Troy LaRaviere won the Mayor’s merit award for principals in Chicago, for the third year in a row. This is funny, because LaRaviere has been Rahm Emanuel’s most outspoken critic. Troy spoke out against the privatization of janitorial services; he compiled the data to show that public schools outperform charter schools; he endorsed Chuy Garcia, Rahm’s opponent. He urged the parents at his school, Blaine Elementary, to opt out of the state tests. He is fearless and outspoken. But he is also the best principal in the city.
Ben Joravsky writes:
Despite LaRaviere’s record of opposition to the mayor’s school policies, this principal has won three $10,000 merit pay awards (totaling $30,000) for school years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. He may have won one for last year—CPS hasn’t announced them yet.
That’s means he’s received more money in merit pay than any other principal in the city—including those from the mayor’s much-adored charter schools.
When I saw Rahm had given Troy so much love, I thought I owed the mayor an apology.
I’d always viewed him as one of those vengeful, cutthroat types. And here it turns out he’s a turn-the-other-cheek kind of guy. Next think you know he’s going to give me the keys to the city.
Then I called LaRaviere. And it turns out Mayor Emanuel had nothing to do with giving out that merit pay.
Well, OK, yes, it’s true that the idea of giving merit pay to principals is something that Mayor Emanuel came up with back in 2011.
And yes it was Mayor Emanuel who raised the $5 million for the awards by passing the hat among some of his closest political allies, including Penny Pritzker, who donated $1 million, and Bruce Rauner, who donated $2 million.
Joravsky concludes that other principals who have kept quiet should step up and speak their minds. If Troy LaRaviere could win a merit award of $10,000, three years in a row, there is no excuse for anyone to bite their tongue.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Congratulations, Mr. LaRaviere. You earned this award.
What exactly are the parameters of qualifying for that sum of merit pay?
Oh Duane don’t be coy and just give us the manifesto already.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-09/news/ct-met-cps-bonuses-1110-20111109_1_principals-gain-school-principals-achievement-gap
Tim,
Thanks for the info. I had no clue upon what those bonuses were based.
Other than the fact that performance pay has never, yes NEVER worked in the educational realm even though it has been tried throughout the world since the late 1800s, well, why wouldn’t one doubt the necessity of it now?
OFF TOPIC:
Funny cartoon from L.A. Progressive…
It sums up charter schools in a little over 2 minutes:
Fiore does excellent comics!
Congratulations, Troy LaRaviere!
Insofar as Tim’s comment goes, I believe Mr. LaRaviere’s school had an extremely large opt-out number this past test season–largely because Mr. LaRaviere is a REAL principal who actually cares about his students, parents & teachers, listens to them &, in fact, spoke out in favor of opting out, & would not punish any of Blaine’s teachers for not giving the tests, either. Therefore, if a large enough # opted out, he might not win an award which is, yes, probably “standardized” (NOT–neither valid nor reliable–Tim, Duane doesn’t have to give his schtick, here)-test based. However, everyone in Chicago knows Blaine as an outstanding school–tests or no tests (which, of course, don’t tell us anything, & I think Troy has already been named an Education Hero by Diane). Duane, isn’t it great to hear about a PRINCIPAL who doesn’t GAGA?
And, Tim, don’t be snarky. Duane’s Wilson diatribe can NEVER be redundant, because we never know when Diane’s blog will have some new readers (very likely, given her #s), & they should know that little-read info.–& spread the word!
&–I can’t let this opportunity go by–Bernie 2016! Come to the Women of Illinois for Bernie Rally–Sunday, Dec. 6th, Rosemont–for more info/registration go to:
http://women-of-il-4bernie-rally.brownpaperttickets.com/
Funny thing about opting out: an analysis of the 200,000 opt-outs in New York revealed that it was lower-performing children who tended to opt out at higher rates, especially at higher performing schools.
Knowing that, knowing that this principal has been an opt-out activist to such an extent that some parents at his school felt they were being pressured into refusing the test, and knowing that the merit awards are based on test scores . . . it just doesn’t look good.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150413/lakeview/principal-who-ripped-rahm-standardized-testing-gets-new-contract
Perhaps Principal LaRaviere should consider donating the vain and illusory bonuses to Fair Test or NPE.
Tim:
“. . . the vain and illusory. . . ” Quoting without attribution and using out of context, well, shame, shame, shame!
Ha, ha, haaahhhh!!
Tim,
rbmtk is correct about the new reader part (and thanks rbmtk for covering my back-hope all is well!). That is why I post it so often.
I am also trying to see if the flip side corollary to “if you tell a big enough lie. . . ” (attributed to many despots) which is “If you tell the truth often and loud enough people will eventually realize its truth”. One of the best things those “despots” can do with damaging truths is to tell the big one and/or just completely ignore the truth and not give any time/credence to it whatsoever so that it gets lost in the mists of time to be forever forgotten. I’m just trying to prevent the truths that Wilson has shown us are not tossed into the dustbin of history and lost in the mists of time. Ain’t nuthin that fancy!
I thought Diane was Rahm’s Biggest Critic (TM) (and Bill’s and Arne’s and David’s and Eva’s and Campbell’s and Andrew’s and Scott’s and Jeb’s and on and on ad reformeritum (which is the same thing as ad nauseam)
Where’s her award(s)?
Imagine!
A principal with principles – ¡Bravo!
Tim–I’m not saying you are (no offense meant, honestly)–but stop acting so dim. (Apologies to SomeDAM Poet.) Parents do NOT want their children to be constantly test-prepped & tested–they want their children to be educated–just like the children of the 1%!!! Since when does testing=learning??? And–have you never heard of/read about the infamous 2011 (or was it 2012?) “Pineapple question?” A test is only as good as the validity/reliability of its questions and answers. NONE of our so-called “standardized” tests meet that criteria; there is NO oversight of the te$ting indu$try ($pecifically, Pear$on), & there is ab$olutely NO quality control. It’s ju$t about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
And, Duane, I’ll ALWAYS “cover your back” because…well,,,you’re swell. (And your testing rant is spot-on–every single time.)
Right, like 1%ers, we traditional district public school parents want a quality curriculum delivered by teachers with a deep knowledge of what they are teaching–whether they have amassed ed school credentials is secondary. We want to eliminate test prep entirely. But like the parents and educators at Lakeside, Sidwell Friends, the Lab School, and nearly every other elite private school, many of us (who aren’t being heard) believe that it is useful to have students spend a dozen or so hours a year taking standardized tests as a reality check against other assessments.
Or, in the eloquent and expert words of Sidwell’s head of middle school, “[the battery of standardized computer bubble tests that Sidwell administers] can help parents and teachers understand more clearly and completely a child’s balance of strengths and needs. Teachers may review the scores in detail, looking for patterns that emerge from one year to the next, and then use that information to be more effective in the classroom.”