ed student. So welcome to the club of those being done so wrong. Thank you by the way for standing up for public schools.
Reblogged this on Network Schools – Wayne Gersen and commented:
More on the intimidation of a NM school board member who spoke out against “reform”.
I found this appalling. I re-blogged this post as a supplement to a post I wrote yesterday that concluded with this:
I read a recent editorial lamenting the difficulty in recruiting qualified people to run for public office. When outspoken local school board members like Kathy Korte are the focal point of national political organizations it is not surprising that people want to avoid public service… and those national political organizations could not thrive without “dark money”. We need to get money out of politics if we want good people to run for office and if we want to have an informed and reasoned debate about public policy.
The Board election in Jefferson CO Colorado offers another example of how money is influencing more and more school board elections. Money is corroding our democracy even at the grassroots level. Sad!
Couldn’t agree with you more, Mr. Gersen. In fact, I am being told that if I run for my position again in a few months, the GOP Party has a reform candidate and they’ll put thousands of dollars in that campaign against me. When I won, I won with parent help and a mere $3,000 (lots of hand-made posters too!). So that’s discouraging that $$$$ buys votes and honest folks who want to serve in any capacity can be squashed by $$$.
Dotconnector I find it strange that you would spend this precious real estate to complain about what Kathy Korte was rather than to embrace what she is now and to join with her in trying to HELP your very cause. She has moved farther than you because she has put everything on the line – her reputation and her ability to support her family. I would have to say she is all in. Are you? And before you ask if I am all in. I am a Stand4kidsNM supporter from the beginning. I am a parent and was a teacher.
I believe the above reply by Dotconnector is exactly why NM is #50 in everything. Why does it have to come down to “who” is getting credit for fighting for the students and teachers of NM? Who cares as long as progress is being made and people are becoming aware of what is happening in our schools!
We should all work together! Teachers (non-union and union) and PARENTS standing together and saying “No more corporate reform in my school!”. That is the goal of this education movement sweeping our nation.
Shouldn’t this conversation (regarding above article) be focusing on how the promoters of corporate reform are threatening anyone who speaks out against those in power? Shouldn’t we be standing together for our First Amendment rights? Free Speech!
Dotconnector is misusing the comment section of this page to speak out against parents who are joining this fight for teachers. What is Dotconnector’s motive here? Obviously to discredit a movement gaining speed.
Personally, union or non-union is not part of my parent conversation regarding the fight for my kid’s education. I wish Dotconnector would take her personal feelings and keep them off of a National page that promotes people coming together for a common good. This is bad form. We are ALL fighting for teachers, students, and PUBLIC schools.
Since Dotconnector brought it up, and If you want a PARENTS point of view, I wish all unions would follow NEA – NEA New Mexico Files Suit Against Public Education Department (http://krwg.org/post/nea-new-mexico-files-suit-against-public-education-department#.VCTjG2d09HM.twitter) – Why hasn’t Albuquerque’s union done this long ago? Dotconnector – Stop attacking parents and get to work.
“Shouldn’t we be standing together for our First Amendment rights? Free Speech!
Dotconnector is misusing the comment section of this page to speak out” Does this mean one can only exercise their First Amendment rights if they agree with you and that the comment section is not a place to speak out? Fortunately, that is not what I teach my students.
Parent who stands with teachers, Albuquerque’s union, The Albuquerque Teachers Federation and AFT-NM filed a writ of mandamus in November 2012 stating that Hanna Skandera is not Sec of Ed so has no authority to make rules. They filed lawsuit in Sept 2013. Appealed case that is asking Court to throw out PED rule and then of course there is the case being worked on that is similar to AFT Houston’s lawsuit of teachers suing over evaluation. Get to work? Please stop stereotyping unions and stop insulting them because you need to know that teachers’ unions ARE teachers.
Is Dotconnector a Susana troll??
Maybe Korte was suspicious of COPE because they schedule potlucks and invite politicians, but don’t bother to notify the Rank and File Union members who carry ATF on their back with overpriced dues..
Moose, your overpriced dues CANNOT pay for political potlucks- that is illegal and believe me the governor watches us VERY closely because she too would like unions to be busted. I am a Rank and File member and receive invitations to all events. Make sure the office has your correct home address. A Susana troll?? Not even close, I didn’t even vote for her as some folks who have posted on this page did. I like my union, ATF did not care for the Florida Model of education “reform” on which she ran.
You’re close, Moose. This is why I am suspicious of the unions: because they tell us in New Mexico that CCSS is a good thing! It’s just the tests that are bad. I don’t buy it, especially after reading this expose: http://www.defendpubliceducation.net/