New York State Commissioner of Education MayEllen Elia has been on the job since July 6, and she has won over many–but not all–critics.
Whereas Her predecessor John King was young, inexperienced, and had worked for a brief time in a charter school, Elia has many years as a teacher and administrator. She gets points for that.
But her agenda is the same as Cuomo, King, and Tisch: high-stakes testing, school closings, teacher evaluation by scores.
The one group not yet charmed by Elia are the opt out parents and educators at Néw York State Allies for Public Education. It is the agenda they oppose, not the messenger.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Nor is she going to charm them. They are veeeery savvy.
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NYSUT leadership declared it a victory for US that when Elia was appointed.
In fact they’ve been claiming victory over everything lately, when in fact NY teachers have lost more since January than we can even begin to count.
NYSUT is no longer a valid force on the battlefield against the reform agenda. They are no longer serving their purpose. They are, in fact, against the interests of teachers in the state.
When the reckoning will come for NYSUT leadership I do not know but it is long overdue.
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Useful analysis of StudentsFirstNY at the NYTimes today.
They are a permanent organization engaged in continual political effort and backed by an infinite supply of money.
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
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If she’s so competent, why was she bought out of her contract as Superintendent (for a large sum of money) in Florida?
And why did some teachers refer to her as “Evilia”?
Ellen #JustAsking
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A person doesn’t take that position, they win it by convincing someone that they will follow through on their agenda. Would that agenda have come from a well-known lobbyist for students who has insisted repeatedly (when stinky stuff hits the fan) that he has nothing to do with education policy?
I am so tired of the revolving door full of self-assure authoritarianism. It is time for collaborative leadership that empowers and doesn’t demand/command.
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