Retired Administrators Want Harries Out

If these former mayo cronies are unhappy then something good is happening. The previous administration became so powerful that any change is surely met with trepidation.
I say fire them all and start from scratch.

There is an ever increasing list of mistakes — mostly the result of ignorance and arrogance — that this Superintendent has made. It does come down to a question of competence. New Haven's students and parents deserve better.

Let's get some talent at the top... soon.

NHI,

I read this story with dismay. I know Garth to be a highly capable and thoughtful leader who has worked tirelessly to support New Haven public schools. I have seen Garth work effectively with teams of administrators, teachers, parents and every other kind of stakeholder. I have seen Garth earnestly try to build bridges across different opinions, views and backgrounds. But my opinion doesn't matter nearly as much as the facts:

• Under Dr. Mayo Garth was the architect of New Haven School change and a contract that won praise from both reformers and unions - celebrated by Randi Weingarten and something that was way ahead of the state (and better) on teacher eval;
  
• 20% increase (13 points) in HS graduation rates over the last 5 years;
  
• Significant drop in chronic truancy in the last year;
  
• Excellent at marshalling public (state and fed) and private resources when other CT districts have had to SLASH their budgets NHPS has not;
  
• School climate, up;
  
• College matriculation, up
  
• New programs, new offerings, new construction - all continuing post recession
  
  I know that Garth has come under scrutiny from our newly constituted board, but it is pretty hard to figure how much of this is well-intentioned oversight and accountability versus micromanagement and political showboating. What makes New Haven's growth, albeit modest, in the last several years notable is that it has FAR exceeded any other urban district in the state for the last five years. Of course this isn't Garth alone - this is the hard work of many, many teachers, administrators and students. And yet if we're going to hold the superintendent responsible for the list of questionable complaints issued by these retired administrators (what's their agenda?) then we better hold him responsible for what really matters -- which is improving educational outcomes and graduation rates.
  
  MB

It should be noted that Morgan Barth and Garth are brothers in arms in the corporate charter school posse. Google Brother Morgan Barth and see what you find. Barth and Garth.

School climate is NOT up. Morale is at an all-time low. Graduation rates are up, but it's an empty achievement since many students are being socially promoted and pushed through the system for the benefit of numbers. Failures are actively discouraged. Discipline is inconsistent and inconsequential; the district is actively pressuring schools to reduce suspensions. As a result, we have a climate of permissiveness for minor and serious issues. Administrators turn a blind eye or give a slap on the wrist to students who commit serious offenses, including the assault of teachers other students, verbal intimidation of teachers and other students, bringing weapons to school, in-school drug use, drug possession, vandalism, and cheating.

As a result, many "good" kids see that other students get away with whatever they want, so they figure they can do whatever they want, too. The standards are lowered every day. When administrators do try to establish consistent consequences, their efforts are often undermined by other admins in the building. Teachers are not trusted as professionals; Harries' lack of communication is modeled by many admins who fail to share important, even critical, information with teachers.

None of this is lost on students. At the high school in which I teach, candidates for class office this past year said in their campaign speeches that, while they are prepared to "suck it up and deal with the way things are, we deserve better. We need to take back our school and make it a happy place." Every student deserves better than that. For now, I just do my best to create a consistent, positive, and academic environment in my own classroom--except that I don't actually have my own classroom, but that's a conversation for a different day.

MB_
Look at the Retired New Haven Public School Educators list.
AGENDA:
Ed Joyner, Superintendent

I see the above text of the letter framing the issue as the current Superintendent basically incompetent to lead our school district.

I disagree.

I see the issue as one of power.

The former superintendent had the full backing of a powerful mayor who appointed the entire BOE and also served on the BOE.

The current superintendent facially has the support of the current mayor but she does not have the dominant power of the former mayor at this time.

What most reasonable folks do not understand is that this education conundrum we face with poor student achievement is that there are essentially two NHPS.

One is at the classroom level and the other NHPS is at the administrative level or above the classroom.

There are two operative goals.

One is to serve our children (classroom).

The other is to serve the managerial organization. ( above the classroom ).

For proof, examine the teacher's and paras unions contracts and then examine the administrator union contracts. The difference is telling in terms of salaries, pensions, reprimands and dismissals, etc.

What happens is that once a person reaches the 10K per month salary level, they begin to think they are really worth it.

In fact, most administrators are chosen for organizational political reasons than their expertise.

For proof, just do a search through the NHI archives to see the number of new initiatives that don't work and something new is proposed and on and on.

Also, the current mayor decries those folks who "represent the same, isolated, persistent source of negativity."

I tell you what, if Trump wins in November, I bet he will call people who see a different society than his authority would impose as those who represent the same, isolated, persistent source of negativity.

I will end with this, "My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge."

Wake up New Haven

What really bothers me about this is that it's going to create more intra-board sniping, and sniping between Harries and the board, and between the mayor and the board. All their energy will go back into their annoying blame game, and it will keep them all from doing all the work that needs to happen before the start of school.

I'm sick of it.

Perhaps a defense from the non-profit organization he tried to give taxpayer dollars isn't worth a whole lot.

There is also credit being given for things he had nothing to do with. Focus on your own credibility problems at AF.

Mark Twain made the following observation 100 years ago: "Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: 'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.'" Twain could have been addressing the superintendent.
There are many parents, students, teachers, administrators and taxpayers who have been monitoring the direction the New Haven public schools have been going under the leadership of Garth Harries, and they are not satisfied. They are not "Mayo cronies," but concerned residents and taxpayers.
The administration may answer the charges of the retired educators with statistics about graduation rates and attendance, but the public is concerned about kids being able to read and write at grade level, kids graduating not adequately prepared to succeed in college, about teacher morale being so low that it is increasingly difficult to fill the many teacher vacancies, and the BOE not yet having a budget yet, and about grant money benefiting a few teachers no students and about having certified teachers in every classroom..
Something is rotten in the state of the New Haven public schools.How many Garth defenders have their children in the New Haven schools right now?
The concern here is not the teaching staff,but the leadership. That causes many in this city a great deal of dismay! in the name of feigned progress and improvement, new haven has passed failing students and students with excessive absences. A lot of data is fraudulent or non-existent or missing.
Inquiring minds would like to know what specific grievances of the retired educators against the superintendent Morgan Barth considers "questionable." What are your sources for "school climate, up; college matriculation, up?"
There is a lot to be uncovered. The public has a right to know what is happening with our tax dollars. The superintendent must be held accountable.

As someone who has known Dr. Edward Joyner for nearly 50 years, I can assure NHPS that he has no interest or intention of seeking the superintendency.
Every advocate for students and parents in this district need not have some sinister, personal motivation. Some people honestly want to make or schools and our city better. Ed Joyner, unlike the superintendent, actually lives in New Haven, worked in the New Haven schools as a teacher and administrator, sent his kids to New Haven schools, and continued to push New Haven to make "KIDS FIRST" for decades after he left New Haven schools to work at Yale and Fairfield.
Joyner's commitment to the youth of this city is unimpeachable! To imply Joyner's valid criticisms of the superintendent and the mayor-BOE president have an ulterior motive is baseless speculation from one who does not know of whom he speaks!

http://jonathanpelto.com/category/morgan-barth/

Morgan Barth, Regional Superintendent at Achievement First

https://dianeravitch.net/2013/08/21/connecticut-commissioner-puts-uncertified-charter-leader-in-charge-of-turnarounds/

Barth and Garth, cut from the same cloth.

Brutus2011- After you get that JD, come back to the NH educational system. We need you, my brother!

I in know way would dismiss these retired educators as being a bunch of angry haters. I know almost all of them personally and hold them in such high esteem. In fact, they should be commended for their concern, passion and love of the system they worked so tirelessly in.

These folks could easily just enjoy their retirement, plant lovely flowers in their garden (Gibson), travel the world, restore an antique Mercedes-Benz (Garrison), work on their impressive wardrobe (Carl) or just melt into silence. But no, they wish to remain active on behalf of the city's children. I can easily say the same about Ed Joyner.

The black community should never allow anyone to silence, attempt to shun or even diminish the invaluable roll that this wealth of knowledge carries. Simply put, we are BLESSED to have them on the front line.

These are the Elders of which wisdom emanates.

Many of these retirees helped shape me into who I am today. And for that, I shall always find myself being eternally grateful to all of them.

The board would do well to listen to their counsel/concerns.

Barth,

Do you mean to say that 8 Black educators from New Haven, that served New Haven families longer than you've been alive in some cases, are political showboating? Take a look in the mirror, Mr. Barth. Better yet, reply with a detailed explanation of how you 1) got your job in the turnaround office, or 2) got your current assignment at Amistad HS. The hubris of these young corporate reformists will catch up to them, and I believe it is on full display here.

Also, did you seriously think a comment from an AF employee touting Garth's success would help his reputation? Yikes.

I don't understand why Garth wants to work in New Haven – does anyone support him other than Barth and his Achievement First cronies?

Morgan Barth, principal of Amistad Middle, is in no place to comment. Despite spending some time as the state's turnaround head (an appointment he received from an AF founder Stephen Pryor), his experience is only limited to Teach for America and Achievement First (classroom teacher, principal, regional superintendent, now principal again). He is not certified to hold the position he has and will forever be beholden to that organization for employment and promotion. He should worry about the many issues at AF and his own school, particularly surrounding student concerns over lack of diversity and parent concerns that his demeaning and callous leadership style they experienced when their children had him at Elm City Elementary will resurface as they have him again at the high school. I know many who have described Barth's leadership as intimidating and monstrous, so it will be interesting to see how the upcoming school years unfold for him.

Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing and reading about men such as Barth blindly following and supporting their own. It is clear that something is in it for him.

Everyone should read through these comments and see how often people comment about the students. Seems to me that a lot of adults, leaders, and community members forget that the students need to be the main priority. All this arguing among the board and fighting with Garth will do nothing but eventually effect the students we are trying to educate. Correct me if I am wrong.. but we teach our students to be kind to one another, work with others you may not partially like, accept others and their ideas even if they are different and always be respectful when you don't agree with others..... we should model and lead by example and always remember the New Haven Public Schools motto... Kids First!

Is the issue that Garth receives bad advice or that he ignores good advice? Either way, as "the answer is in the room," why is it that he continues to arrive at erroneous solutions that create problems instead of resolves them? How many missteps are allowable in a position that oversees the future of 22,000 children at the cost of $400 million annually before someone successfully addresses the fact that this head needs an adjustment? Kudos to the retirees who were brave enough to make their voices heard and to represent those who lacked the courage.