The principal of the Teachers College Community School in West Harlem in New York City jumped in front of a subway train and died of her injuries. She was under investigation for changing test scores. The investigation has been closed.
Jeanene Worrell-Breeden, 49, of Teachers College Community School, jumped in front of a B train in the 135th Street station on St. Nicholas Avenue on April 17, police said.
She was pulled out from under the train and taken to Harlem Hospital, where she died eight days later. The city Medical Examiner’s Office ruled it a suicide.
The leap came at 9:20 a.m., less than 24 hours after her 47 third-graders wrapped up three days sweating over the high-stakes English exam — the first ever given at the fledgling school.
It was also the same day a whistleblower reported the cheating to DOE officials….
The tough Common Core exams have raised anxiety. In 2014, only 34.5 percent of city students passed the math tests, and 29.4 percent passed English tests.
Sadly, the scores on the Common Core exam seem to be more important than life itself.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
No words…except that I think back about 13 years ago when 5 principals in my district were demoted. Rumor was that it was for inflating test scores. Wasn’t even CC back then. But same pressure existed. As far as I know the five still managed to do well in their careers. Somehow this principal (and the Atlanta principals) went through some heavy punishment. I wonder if there is more to this story?
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It seem she was under investigation at her former school for collecting overtime while not in school. She altered the time cards but an arbitrator found in her favor. On top of the pressures of the new job that led to these allegations, her husband left her for another woman. So I think there were a lot of factors that caused this feeling of hopelessness.
These tests are ruining lives and making people act in ways that are inappropriate. Look at the teachers from Atlanta who tried to convince themselves it was for the greater good to alter the scores after their administrators pressured them.
The NYC DoE also applies horrendous pressure. I know of a case where a popular AP was disliked by the superintendent for no other reason than she was selected by the principal who was also targeted. She had the young woman demoted back to being a special ed teacher, placed her in a class mid semester, and only gave her one day to set up before being formally observed. Her professionalism and expertise made for an excellent lesson. However, the pressure of this class that burned so many teachers before her, and the fact that her new principal gave her no support (she was friendly with the superintendent) but most of all losing a promising career led to a nervous breakdown.
My former AP who later became principal was also targeted by the same superintendent. She was hospitalized after passing out in school. The diagnosis was stress. Nothing mattered but the test scores.
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Right. I saw this story earlier. Lots of complications. Still, plenty of people feel pressured, extremely pressured, to take drastic actions. The lives of so many are affected by these trumped up tests.
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Toxic times in education.
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She was not demoted. It is not a promotion to work for such an administrator. Teachers who think it is a promotion are not thinking of how responsible they must be in their support of the classroom. When the administrators are good, they deserve teacher’s respect. When not, remember, the salary is for being on call 24/7. This is a different job only. All staff should be on the same team. This superintendent was not on the team.
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“She altered the time cards but an arbitrator found in her favor.”
The arbitrator found that she did what she was accused of doing, but in the arbitrator’s opinion, this merited a letter of reprimand and a fine equivalent to two weeks pay, rather than termination as the DOE had recommended.
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“Sadly, the scores on the Common Core exam seem to be more important than life itself.”
That might be because psychopaths are behind the Common Core Agenda to turn our children over to corporations for the 1 percenters power and profit.
Time Magazine reports: Which Professions Have the Most Psychopaths? The Fewest?
http://time.com/32647/which-professions-have-the-most-psychopaths-the-fewest/
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Caught between the tests and the Danelson rubric, what else can sincere teachers and (what’s left) of sincere administrators do except leave their jobs or leave their lives?
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This is so sad but it won’t be the last. I know a young teacher that was so stressed out she had a major heart attack the very day she was giving a less than desirable rating after being rated a highly effective teachers for many years. She thought she was having an anxiety attack (she never had one before) and tried to shake it off then drove herself to the hospital when it would not stop only to find out she had a major heart attack. We have students cutting themselves and taking meds for stress and depression. Maybe it is time we filed a child abuse law suit against the federal government.
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What a tragedy!
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What a tragedy for this woman’s family, friends and colleagues.
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Smarter Balanced computerized tests were supposed to do away with possible cheating. Are PARCC tests just as easy to cheat on?
Then why do it and why put such teachers, students and parents in a place where suicide is the only way out?
Why would anyone implement a system that is serving the needs of profiteers and risking the lives of those who must endure this horror?
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I await further info.
However, if it turns out that another misuse of rheephormster numbers & stats led to this, what an unnecessary tragedy.
With all respect, I remind viewers of this blog that support a “better education for all” of Rigoberto Ruelas. One link of many—
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/rigoberto-ruelas-suicide-_n_742073.html
RIP.
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I am speechless. This is one example of many concerning CC$$ and high-stakes testing.
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I feel for her family. So sad. Unfortunately, this is what Reformers want. Destroy at all costs. Ends justify the means. Send those eeeeeviiiil teachers to jail and if we lose a few, the Reformers just do not care, and even see this as acceptable.
Remember Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute, who published “End Obamacare, And People Could Die. That’s Okay.”? He conceded that repealing the Affordable Care Act would lead to deaths, but that “in a world of scarce resources, a slightly higher mortality rate is an acceptable price to pay for certain goals.”
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Unfortunately, for most of us, our self-esteem and our career represent two sides of a single coin. It is for this reason so many teachers are leaving the profession. A significant reason I retired was because I knew if I would have gotten a negative rating–even if the rational side of me knew it would have been caused by an invalid math equation–the affective side of my brain would have emotionally destroyed me. Therefore, I left on a high note along with my principal and five other experienced teachers. 250 years of experience walked mainly to protect our mental health.
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Well, I thank you for your years in the classroom. Veteran, experienced teachers are a treasure and should be honored.
BTW, my coping mechanism this year was to throw my VAM rating from Dept. of Ed in the trash without opening the envelope.
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Good move.
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Bravo, MathVale!
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What a shame! Of course, you all had to do what you needed to to to keep your sanity (crazed educators are no help to anyone), but you all would have made AMAZING mentors! It is such a shame that the profession’s most valuable assets (yes, I called you an asset) are leaving the profession. If we continue on this path, public education in America will most assuredly be destroyed in America.
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I’ve seen this time and time again but I would not leave. It is better to find work on the margins of your district if it is a large district- options, home school, etc because leaving simply reinforces what they want- to shut veteran teachers out. Some have been able to legally fight their poor ratings.
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Just to clarify, I retired from being rated by the horrible NY HEDI rating system, but not completely from education or teaching. This summer I am still working as a special education teacher on a review team for a Committee on Special Education. In addition, I will probably again work part time in my school as an academic intervention teacher performing a RTI service as well as interview prospective teachers for an alternative certification program as well as evaluating students to determine eligibility for a gifted program. And yes, last year I spent part of my time training three people to do a job that I did by myself in the school in which RTI was just one component. At the same time, I managed to win over the new very young principal of my school.
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What a terrible tragedy. Awful, just awful.
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So now we have, and some are celebrating, a new version of No Child Left Behind. Part of this new law includes mandatory high-stakes testing. We are told by some that this is ok because the federal penalties aren’t as tough as they were. OK, but now the states take over. And the penalties? Hanging over everyone’s heads as before, even as “the tests” themselves have no public scrutiny or control. Testing companies and the privatizers who gloat when scores are low are beyond our control.
The testing mania creates and exacerbates stress in the schools which affects all of us in different ways. This is something that happened during last spring’s testing period which just now is coming to light.
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I am SOOOOO sick and tired of hearing about the pressure that these tests put on teachers and students, mainly because it’s like everything else you during the year doesn’t count – only the test scores for 6 days. I long ofr the day when we actually get to focus on ACTUAL education again. High stakes testing needs to go – period.
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I am convinced that our profession, in its current incarnation, is making educators sick. And I mean that quite literally. I am not being hyperbolic when I suggest that the physical and mental health of teachers needs to be researched and addressed.
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Can anyone tell me of a Presidential candidate who is against all these salary-connected, overabundance of tests and “reformers” who are a plague in this country?
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No, sorry debbiehopes.
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Agree with “no” answer but, getting Wall St. out of education is at least a start. At the Bernie Sanders for President site, we can enter our zip codes and find a location to support the start to his campaign, on Wed., July 29. It sends a message. if another candidate comes along that is pro-community, he/she would be a welcome addition to the field.
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Jill Stein (ontheissues)
OnTheIssues: What about Common Core and national education standards and testing?
Stein: In general, high stakes testing is more than counterproductive–it is destructive. It is used as a political tool against teachers–targeting low-income and people of color. Our educational system should target lifetime learning–with full and equitable funding; and eliminating disparities by race. Testing for diagnostic purposes as part of standards [is ok, but we should have] curriculum written by teachers–not by corporate contractors.
OnTheIssues: So what about a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on Common Core, since it addresses some of those issues and not others?
Stein: It’s not separable from the issues above so I’d say thumbs down. All schools and all students should have the option to opt out. And that’s not enough–because so much of school curricula have been destroyed–we need to teach multi-dimensionally and make schools relevant, using the arts, engaging the community, and more.
Charter schools assault the treasure of our public schools
OnTheIssues: What about privatization in the public schools?
Stein: Public education is another example where there has been a complete scam [regarding privatization]–charter schools are not better than public schools–and in many cases they are far worse. They cherry-pick their students so they can show better test scores. The treasure of our public schools system has been assaulted by the process of privatization.
Source: Phone interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org , Jul 6, 2015
End high stakes testing
Education as a Right: Abolish student debt to free a generation of Americans from debt servitude. Guarantee tuition-free, world-class public education from pre-school through university. End high stakes testing and public school privatization.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website, jill2016.com, “Plan” , Jun 25, 2015
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I’m in Texas visiting my daughter. I flipped on the TV in the hotel, and the first ad I see is for a virtual school for all Texas students. The ad is very appealing with kids doing science projects shooting off rockets. They appeal to the “personalized” value of sitting in front of a computer screen. Regular people don’t understand they are being sold a pile of manure. Children need to be protected from this patent exploitation.
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My primary care doctor told me to get out of teaching—-he has told all of his patients who are teachers to leave the profession. Why? Out of nowhere teachers are suddenly developing heart conditions, nuerological conditions, immune system problems, etc.
I took his advice—-after 20 years of teaching, I am out. I love my students, I love to teach, but I will not sacrifice my health.
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This item here is sick.
None of us know the real cause/causes that led to this suicide. Using this unfortunate persons suicide to promote the point of view that all testing is bad is the worst thing I have observed here.
People commit suicide for all different reasons and no one including Diane Ravitch shall use this to justify his/her point of view. Schoolgirl above delicately points out some of the causes.
I feel sorry for this individuals family and all those here who are misusing this incident.
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Raj, it is a fact that the suicide rate for children has gone up since NCLB, RTTT, and CCSS.
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Llyod,
You seem to have all the information from blogs which are not defensible. Blogs can publish any nonsense they feel. There is no peer review whatsoever.
My point is that no one including Diane Ravitch has the right to use such news as some one committing suicide to make a point. This is morally wrong.
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You are all BS, Raj. That Blog post was written and posted by ME on one of my Blogs, and I did my homework and provided the links to the sources I used in that post.
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In addition, Raj, I know what I’m doing when I research a post for one of my blogs. If I write an Op-Ed piece, I provide facts to support my thinking with links to reputable sources. I learned how to write like that when I was earning my BA in journalism. Instead of throwing out unsupported BS from other Op-Ed pieces—something the RheeFomers do with regularity—I focus on facts from reputable sources when i can find them.
That probably explains why when I was teaching high school journalism for seven years for the students who produced the high school paper, that paper earned international, national and regional recognition and that even made the local paper.
If you bother to click this link, Scroll down to see the facts from a reputable source that supports what I just claimed in the previous paragraph.
The headline says, “Extra! Nogales newspaper a five-time winner – Scroll earns top honors in country” And those students were in a high school with a childhood poverty rate that was over 70%.
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Sorry, I forgot to include the link in my last reply. Here it is.
http://www.mysplendidconcubine.com/teachingyears.htm
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Raj,
The story was the front page of the Néw York Post. I did not draw conclusions. The story did. If you don’t like this blog, don’t read it.
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Raj,
It is wonderful to see you taking the moral high road here. There is another prominent case of a teacher in LA who committed suicide after a newspaper published the teacher’s name. I can’t recall the details. Who can help?
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NJ Teacher: I gave one link above about Rigoberto Ruelas.
Google “Rigoberto Ruelas” and “los angeles teacher” for more hits.
Thank you for remembering an individual who, by many accounts, did so much good for so many others.
RIP
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Raj,
You’re hysterical. When do you go on tour with Kathy Griffin?
Please be careful about how much shoe polish you swallow, as that stuff can poison you. Don’t keep your foot in your mouth for too long, I beg you.
We need you around to inspire us . . . ..
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Thanks Krazy! I admit to scrolling down the comments quickly and not giving yours proper attention.
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Correlation does not equal causation, Lloyd. Your post mentions the large amount of time that even the very youngest school-age children spend using social media. More research is needed, but it could be that cyberbullying is responsible for any increase.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/social-media-cyber-bullying-linked-to-teen-depression/
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Ha!
The Tobacco and sugar industries have used the same argument—that Correlation does not equal causation.
But A.L. was right, “You can fool some of the people all of the time.” Or is that most of the time?
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So correlation does equal causation?
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XKCD: “Correlation does not imply causation, but it does waggle its eyebrows suggestively and gesture furtively while mouthing ‘look over there’.
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FLERP: Correlation only equals causation for VAM, if, of course, you trust voodoo metrics.
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Raj,
School principals have been in an undue pressure–due to unrealistic demanding and punitive accountability. Your insinuation is way off the mark. Your last sentence sounds nothing but blatant lie–and insulting. Enough of non-sense.
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Lloyd Lofthouse: if I may…
Evidently my comment above is pretty darn sick:
[comment minus link start]
I await further info.
However, if it turns out that another misuse of rheephormster numbers & stats led to this, what an unnecessary tragedy.
With all respect, I remind viewers of this blog that support a “better education for all” of Rigoberto Ruelas. One link of many—
RIP.
[comment minus link end]
As the sabe-lo-todo/know-it-all put it: “None of us know the real cause/causes that led to this suicide. Using this unfortunate persons suicide to promote the point of view that all testing is bad is the worst thing I have observed here.”
And of course, I didn’t write what I wrote. Capiche? Just like those photos that Stalin didn’t like where various “enemies of the state” who appeared were ‘mysteriously’ airbrushed out.
And so I too am the recipient of this contemptuous pity: “I feel sorry for this individuals family and all those here who are misusing this incident.”
Now I have written on another thread of this blog today, a posting entitled “Los Angeles: The Charter Empire Strikes Back” that the LATIMES op-ed by the owner of this blog—as explained, dissected and skewered by Sarah Angel—is in immediate need of comments by pro-“reformers” disassociating themselves from what I think is charitably (and frankly mildly) described as a written example of road rage by a leading rheephormster.
I noted that up to the moment when I posted the comment, not one—of all the many charter champions and free market fundamentalists and choicers—had dissociated himself/herself from Angel’s venomous word salad and strikingly deep cognitive dissonance.
I ended with: “One last point: Y’all shouldn’t even need my prompt. This blog should already be flooded with your furious disavowals.
Silence is compliance. Compliance is consent. ”
Notice any complainant’s name still missing from that thread?
😱
I have described the heavyweights of the self-proclaimed “education reform” movement and their enforcers and enablers as the “sneer, jeer and smear crowd.” I have also described one of their guiding principles as being: Double think. Double talk. Double standards.
Any question why?
If I may, Mr. Lofthouse, sometimes an old dead French guy will do in place of a Greek one:
“Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.”
As in, not walking his own talk. How bad could that be?
“Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.”
What, for goodness sake, would François de la Rochefoucauld say about self-ridicule?
😎
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Seriously Raj. Keep posting.
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Math Vale:
What you said.
😎
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The item could not be ignored given the timing of the incident and the issues involved.
Raj, you are clearly using this item to further your own ongoing polemics about this site.
Shame on you, Raj, for being the epitome of a sanctimonious hypocrite.
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A sad and shocking story on many levels.
Three elements I take away from this high-stakes testing tragedy.
Lack of candor by DOE / SED in response to parent desire to find out why test results were disqualified. Of course they will say there was no need to pursue the case or explain anything with the alleged target of investigation gone. I doubt they would have been forthcoming had the Principal been available. Instead, they would have kept the investigation open indefinitely and used that as an excuse to “no comment” us for years, while they continued to roll the defective testing program over us.
Second, based on the Principal’s reported abuse of time, what qualities recommended her to head up an innovative school?
Finally, and most important, it seems that educationally sound decisions about children and teachers can be reached without test scores. This was the assurance the Supt. gave to concerned parents. And this has been one of the central arguments and objectives of Change the Stakes, as opt-out opposition has gathered ever-growing strength.
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How sad that a life was lost because of added pressure to it.
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It is a tragic news.
I give more importance to the experience in the classroom. Forcing teachers to attend to the subject matter, and specifically, test items will ruin the experience part; dumping away a possible happier future.
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To Raj:
Can you prove that all learners can successfully learn under fear or stress?
Can you acknowledge that people flee away their dictatorial homeland for freedom of living?
Can you list people who can live WITHOUT HOPE?
However, CCSS destroys hope for the future of both teachers and students. This is the main cause that leads to the death/sickness of teachers and students
Teachers and students will be happy to teach and learn in appropriate resources and supports from administrators who are properly trained and respected for humanity and the future of their own country and their future citizens.
Dr. Ravitch and all educational gurus in this website are very patient and kind to you. You must be awakening to adapt to humanity before it is too late to RETAIN your credential of being PhD from any university. Back2basic
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I do not have to answer any of those questions. They are not pertinent to my statement.
Once again I state with conviction that no one should use the tragedy of some ones suicide to advance their cause, whatever the cause may be. That is all.
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This tragedy is the consequence led by bad choices on education policy. Period.
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To Raj:
Please remember that reality and principle in life always supersede illusion and perception. You have PhD, and I only have two BAs.
You should know better than me that your statement is just a PERCEPTION in a democratic society, WHEREAS my questions are the REALITY and the PRINCIPLE IN LIFE.
YOU SHALL HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ME IN THE PROCEDURE OF RESEARCH. For this reason alone, you obviously acknowledge that people commit suicide because they lost support at work, at home, lost dignity, lost career, lost hope, but full of frustration and despair to the point that life is not worth to live anymore for them.
As I said previously that ONLY children demand freedom and democratic right, and they do not thoroughly understand the responsibility, and consideration behind their demand in order to qualify their demand. So do you. Your perception is meaningless if you did not acknowledge the reality and the principle in life.. Back2basic
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This is tragic news. I immediately thought of Rigoberto Ruelas when I read the post title–he will never be forgotten.
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See edmusingsny.wordpress.com for a letter I received about NY’s “failing” schools. Coincidentally the author also asks the Regents to study the problem of cheating on tests.
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Regardless of the circumstances of this principal’s suicide, many teachers and parents have reported the stress that high stakes testing has on students. I think of all the students now who are medicated and who hate going to school. If we keep going on this track, it will (unfortunately) be interesting to see how much the childhood suicide rates and teacher & administrator suicide rates increase. Either that or we will continue to see a mass exodus of people from this profession.
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
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