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Saturday, May 23, 2020

NYC Department of Education Wins the "Who Are You Kidding Award" After Losing Gifted and Talented Entry Exams


In 2005 we started giving out the "Who Are You Kidding" Award to people or agencies that commit fraud, or assist in creating or promoting fake news.

The 2016 "Who Are You Kidding Award" Goes to Carmen Farina (for the Second time) and Mayor Bill de Blasio

Carmen Farina Wins the 2015 WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? Award as the "Best Talent" the World Has, To Run the NYC DOE  

The Second "Who Are You Kidding Award" Goes To Dennis Walcott

The "Who Are You Kidding??" Award Goes To: Joel Klein, New York City Board of Education Pretender 

The NY POST's article (below) tells us that the New York City Department of Education has lost the entry tests of 61 kids who applied to Gifted and Talented Programs in NYC.

Oh, how convenient is this? The NYC DOE hates G&T Programs, and believes that 'all children can learn' and G&T programs are discriminatory and divisive. Every child should get the same curriculum, and can succeed at the nice average middle (not incapable of doing the work, but not too bright so that there are boredom pranks).

Mr. Carranza: is anyone looking for the missing documents?

Betsy Combier
Editor, ADVOCATZ.com
Editor, ADVOCATZ blog
Editor, Parentadvocates.org
Editor, New York Court Corruption
Editor, NYC Rubber Room Reporter
Editor, NYC Public Voice
Editor, National Public Voice
Editor, Inside 3020-a Teacher Trials 



NYC parents frantic after DOE loses Gifted and Talented program entry exams

City parents are livid after the Department of Education lost the entry tests of 61 kids applying to advanced academic programs and schools.
A total of 12,834 4 and 5-year-olds kids took the Gifted and Talented exam in January to vie for admission to coveted district and citywide programs.
But dozens of applicants who took the exam at PS 89 Liberty School in Tribeca didn’t get their scores last month when the DOE released results.
After weeks of evasion, the DOE finally admitted that they had lost the crucial tests in a May 15 email to parents.
Officials said UPS lost the exams while transporting them to a testing vendor for scoring.
With Gifted and Talented placements scheduled for release next month, impacted parents said their children will be unfairly cut out of the competition.
“The degree of incompetence and lack of transparency are really disconcerting,” a Chelsea parent said.
Sharon DeWitt of Tribeca ripped the DOE’s handling of the bungle.
“They went weeks before finally admitting they lost the test,” she said. “Finally, on May 15, boom, ‘we lost your score,’ that’s it, with no gameplan. Many families plan their family life around this test.”
A DOE spokesperson said it will attempt to offer make up exams but acknowledged that the coronavirus is complicating that effort.
“We immediately informed families when we found out UPS lost these tests and will offer retests as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Katie O’Hanlon. “Placement results will still be released in June but these families will still have the option to enroll in a G&T program if they qualify.”
But parents wondered how their kids would qualify without having  a chance to take the test in time.
“In the 15 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never heard of scores being physically lost — with no trace,” said city education consultant Alina Adams. “This is new and exciting for a DOE screw up.”
Parents often expend time, money and energy preparing their kids for the exams.
“They’re grief-stricken and they don’t know what to do.” Adams said.
Roughly one in four test takers score high enough to qualify for a spot. But due to demand, only a fraction of them eventually secure seats via lottery.
Detractors of the Gifted and Talented system argue that young children should not be taking standardized tests to determine their educational future.
Backers assert that advanced children should be placed in appropriately rigorous academic environments.

NYC DOE Executive Superintendent for Queens South Takes Job in Manor, Texas

Dr. Andre Spencer  




The first thing I want to know is why Dr, Andre Spencer is moving away from New York City and his job at the NYC Department of Education. He started here in September 2018.

We just don't know, but thought you might want this information.

Betsy Combier
Editor, ADVOCATZ.com
Editor, ADVOCATZ blog
Editor, Parentadvocates.org
Editor, New York Court Corruption
Editor, NYC Rubber Room Reporter
Editor, NYC Public Voice
Editor, National Public Voice
Editor, Inside 3020-a Teacher Trials 

Manor ISD announces lone finalist for the district’s new superintendent
MANOR, TX – After a wide-ranging and exhaustive Superintendent search process which attracted more than 35 applicants from across the country, the Manor ISD Board of Trustees are proud to announce that Dr. Andre Spencer has been named the Lone Finalist for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

Currently, Dr. Andre D. Spencer serves as an Executive Superintendent in the New York City Department of Education, overseeing schools in Queens South—Districts 27, 28 and 29.  He has worked alongside other Superintendents and the Executive Director of the Borough Office to improve achievement outcomes for all scholars ensuring they contribute to the common good in our society.  He strongly believes that every scholar should receive an equitable education that will prepare them for college, career and life. 

Dr. Spencer served as Superintendent of Schools for Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 2013-2018.  He has also worked in the Baltimore City Public School System for 13 years as a science teacher, assistant principal, principal, and network team lead.  In addition, Dr. Spencer served as a school leadership officer in the Houston Independent School District. 

Dr. Spencer is a graduate of the National Superintendent Certification program through AASA: The School Superintendents Association.  He is also the Superintendents’ Commission Chairperson for the National Alliance of Black School Educators; and was recognized as the Superintendent of the Year by The Education Center in Denver, Colorado.  Dr. Spencer is a graduate of The Broad Academy Class of 2017.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Master of Science degree in Science (Biology) from Morgan State University, Doctoral Fellowship in Science Education from Morgan State University and a Doctor of Education degree from Capella University.  Dr. Spencer also holds a Human Resource Management Certificate from Southern New Hampshire University.

“I am extremely excited to join the Manor ISD Family.  I want to express my sincere thanks to the Board of Trustees, students, staff and community for seeing my dedication and commitment.”
– Dr. Andre Spencer

The Superintendents search was conducted by the law firm of O’Hanlon, Demerath, & Castillo, in conjunction with Dr. Abelardo Saavedra and Dr. Daniel King.

Manor ISD will now enter the 21-day waiting period required by state law.

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But we do know that the previous Superintendent, Royce Avery, left Manor SD because of complaints:

Royce Avery


The Manor school board has approved hiring an outside attorney to conduct an investigation of Superintendent Royce Avery regarding an employee complaint alleging discrimination, harassment or retaliation.
At a specially called meeting Tuesday night, the board also voted to hire a different lawyer to serve as a hearing officer in an unrelated grievance against a fellow trustee. The board did not disclose the specifics of that grievance or say which trustee the complaint was made against.
The board met behind closed doors for more than three hours to address the two issues before voting 5-0 to hire lawyer Kevin Lungwitz to conduct an investigation into the complaint against Avery. Another 5-0 vote authorized hiring lawyer Ifeoma Ibekwe to serve as the hearing officer in the grievance — a formal complaint that demands resolution — against the unnamed trustee.
Trustees Sam Samaripa and Temeika Thomas were missing from the dais at the time of the votes. Both had been present at the beginning of the meeting and during the closed door deliberations, but they did not return to the dais when the board reconvened into open session.
The specifics of the complaint against Avery are unknown, but school board documents from a previous meeting describe it as a “DIA complaint,” which under district policy “addresses discrimination, harassment and retaliation involving district employees.”