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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...
    Chaoswarden
    July 28, 2010 6:24 pm
    Read the post above, for starters.

    You love to avoid the content of comments, just so that you can be RAILING about the comments having no solutions.

    This is a mantra that you continue ad nauseum.

    You want a solution? Start with you. Quit talking smack about those who won't stand for the status quot.

    You say "Most people seem to want PERFECTION and it just is NOT going to happen."

    That is the kind of crap that defends what is indefensible.

    Grow up, pull your head out of between your cheeks, and pay attention to what is happening.

    Two things I know. Change is inevitable, and if you resist change you are buried under it.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • StepJ wrote...
    Deaf, texting, and eye-rolls
    July 28, 2010 6:29 pm
    The Superintendent may respond when major news media comes knocking - but us mere parents and taxpayers are ignored and mocked. Hundreds and thousands of e-mails and letters were sent to MGJ in support of allowing families with elementary age children to keep all of their young children enrolled in the same school as a componenet of the new student assignment plan. Communications were either ignored outright or responded to with a form letter. Parents that asked a question of the Superintendent directly at coffee meetings last year were given a political double-speak response that did not answer the question, or given no response at all. Parents that testified at School Board Meetings had the response of an eye roll from the Superintendent or complete indifference as she texted away on her Blackberry. We have thousands of examples of questions being asked directly of the Superintendent when she did not respond. Perhaps she is 'saying' she will listen as the District is going to ask taxpayers for even more money in November. Doesn't look good to ask for MORE money when the State Auditor has just pointed out the ongoing (as in years upon years) mismanagement of funds that has not been corrected. MyNorthwest -- thank you for the story. Please keep pushing to hold our Seattle Superintendent Accountable.
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  • publicschoolparent wrote...
    How Goodloe-Johnson Responds to Parents -- with Threats & Disdain
    July 28, 2010 7:55 pm
    "Did they talk to their principal, did they talk to the executive director, have they emailed me?" -- Goodloe-Johnson This is rich. So Goodloe-Johnson says she wants parents to email her? Ha. I know of a parent that did email Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson, to express serious concerns and criticism about her school closures and program split plans. How did Goodloe-Johnson respond to this parent's concerns? She tracked the parent's email address to her/his work, called up her/his boss and threatened the company and the parent. I believe the company the parent worked for is related to a bigger company that does business with the school district. Goodloe-Johnson threatened to cancel the district's contract with said company. Parent's boss spoke to the parent. I think lawyers were involved. I am not making this up. Yep, that's how Goodloe-Johnson 'responds to parents.'
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  • wonderfullone wrote...
    That should get the 'doctor' fired ASAP
    July 28, 2010 8:47 pm
    Forward that story to News Chick, please.

    If the tax payers are going to have to pay out over a lawsuit for this, we'd better get our pound of flesh off of her arse.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }