Mercedes Schneider teaches high school in Louisiana. She has a doctorate in statistics and research methodology, and she taught in higher education. She is careful with facts and evidence.
Recently, she has been on a tear about Louisiana Superintendent John White, who rose rapidly through the ranks of corporate reform with skimpy credentials. By law, he is supposed to have taught for five years to qualify as the top educator in Louisiana. Schneider says he never taught for five years. A media outlet in Louisiana rose to John White’s defense.
Mercedes Schneider responds, with facts and evidence.
The interesting question is why so many states and districts bend the law or ignore it to install unqualified people to take charge of education (think Joel Klein in New York City, Michelle Rhee in D.C., Hannah Skandera in New Mexico).
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Bravo, Mercedes! I still follow my home state–although I consciously decided I would never want my children to grow up there–and gagged as I read the Times-Picayune editorial board’s endorsement of White (http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2017/07/john_white_contract.html#incart_river_index). If there more like Mercedes, I might have a different view of, as Huey and Earl used to call it, the Gret Stet.
The same can be applied to Teach for America because they do not learn anything about the history of education, pedagogy or methods for content areas. I think that we need to do the same to become a doctor. I have a bachelor’s in biology. I get hired to be a doctor in an urban hospital. I do a 3-week professional development on human physiology and pharmacology then complete weekend professional development on patient care for a year twice a month. Be hold!!! I am a doctor.
This will help to cut down on the shortage of doctors in healthcare.
Excellent analogy. Sadly, the only thing it proves is that Americans pay a lot more attention to health of body than to education of mind –or for that matter, to health of mind, as evidenced by our lack of attention/ funding to mental health.
You pose a question for us to answer, but you know how this happens.
The “deep state’ whom you called the ‘billionaires club” owns the legislatures, because they need to ‘get’em young’ — the future citizens. who are kids now. So, theses guys _ –The EDUCATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX — https://greatschoolwars.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/eic-oct_11.pdf who own the media sell propaganda for a decade; the tell that people that they need to be able to choose, and the choice that they offer, is a fraud.
Most charter schools do not teach all our kids, their graduation rates are abysmal,,and they are rife with fraud.
The deep state the 1/10thof 1% who own the wealth of this nation and who oWN Congress, — has a plan accomplish the failure of the schools
. The ploy is to get rid of the real teachers, the genuine, experienced practitioners, and –while saving a ton of money by not having to pay benefits– they remove the voices of those WHO KNOW WHAT LEARNING REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
PAY ATTENTION TO those words, because THEY WERE USED BY the real National Standards research teams (by Pew funded Harvard 3rd level research on the . PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING) .
They taught seminars to the classroom teachers who were the cohorts being studied. I was the nYC cohort. Every, seminar and meeting with the staff developers that ran the research began with those words.. WHAT DOES LEARNING LOOK LIKE.
But when the charlatans took over, and the LEGISLATURES NOW RAN THE SCHOOLS, the billionaires boys club created a ‘marketplace for magic elixirs
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Magic-Elixir-No-Evidence-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-130312-433.html no evidence of learning was required!
And thus, charlatans like Mercedes describes get to run the schools…into the ground.
And these guys get to write curricula https://dianeravitch.net/2014/12/05/north-carolina-plans-to-adopt-koch-funded-social-studies-curriculum
If you think our citizens are ignorant now… imagine 50 years from now, when THE FACTS ABOUT HISTORY AND SCIENCE are gone, and alternative facts are the rule.
How does a society make decisions that are beneficial to its people if truth is replaced by the misinformation handout right lies of charlatans?
Now, there is question.
The Same thing is happening in healthcare.
Diane,
This stuff gets crazier by the day! I’m so glad to be receiving emails from you so I can keep up-to-date.
Thank you, Kas Winters /The Sneaky Mom
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Why does it not surprise that the the ‘top educator in LA’– the State Superintendent of Education– does not even meet the legal baseline qualification of 5 yrs’ teaching experience? LA’s state school system’s ed-achievement speaks for itself. This is the state that used NOLA’s 2004 natural disaster as ‘disruption’, firing 7,000 educators (mostly of color) & mandating conversion of public schools to 100% charters in a grand experiment [funded by billionaire disruptors] which has exacerbated segregated schools while producing zero increased ed-achievement. Clearly there is no political will in LA to improve ed, whose govt reps are held in thrall by big$ ed-interest campaign-coffer-stuffers.
But how does LA differ from other states except in degree? Let’s look at all the State Supts of Schools & see which of them has any teaching experience at all? Let’s examine the campaign chests of all state officials w/say-so over state ed policy & see who’s on the take from big$ corp-ed interests.
Why LA & Mercedes Schneider’s perspicacious reporting are so important: because ed-reformers in other states are still looking to duplicate the NOLA ‘miracle’.
“. . . which has exacerbated segregated schools while producing zero increased ed-achievement.”
Please explain what you mean by “increased ed-achievement”.
Mil gracias.
Duane
Betsy DeVos in Washington,D.C.
It is mind boggling to acknowledge that The Greatest America in 21st century where leaders from POTUS, his cabinet leaders of all departments from national security, Supreme Court, to healthcare, education and environment try to impose on Public to live in the Middle Age.(people did not have public schools)
In this Information Age, people from other countries can advance their humanity from learning from The Greatest America of 20th century. Why do Americans let leaders leading them to live in Middle Age = alternate facts or blind faith? Back2basic
Brilliant, as usual, Mercedes! Looks like Mr. White has “carpetbagged” his way into Louisiana (joining Paul Vallas in that dubious category). The comments are a must-read, as well. Lloyd, thanks for the laughs at 6 AM!
BTW–am extremely disappointed in The Times-Picayune–in my travels, it has been my favorite newspaper.
As a news outlet responsible for reporting to the public, they need to do their homework & research as well as Mercedes does before printing such nonsense (“alternative facts”–?).
Why do the states bend the rules?
They need people who are willing to run schools/school districts into the ground, not do everything in their power to improve them. That’s why being selected as a school leader nowadays doesn’t have the same prestige it once had. They are being selected BECAUSE they are unqualified.
Does Louisiana follow EEOC guidelines in the hiring of state government employees?
(1) If a search committee was not convened (2) if resumes were not vetted for qualifications and to validate info., provided and, (3) appointed candidates don’t meet published, specifications that were developed, independently to assure competence, Louisiana’s cronyism is an affront to American values.
Louisiana has a Long and gloried history of politicians getting paid to not look at qualifications when it comes to appointments.
Governor Huey Long raked in millions for his “war chest” in this way.
“Soiled White Hats”
The paper spins
A shameless ruse
But Schneider wins
And White Hats lose
Cuz years are fixed
And “3” is “3”
It can’t be nixed
It’s clear to see
“By law, he is supposed to have taught for five years to qualify as the top educator in Louisiana. Schneider says he never taught for five years.”
Just makes sense. After all, how can one do a job knowledgeably and with wisdom unless one has DONE the job? Unless he or she has been in that position to have to make moment by moment decisions as well as a larger plan?Is there no law like that for the Secretary of Ed position?
There is no law, requiring executive-level positions (federal), to have any specific qualifications, as to their position. The director of the Federal Aviation Administration does not have to be a pilot. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, does not have to be an engineer. The secretary of transportation, does not have to wear a hard-hat,etc.
As a person with over 12 years of federal service, and with over 15 years of working on federal projects, I can state emphatically, that it is sometimes best, to bring in an outsider, to supervise certain government projects. It is almost always preferable, to have senior people, who are not steeped in “government-think”, to supervise federal projects.
Cabinet heads are selected by the president, and confirmed by the senate. No specific qualification is set out in legislation. This is good. The president has wide latitude in selecting from a pool of candidates, which are outside of government.
Herbert Hoover was an engineer. He served in a number of government posts, and performed with excellence. He directed food relief projects in post WW1 Europe, and saved many thousands from starvation. Robert E. Lee was an engineer. He commanded the confederate army, and won many battles, against a superior military force.
First of all, Charles, we’re talking about state regulations, not federal, so your point is meaningless.
Second, it’s quite revealing that your two historical examples were a failed President who was at best in denial, and at worst indifferent to the mass suffering of the Great Depressionand, and a slave-owning general who, despite the hagiography he’s received from the history books, was a traitor to his country.
I was answering Kindergarten’s question, about “is there no law?”.
Although his accomplishments as president, were undistinguished, Herbert Hoover did a brilliant job in post WW1 Europe, administering relief.
Robert E. Lee considered the Commonwealth of Virginia, to be his “country”. His tactics and strategy were nearly always brilliant, and are still studied at West Point (where he served as superintendent ). He truly a tragic historical figure.
I do not want to get into a political/historical debate. George Washington was a slave-owning General, who was a traitor to his country, as well.
To Charles:
I am sorry to disagree with your expressions, like:
1) No specific qualification is set out in legislation. This is good
2) I can state emphatically, that it is sometimes best, to bring in an outsider, to supervise certain government projects.(Yes, that it is sometimes best, but NOT USUALLY, isn’t it?)
3) Are Herbert Hoover and Robert E. Lee exceptional leaders or ORDINARY people?
In short, you are either Trump supporter, or foreign contractor, or are paid to write such childish ideology. I hope that you will not bring an outsider in your house to do any project where he/she did not qualify to do it. Would you be conscious enough to let your young child in the care of FOREIGN baby-sitter (=an outsider) who does not have enough qualification in childcare? Please think through before you suggest that childish idea. Back2basic
Feel free to disagree. Article II of the US Constitution, sets up the executive branch. The President is given wide latitude in selecting advisors and senior executive appointments. This ensures greater independence of the executive branch, which is part of our separation of powers.
Herbert Hoover did an outstanding job, when he supervised relief efforts in post-WW1 Europe. He was praised by people, all over the world.
Robert E. Lee, was one of the greatest general officers, this nation ever produced. He graduated from West Point, without one single demerit. He served as superintendent of West Point. He served brilliantly in the Mexican War of 1848. He directed many brilliant victories for the Confederacy; even though he opposed both slavery and secession.
I voted Republican in the last election. I am a US Citizen, not a foreign contractor. I have hired people from foreign lands to do work in my house, so what? I have no children, but my first wife was Chinese, and later, I married a Russian. If I ever had a child, I would take necessary precautions, if I hired a person to care for my child.
Thank you Charles for your reply.
You are contradict within. For example, You agree that:
1) For your country:
Your idea: No specific qualification is set out in legislation. This is good for America to have Trump to be qualified as being President.
2) For your own family (children)
Your confirmation: If I ever had a child, I would take necessary precautions, if I hired a person to care for my child.
In short, why don’t Americans “take necessary precautions” versus
“No specific qualification is set out in legislation” in choosing a person to care for their child/home and for their citizens/country? At least, my assumption was correct that you are Trump’s supporter as per your confirmation (I voted Republican in the last election. I am a US Citizen.) Back2basic
Thank you, Diane!!!
Sadly apparently the ‘local media’ are still having trouble sorting this out.
http://bayoubrief.com/2017/07/24/john-white/
(Updated)
So won’t y’all help us out? I think the question boils down to this: Which schools did John White teach at, and when?
https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/exclusive-john-whites-praxis-scores-do-not-equal-five-years-of-teaching-experience/#comments
Established:
Jersey City, NJ William L. Dickson HS 1999-2002 English Teacher
Questioned:
Chicago, IL, 2004-2006 – “Chicago Public Schools” “Teacher Coach & Mentor” – taught where?
Newark, JN, 2002-2004 – “Teach for Am.” “Teacher Coach & Mentor” – taught where?
For my friends interested in public education and accountability:
After a detailed examination of the claims made by the Bayou Brief (BB) in their attempt to discredit and diminish the Louisiana state superintendent’s licensure issue and Dr. Mercedes Schneider, I have determined that their assertions are without legal or factual bases.
For the public record, I was in no way solicited by anyone to get involved in this discussion. As an attorney I felt obliged to step in, where I saw an attempted political hit masquerading as legal analysis. Something is not legal analysis just because someone says it is, any more than White’s teaching experience existed just because he says it did. I am familiar with both the Bayou Brief and Dr. Schneider as a regular reader and as long-term colleagues in advocacy. I read the BB’s initial post with interest, to see what they could contribute, fact-wise, to answering the questions Dr. Schneider and others have raised.
I was disappointed by the lack of facts and disparaging tone of the BB post, so I asked the “Editorial Board” to provide the factual and legal bases for each of their conclusions. They responded with a great deal of flippant attitude, shifting reasoning, and hubris. Instead of addressing my questions in a forthcoming manner, they ultimately deleted my comments and blocked me from further posting on their facebook site.
The substance of BB’s post challenging Schneider’s (and a great many others’) conclusions was stated as follows:
“In our judgment, none of these allegations are true, and they are based on a (i) fundamental misapprehension of the law, (iii) a creative interpretation of the requisite qualifications for certification (in which only teaching experience in a public school is sufficient), and (iii) a misunderstanding about the ways in which states grant reciprocity to teachers certified elsewhere.” (numeration added.)
Over a series of facebook comments, I attempted to draw out of BB their rationale behind each of the three conclusions above. After much back and forth, I am satisfied that there is no credible evidence in the possession of The Bayou Brief that undermines Dr. Schneider’s conclusions.
###
BB: “(i) fundamental misapprehension of the law”
BB has not shown how the law is misapprehended. When asked piece by piece which sections of law they felt were misapprehended, only one hypothetical was given. This comment by BB hypothesized that something like after-school SAT tutoring would have qualified as “years of teaching experience in an area of certification.” They argued that the language of the requirement was so vague as to permit interpretation that way, without offering any legal justification or support whatsoever for that interpretation, except that ‘the courts would defer to BESE.’ Perhaps the BB misunderstands how our three branches of government work in check and balance of each other. BB should readily state where their interpretation is supported in existing law.
If BB wants to publish an article stating that Dr. Schneider fundamentally misapprehends the law, they should be able to say precisely how. Instead, she has cited the section precisely:
§ 708. Educational Leader Certificate Level 3 (EDL 3) [Formerly §709]
A. This certificate is required in order to serve as a school system superintendent or assistant superintendent.
Eligibility requirements:
…
b. five years of teaching experience in his/her area of certification;
…
BB now asserts that the language above means other than its plain meaning, and that it should be interpreted to include such things as after-school SAT tutoring, without providing any justification for that interpretation. And yet they assert that we are wrong to understand it to mean full-time classroom teaching, again, without citation or explanation. This argument fails.
BB: “(ii) a creative interpretation of the requisite qualifications for certification (in which only teaching experience in a public school is sufficient)”
Here BB argues that the issue with the certification requirements pertains to the question of public/private. After being challenged, BB asserted that the misunderstanding was that “one does not need successive, public school experience in order to obtain the certification.” This is a diversionary or simply incorrect argument. Dr. Schneider did not say that there were two years of experience that did not qualify because John White taught either non-successively or at a non-public school. She said the years never existed.
Among other materials, she posted Mr. White’s Louisiana leadership certification applications, which include an employment verification letter on TFA letterhead, which states:
“John was employed by Teach For America from July 1st of 2002 through February 4th of 2007. During that time he held the title of Executive Director of our Chicago Region. He earned a yearly salary of $126,499.92.”
The Bayou Brief parrots White’s assertion that this same period of employment should somehow also qualify him for two years towards his “five years teaching experience in an area of certification,” because his spokesperson says so. Like White, the BB declines to provide any documentation whatsoever in support of their demand that we give these terms other than their plain meanings.
They never disproved Dr. Schneider’s assertion, nor did they ever demonstrate how Dr. Schneider was factually or legally incorrect in her interpretation of the qualifications for the challenged leadership certifications.
BB: “(iii) a misunderstanding about the ways in which states grant reciprocity to teachers certified elsewhere.”
This statement implies that the Bayou Brief believes that John White was in compliance with reciprocity rules.
However, deutch22.com demonstrated in detail, through communications with relevant Illinois professionals and related licensure materials, that John White could not have taught in an area of certification in Illinois without formally converting his NJ certificate to IL. Bayou Brief does not claim that White secured an IL certificate. They claim that the rules do not require that the certificate be issued from the same state wherein the teaching occurred. This indicates a misunderstanding on the part of Bayou Brief, not Dr. Schneider. Dr. Schneider set the processes and requirements forth correctly.
Further, and egregiously, Bayou Brief cannot show that John White ever even sought reciprocity, or had an Illinois teaching certification at the time he was supposed to be earning his “years of experience teaching in an area of certification” in Chicago.
Inter alia, Bayou Brief argued that White’s “Certification didn’t expire”, “He has been certified in English since at least 1999”, and that he would have been able to teach in an area of certification in Illinois with an un-transferred New Jersey certificate. These claims were disputed and unresolved.
Over the course of our discussion, Bayou Brief ultimately claimed that John White taught in an area of certification (English) in Chicago Public Schools, without being an employee of CPS, and without Illinois certification.
###
None of the Bayou Brief’s “legal arguments” survived basic scrutiny. For every three or four paragraphs of response by one of their board members, only one paragraph contained actual legal argument, and these were sloppy, lazy, and incorrect. The remainder of the verbiage was hot air and hand waving.
Of the posts that purported to offer a substantive rationale, it was stated clearly that that person, Clayman Clevenger, a board member and private attorney, was commenting only in his personal capacity, but he adopted and defended the BB claims. The members of the “Editorial Board” did not answer the specific questions raised by their ‘exclusive/editorial,’ nor would they disclose the membership of the board. The Bayou Brief has previously lauded the hire of Ms. Katie Weaver as bringing serious bona fides to the paper, however, she declined to respond to this issue. In a private message, a board member told me that she is merely their spelling and grammar secretary.
After ample opportunity to provide solid facts and argument in support of their conclusions, the Bayou Brief stands disproven on the record. Their story completely unraveled.
Finally, the Bayou Brief’s repeated refusals to support their claims with facts, their repeated diversionary and straw-man arguments, and their repeated changes in rationales tend to show a pretext in motive for publishing the piece.
I call upon the Bayou Brief to retract its story and issue a prompt apology to Dr. Mercedes Schneider.
[cross-posted.]