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Goodloe-Johnson responds to critics

July 28, 2010 @ 2:45 am (Updated: 3:46 pm - 3/28/11 )

For months some Seattle parents and teachers have criticized the leader of the largest school district in our state. The Superintendent of Seattle Schools hasn't responded to her critics until now.

goodloe johnson"I'm tough on issues, but I don't think I'm tough on people," says Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson in an exclusive interview with 97.3 KIRO FM. "If leadership is a challenge around providing what's best for our kids, then that's okay. Because it's not okay for some students not to be doing well."

Groups of parents, teachers and even two Seattle School Board members say Goodloe-Johnson does not include the community before making decisions on big issues.

It's hard to know exactly how many people in the district are concerned about the superintendent's leadership and decision making process. Teachers at about a dozen schools say they've taken "no confidence" votes in their leader. An unscientific parent survey conducted online found only 13 percent of those who responded were satisfied with Goodloe-Johnson's performance.

While people are buzzing about the superintendent, she says they're not talking to directly to her.

"Did they talk to their principal, did they talk to the executive director, have they emailed me? I would be very curious about how they have posed a question that they feel like hasn't been listened to," she says.

Goodloe Johnson is a data-driven educator who has made several changes over the past three years. Everything from the curriculum, to how kids are assigned to schools, and the way they're tested. Change, she acknowledges, makes people uncomfortable.

"You don't get things done if people don't understand what you want done and we don't have a lot of time. It's not like we have 10 years," says Goodloe-Johnson. "Students, every single year, don't get another opportunity for that classroom at that level to learn and so I think I should be tough on that. I have a daughter. I don't want her, or any other child, to lose out."

It's not likely that she'll be increasing her popularity with teachers any time soon. This fall she's planning on evaluating teachers in a new way. Under the current system, educators either met expectations, or don't meet expectations. The new system is a four-tier evaluation tool that will detail what it means to score at level one, two, three or four. It will hold teachers more accountable for student performance.

"I'm being held accountable by the board, the system has to be held accountable, we have to be held accountable. I expect for all kids that the teachers hold themselves accountable for growth," she says.

Will the new evaluation system further hurt her ability to work teachers? The Seattle Education Association is in the process of negotiating a new contract now, with a vote set for September 2nd. The superintendent thinks most teachers are doing exceptional work and will welcome having more specific evaluation standards and support.

Goodloe-Johnson does hear her critics. This fall she'll get feedback from a group of high school students and will begin holding meetings with parents. She'll use the "coffee chats" to respond to parents' concerns and questions in person.

 

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Comments (24)


  • Add A Comment

  • wonderfullone wrote...
    This is a puff piece,
    July 28, 2010 6:19 am
    sorry, but I don't believe a thing said here.

    She is over-payed, and underachieving. She may respond to what critique she hears, but she is obviously not getting enough of it.

    However, the deeper issue is the Seattle School Board, they chose her, they chose to retain her, and reward her with a pay raise.

    Almost humorous, considering she talks about holding teachers accountable for outcomes.

    News flash, that's what is called a double standard, and no where near possible with the current union stance, which she has made zero effort to adjust.

    Anyway, I'm good and tired of her saying that her management style is what folks aren't happy with. Lack of management is not a style, it's a disease.

    It is spreading like a weed in this town.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Goody wrote...
    Doctor of
    July 28, 2010 6:27 am
    Education.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gbrown5 wrote...
    ...
    July 28, 2010 6:39 am
    she's a terrible tipper.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Country_Dog wrote...
    The Other Washington
    July 28, 2010 6:40 am
    Anybody catch William McGurn's column yesterday in the WSJ regarding what Michelle Rhee is doing with the school's in DC? She is actually firing incompetent teachers!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Country_Dog wrote...
    One of the problems with her new evaluation scheme
    July 28, 2010 6:47 am
    is that it won't make any difference.

    So, there will be four levels of evaluation now. Let's say that level 4 is excellent and level 1 is poor. If a teacher scores a 4, he will get a raise of 10% (so long as he participated in the most recent strike). If a teacher gets a 1, he will only get a 10% raise (so long as he participated in the most recent strike).

    In other words, this evaluation scheme will make boo of difference unless the district is allowed to determine pay according to merit, AND be allowed to fire people who consistently score poorly. The unions won't allow that to happen and she (nor any local or state politician) has the backbone to stand up to this.

    And even if the evaluation level is tied to pay, the unions will likely ensure that the evaluation process is controlled by the teachers and -- lo and behold -- it will soon be discovered that everybody is getting a 4. OR, the teachers will use the evaluation scheme as a blunt instrument to penalize teachers that don't toe the union line.

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  • Country_Dog wrote...
    And now...
    July 28, 2010 7:01 am
    reading through this story again, it has really hit me what a stupid statement she makes -- "I'm tough on issues, not on people."

    Think of her as a parent. I really dislike my children doing drugs (I'm tough on that issue), but if they do drugs I won't punish them. Well, duh, the outcome is predetermined there -- the kids will do drugs in increasing amounts.

    Come to think of it, Mike McGinn (and his portly predecessor) has the same policy. I'm tough on the issue of crime, but I don't want criminals punished. Indeed, if we just give them more love and understanding, it will all work out (because I'm tough on that issue).

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  • wonderfullone wrote...
    country dog
    July 28, 2010 7:09 am
    Good points.

    And if history is any indicator of how it will be applied, if enough teachers can't muster a 4, they'll lower the bar to a 3, and so on.

    As in graduation outcomes, eventually the bar will be so low, they'll be tripping over it.

    Either way, we can agree that the union will not play ball.

    Bottom line the district needs to be overhauled, starting with the board. The union needs to be declared illegal. The enablers of this incompetence need to immediately file an injunction this year when, not if, they vote to strike.

    It's going to end up in court this year either way, we'd better go for the jugular.

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  • Zoeller wrote...
    Lies, Lies, Lies, All Lies
    July 28, 2010 7:27 am
    Fire her Now!
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  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Lip service..
    July 28, 2010 8:01 am
    She's not "tough on People"..Therein lies the problem. This position requires an a55 kicker. A polite and politicaly correct a55 kicker...but an a55 kicker never the less..If sitting at the desk being cereberal on the "issues" and hiding away from people problems is the way that office is run, then its time for her to quit and let a bulldog leader have a go at it. Too much time is wasted from such people who are obsessed with "not saying the wrong thing" and hurting someones feelings.
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  • chaoswarden wrote...
    AND FURTHER MORE
    July 28, 2010 8:25 am
    PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE CONTENT, SATISFIED OR HAPPY WITH ANYONE, IF THINGS ARE NOT DONE "MY WAY". Most people seem to want PERFECTION and it just is NOT going to happen. NO TEAMWORK HERE! Whoever the superintendent is, you'd find something to be angry about. Perhaps, you'd do a better job, no doubt! GIVE ME A FRIGGING BREAK!
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