Jobs at the New York City Department of Education

 JOBS FOR DIRECTOR OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, BOX P12-1441/21131

Education Department, State - Albany | Opened at : 5 December 2015 - 1 day ago

Manage the Office’s interactions with the NYC Department of Education, the SUNY Charter Schools 

Institute, school districts, charter school support...

JOBS FOR ASSISTANT RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Weill Cornell Medical College - New York | Opened at : 4 December 2015 - 2 days ago

Proficiency in computers (WordPerfect, Microsoft Office, database packages). Programs in 

biomedical research and education at the Weill Graduate School of...

JOBS FOR GAINS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

The Salvation Army - New York | Opened at : 11 November 2015 - 24 days ago

Maintain relationship with NYC Board of Education. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Provide 

administrative support to the Youth Development Department in...

JOBS FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

The Children's Aid Society - Manhattan | Opened at : 3 December 2015 - 3 days ago

Serve as liaison to regulatory agencies such as DOH and New York City Department of Youth and 

Community Development (DYCD), NYC Department of Education (DOE)...

JOBS FOR RENEWAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT MANAGER

New York City Department of Education . - New York | Opened at : 25 November 2015 - 10 days ago

Executive Director for School Renewal, Superintendent Team members, OSI-SFEP Executive 

Directors, Division of Teaching and Learning, Office of Research...

JOBS FOR BIDS AND CONTRACTS ASSOCIATE

Cambium Learning Group - Dallas | Opened at : 26 November 2015 - 10 days ago

Support for other department responsibilities as needed (e.g., District Bids, Contract Renewals, 

Vendor Registrations;...

JOBS FOR BILINGUAL/ SPANISH CERTIFIED APPLICATIONS COUNSELOR, BUREAU 

OF PRIMARY CARE ACCESS AND PLANNING

DEPT OF HEALTH/MENTAL HYGIENE - Queens | Opened at : 1 November 2015 - 30+ days ago

Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2" or "3" above. The Division is looking to hire a 

permanent bilingual Public Health Advisor to function as to...

JOBS FOR OCCUPANCY SPECIALIST

WinnResidential - New York | Opened at : 29 September 2015 - 30+ days ago

Education – High School Diploma/GED Equivalent; Maintain compliance with Winn’s NYC Lease Renewal Policy. Travels to agency offices with residents as needed....

JOBS FOR PROCUREMENT ANALYST II

DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION - New York | Opened at : 8 November 2015 - 28 days ago

Processing contract amendments, renewals and extensions; A combination of education and/or 

experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above....

JOBS FOR DIRECTOR, LEAD PREVENTION AND HEALTHY HOMES INITIATIVES

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DVLPMNT - New York | Opened at : 30 October 2015 - 30+ days ago

Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. The Primary Prevention Program 

(PPP), a joint initiative between the Department of Housing...

JOBS FOR ASSISTANT RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Weill Cornell Medical College - New York | Opened at: 4 December 2015 - 2 days ago

Proficiency in computers (WordPerfect, Microsoft Office, database packages). Programs in biomedical research and education at the Weill Graduate School of...

JOBS FOR GAINS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

The Salvation Army - New York | Opened at: 11 November 2015 - 24 days ago

Maintain relationship with NYC Board of Education. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Provide administrative support to the Youth Development Department in...

JOBS FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

The Children's Aid Society - Manhattan | Opened at: 3 December 2015 - 3 days ago

Serve as liaison to regulatory agencies such as DOH and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), NYC Department of Education (DOE)...

JOBS FOR RENEWAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT MANAGER

New York City Department of Education . - New York | Opened at: 25 November 2015 - 10 days ago

Executive Director for School Renewal, Superintendent Team members, OSI-SFEP Executive Directors, Division of Teaching and Learning, Office of Research...

JOBS FOR BIDS AND CONTRACTS ASSOCIATE

Cambium Learning Group - Dallas | Opened at: 26 November 2015 - 10 days ago

Support for other department responsibilities as needed (e.g., District Bids, Contract Renewals, 

Vendor Registrations;...

JOBS FOR BILINGUAL/ SPANISH CERTIFIED APPLICATIONS COUNSELOR, BUREAU OF PRIMARY CARE ACCESS AND PLANNING

DEPT OF HEALTH/MENTAL HYGIENE - Queens | Opened at: 1 November 2015 - 30+ days ago

Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2" or "3" above. The Division is looking to hire a permanent bilingual Public Health Advisor to function as to...

JOBS FOR DIRECTOR, LEAD PREVENTION AND HEALTHY HOMES INITIATIVES

HOUSING PRESERVATION & DVLPMNT - New York | Opened at: 30 October 2015 - 30+ days ago

Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. The Primary Prevention Program (PPP), a joint initiative between the Department of Housing...

NYSAPE Survey on Common Core Standards, Tests, Evaluations

NYSAPE

​​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 4, 2015
More information contact:
Lisa Rudley (917) 414-9190; nys.allies@gmail.com
NYS Allies for Public Education www.nysape.org

Commissioner MaryEllen Elia

LINK

NYSAPE Survey Shows New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Reject Common Core Standards, Tests & Evaluation Policies

In response to NYS Education Department’s AimHighNY survey on the Common Core that many parents and teachers found excessively complex and not open to general comments, New York State Allies for Public Education created a user-friendly survey and posted it online between November 23 and November 30. Close to 12,000 New Yorkers filled out our survey in just a week’s time. According to Commissioner Elia, only 5500 completed NYSED survey in three weeks’ time. Governor’s Common Core task force has received 1,798 submissions since December 2, according to Politico.

The respondents to the NYSAPE survey overwhelmingly reject the Common Core standards, believe the state exams and test-based teacher evaluation system are flawed, and that these reforms have worsened instruction in both English Language Arts and Math at the classroom level.

Parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and concerned NY residents all took part in the NYSAPE survey. Of special note, 11 percent of our survey respondents also completed NYSED’s survey and 32.9 percent attempted to complete NYSED’s survey but gave up.

Of those who responded to the NYSAPE survey, 70 percent oppose the Common Core standards, 4 percent support them, 23 percent have concerns with them, and 3 percent are undecided. An even higher percentage --83 percent -- believe the Common Core standards in both ELA and Math have worsened instruction. 83 percent also disagree with the shift to close reading strategies.

Over 80 percent of respondents indicated that they believe ELA and Math standards in grades K-3 are developmentally inappropriate for many students. Fewer than 4 percent of respondents say that the ELA and Math standards for grades 4-8 are well designed.​

For grades 9-12, only 2 percent of respondents approve of the ELA and Math Standards. Only 6.2 percent agree with the Common Core’s quota for informational text versus literary text.

An overwhelming number – 91 percent –say that the Common Core exams in grades 3-8 are flawed, while fewer than 1 percent believe they are valid or well-designed. Among those who find the tests to be flawed,​ many believe the tests are developmentally inappropriate, too long, not useful for assessing students with disabilities and/or English language learners and that reading passages and questions are too difficult and confusing.

Of our respondents, 54 percent indicated that high schools should use the previous NYS Regents exams rather than new exams aligned to the Common Core standards, while roughly 40 percent believe that students should not have to pass any high stakes exams to graduate.

Those who took the NYSAPE survey are nearly unanimous, at 96 percent, that test scores should not be linked to principal or teacher evaluations. 86.5 percent say that the state should abandon the Common Core standards and return to the New York’s former standards until educators can create better ones.

The full results of the survey are posted here: http://www.nysape.org/nysape-cc-survey-results.html

“NYSAPE’s findings are in line with the poll results and most of the testimony to the Governor’s Common Core Task Force. There is no way around this; the Governor and the legislature must eliminate these Standards, revamp the tests, and reverse the harmful education laws,” said Lisa Rudley, Westchester County public school parent and NYSAPE founding member.

One of the survey respondents said, “As a teacher who trained at Bank Street College of Education, I find the standards developmentally inappropriate. As a reading specialist, I find the kindergarten standards far too high in reading and writing. As a parent, I am very concerned because I have a child who hates reading because it was pushed so hard at his school.”

"The results of the survey confirm that the vast majority of parents and teachers do not approve of the Common Core, and oppose the rigid quotas for informational text and ‘close reading’ strategies that have straitjacketed instruction throughout the state. They want to abandon these standards, and return to our previous ones until educators can craft better ones. We hope that state policymakers, including the Commissioner, the Governor, the Board of Regents and our legislators, will listen,” said Leonie Haimson, Executive Director of Class Size Matters.

“The tremendous response to NYSAPE's survey underscores that parents and educators are eager to be heard. The fact that the Commissioner Elia could not create an accessible survey only fuels concerns about her competence and willingness to truly engage parents and practitioners,” said Bianca Tanis, Ulster County public school parent, Rethinking Testing member and educator.

"Vice Chancellor Bottar attempted to portray the appointment of Commissioner Elia as a positive change, assuring the public that she would be able to communicate more effectively with parents and educators to find common ground. Vice Chancellor Bottar's continued poor judgement and complicity with the failed reform agenda can no longer be tolerated; it is time for him to step down," said Jessica McNair Oneida County public school parent, educator and Opt Out Central NY founder.

NYSAPE, a grassroots organization with over 50 parent and educator groups across the state, is calling on parents to continue to opt out by refusing high-stakes testing for the 2015-16 school year. Go to www.nysape.org for more details on how to affect changes in education policies.
- See more at: http://www.nysape.org/nysape-press-release-survey-results.html#sthash.9ijQWpdI.dpuf

Rome Superintendent Jeffrey P. Simons is "Proficient" Says the Board

Jeffrey P. Simons

Rome superintendent receives ‘proficient’ rating from board

LINK

Published Nov 30, 2015 at 4:00pm

Rome school district Superintendent Jeffrey P. Simons received an overall rating of “proficient” in the Board of Education’s evaluation for the 2014-15 school year that concluded June 30, the district said today.

Meanwhile, the district said the board and Simons “also wish to clarify any previous comment regarding the status of...Simons’ future employment as follows: Current considerations and discussions between the board and Mr. Simons regarding a contract extension are separate and unrelated to his performance as superintendent of schools.”

Simons and the board felt the clarification should be offered because “there may have been some confusion with the readers of an earlier published account involving an interview with a member of the board that touched on not only the completed evaluation but also the status of discussions or plans for continuing employment of Mr. Simons beyond the expiration of his contract,” the district said.

His contract expires July 31, 2016.

The district’s statements were provided in a letter by Records Access Officer Robert B. Mezza Jr.

He also is the school district’s director of business and finance.

Mezza issued Simons’ evaluation results in response to a New York Freedom of Information Law request that was submitted by the Daily Sentinel on Nov. 10.

Withheld from the issued results was a portion that “included subjective analyses or opinions of individual board members concerning how well or poorly the standards or duties have been carried out or the goals have been achieved in accordance with the rubrics in the (evaluation form) instrument,” Mezza’s letter said.

In addition, the overall final rating document was “redacted in part to eliminate other partial ratings that are taken into consideration in arriving at the final score (proficient),” he said.

Simons received the rating from the board “using a new evaluation system which was adopted this year,” Mezza said.

“Because a different evaluation system is being used, a comparison cannot be accurately made to the previous years’ evaluation ratings,” Mezza adds.

The board previously had agreed to use a new evaluation system from the McREL corporation that both Simons and board members have said would be more comprehensive.

Among other rating categories that were included in the current evaluation forms besides “proficient” were “developing,” “accomplished,” and “distinguished.”

The district’s response did not specify how Simons’ “proficient” rating was ranked in relation to being higher or lower than the other categories.

Using the prior system, Simons’ performance in the previous 2013-14 school year had “exceeded expectations,” according to evaluation results.

Simons became superintendent in August 2007. Under his current contract which expires July 31 next year, his salary was to increase to $164,616 by the 2015-16 year.

The board in September 2011 had voted to extend the contract, which at that time was due to expire July 31, 2013.

Board President Louis Daniello said on Nov. 5 that Simons’ contract remained “a matter of discussion.”

When asked whether he anticipated it would be renewed, he had said “I don’t know which way the board wants to go overall...or Jeff wants to go on it.” Simons on Nov. 4 would not comment when asked about his contract status.

Daniello separately had said on Nov. 4 that Simons’ evaluation was completed over the summer, and that the information would be provided with guidance from the school district’s legal firm; it included “some things that are confidential,” he had said.

The portion of Simons’ evaluation results that was withheld from public release was based on a state law exemption stating that “public agencies...may withheld records which if released would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” Mezza’s letter said.

In addition, “evaluation materials containing opinion regarding performance may also be withheld from disclosure, as such information is not fact nor would it constitute a final agency determination” under the law, his letter said.

Decision No. 15,919

Bottom of Form

Appeal of DAWN and JAY KIPPEN from action of the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Rome regarding the employment of a superintendent and application for the removal of Jeffrey P. Simons as superintendent.

Decision No. 15,919

(May 18, 2009)

Ferrara, Fiorenza, Larrison, Barrett & Reitz, P.C., attorneys for respondents, Craig M. Atlas, Esq., of counsel

Petitioners challenge the appointment by the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Rome (“board”) of Jeffrey P. Simons (“Simons”) as superintendent of schools and seek Simons’ removal.  The appeal must be dismissed and the application for removal must be denied.

Prior to August 1, 2007, Simons served as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, then as deputy superintendent in the Rome City School District.  On June 6, 2007 the board appointed him superintendent, effective August 1, 2007.  At the time of this appointment, district regulation 3015.1 required, in pertinent part, that a superintendent in the district “possess ... [f]ull certification as a teacher” and “[c]ertification as a School District Administrator”.

Education Law §3003 requires only that, to be eligible for the position of superintendent of schools, an individual must possess a “superintendent’s certificate”.  Pursuant to §80-2.4 of the Commissioner’s regulations, which is applicable to Simons’ appointment, a “school district administrator” certificate constitutes a superintendent’s certificate within the meaning of §3003.

On February 29, 2008, petitioners submitted a request, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) (Public Officers Law, Article 6) to the State Education Department seeking information regarding Simons’ certification.  On March 25, 2008, petitioners received a response indicating that Simons holds a valid permanent certificate as a School District Administrator and previously held other provisional certificates which have since expired.

Thereafter, petitioners commenced this appeal, challenging the board’s appointment of Simons and seeking his removal.  Petitioners’ request for interim relief was denied.

Petitioners claim that the board’s appointment of Simons as superintendent is improper, as it does not comply with district regulation 3015.1, in that Simons does not possess certification as a teacher.  Petitioners seek Simons’ removal from his position.  The board asserts that the appeal is untimely, is moot and fails to state a claim.  It also maintains that there is no basis for Simons’ removal.

An appeal to the Commissioner must be commenced within 30 days from the making of the decision or the performance of the act complained of, unless any delay is excused by the Commissioner for good cause shown (8 NYCRR §275.16; Appeal of Proctor, 46 Ed Dept Rep 575, Decision No. 15,599; Appeal of Henley, 46 id. 556, Decision No. 15,594).  The 30-day limitation period also applies to a removal application made pursuant to Education Law §306 (8 NYCRR §277.1; Application of Berman, 46 Ed Dept Rep 378, Decision No. 15,537; Appeal of Berman, 46 id. 64, Decision No. 15,442). 

The board contends that the 30-day time period in which to challenge Simons’ appointment ran from June 6, 2007, the date of his appointment, thereby rendering the appeal untimely.  However, the gravamen of petitioners’ challenge to Simons’ appointment and assertion that the board violated district regulation 3015.1 is that he is not qualified to serve as superintendent because he lacks certification as a teacher, as required by the board’s regulation.  A district’s employment of an unqualified individual, if unlawful, is a continuing wrong, subject to complaint at anytime (Appeal of Boyle, 46 Ed Dept Rep 496, Decision No. 15,574; Appeal of Brown, 39 id. 343, Decision No. 14,255).  Therefore, I will not dismiss the appeal as untimely.

To the extent that petitioners challenge Simons’ appointment as contrary to district regulation 3015.1, the appeal must be dismissed as moot.  The Commissioner will only decide matters in actual controversy and will not render a decision on a state of facts which no longer exist or which subsequent events have laid to rest (Appeal of Tine, 46 Ed Dept Rep 579, Decision No. 15,600; Appeal of N.C., 46 id. 358, Decision No. 15,532; Appeal of Lombardo, 46 id. 282, Decision No. 15,508).

The board submits evidence that it revised district regulation 3015.1 on August 13, 2008 to eliminate the requirement that an individual possess full certification as a teacher as a qualification to hold the position of superintendent.  The regulation still requires that an individual possess certification as a School District Administrator.[1]  Petitioners’ challenge to Simons’ qualifications under district regulation 3015.1, therefore, is academic.

Turning to petitioners’ application for Simons’ removal, a member of the board of education or a superintendent of schools may be removed from office pursuant to Education Law §306 when it is proven to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the board member or superintendent has engaged in a wilful violation or neglect of duty under the Education Law or has wilfully disobeyed a decision, order, rule or regulation of the Board of Regents or Commissioner of Education (Application of Schenk, 47 Ed Dept Rep 375, Decision No. 15,729; Application of Kavitsky, 41 id. 231, Decision No. 14,672).  In an appeal to the Commissioner, a petitioner has the burden of demonstrating a clear legal right to the relief requested and the burden of establishing the facts upon which petitioner seeks relief (8 NYCRR §275.10; Appeal of Brown, 46 Ed Dept Rep 584, Decision No. 15,602;Appeals of Hubbard, 46 id. 533, Decision No. 15,585; Appeal of Darrow, 46 id. 182, Decision No. 15,477).

Petitioners contend that Simons’ removal is warranted, alleging that he wilfully violated regulation 3015.1.  However, the challenged action – appointment of Simons as superintendent – is a board action.  As such, any obligation to act in compliance with the regulation vests in the board not the superintendent.  Petitioners, therefore, failed to establish any basis for Simons’ removal.

THE APPEAL IS DISMISSED AND THE APPLICATION IS DENIED.

END OF FILE

[1]Under the Commissioner’s regulations (8 NYCRR §80-3.10) certification as a School District Leader is also valid for service as a school superintendent.  School District Leader certificates are issued to qualified candidates who apply for such certificates in the educational leadership service on or after September 2, 2007.

A Plea to Governor Andrew Cuomo To Make the Freedom of Information Law Stronger

New York City has the worst response time for Freedom of Information requests of any state in the USA. Anyway, that's what it seems to me.

Strengthen public-document law, governor

Poughkeepsie Journal Editorial Board3:47 p.m. EST December 3, 2015
LINK

Crazy as it seems, government agencies in New York can blatantly refuse to hand over public documents — have a court rule against them — and still take up to nine months to decide whether it will appeal, thereby getting all the time to conceal the sought-out information.

The situation is intolerable, must be remedied and the solution is readily available, just needing the signature of Gov. Andrew Coumo. That’s because, earlier this year, the state Senate and Assembly did the sensible thing and passed legislation that would considerably shorten the timeframe from a judicial ruling to when an agency must decide whether to appeal. The time frame would be narrowed to two months.

The governor must sign the bill at once because time is running out. With a Dec. 11 deadline looming, Cuomo has had months to consider the matter after the Assembly passed a bill sponsored by Assemblyman David Buchwald, D-Westchester, and the Senate approved the same legislation sponsored by Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst.

When court cases drag out for months, if not longer, the information sometimes becomes moot even if the request is ultimately approved. A speedier resolution also tends to reduce court costs.

The state has affirmed the right for people to have access to information through theFreedom of Information Law. The press and public make great use of this law to get a hold of all sorts of documents, ranging from health and environmental concerns to planning and development matters.

The statute puts the burden on government agencies to explain why a document shouldn’t be disclosed; the burden is not supposed to be on the public to make the case why a document should be made available. Too often, public officials fail to grasp this concept and have to be tested through the courts. Timely rulings in these matters are imperative.

The New York News Publishers Association — of which the Poughkeepsie Journal is a member — has joined a long list of organizations advocating for speeding up final determinations on so-called FOIL requests. They include The Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, Inc., The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, The League of Women Voters of New York State and the state Committee on Open Government.

That’s some fine company. On behalf of a better, more accountable government, the governor should not only join in this effort, he should lead with his signature.

The Career of Santiago ("Santi") Taveras Comes Hopefully To A Crashing Stop

DeWitt Clinton High School

There is alot written about Santiago ("Santi") Taveras on the internet, all of which was ignored by the NYC DOE always.

Why that is, politics. It's always politics.

Betsy Combier

Here are some posts:

The (Mis)-Education of Santiago Taveras

The Blackboard Award 2009 Goes To Dr. Jose Maldonado-Rivera

Santiago Taveras, public face of DOE, leaving for private sector

Principal installed his own on-campus shower

By Susan Edelman

Santiago Taveras

Santiago Taveras, principal of DeWitt Clinton HS, installed a shower in the school for his personal use, The Post has learned.

But it’s OK, says the Department of Education — he installed it himself.

“Principal Taveras purchased the materials for the shower with his own funds,” DOE officials said, adding that an investigation “did not substantiate any wrongdoing.”

Asked whether a contractor was hired, officials said Taveras “installed it himself outside of school time.”

DOE officials said “the bathroom is open to the principal, the principal’s secretary, the APs [assistant principals], parents and guests, and students who need it for emergency reasons. Principal Taveras is not the only staff member with a key.”

But DeWitt Clinton staffers said no one except Taveras and a custodian can get in. Taveras uses it to wash up after exercising at the school in the morning, they said.

The shower was put in without a required building permit.

Responding to a complaint of illegal plumbing work at the school, city Department of Building inspectors were “unable to gain access” to the locked room on two visits last January, records show.

Staffers accuse Bronx principal of fixing grades so students pass

by Susan Edelman

LINK

Santiago Taveras

The principal of DeWitt Clinton HS, a struggling Bronx school in Mayor de Blasio’s multimillion-dollar Renewal program, changed students’ failing grades to passing without teachers’ knowledge or consent, insiders told The Post.

In one case, Santiago Taveras gave a senior who received a “no show” in a global-history class a 75 and changed her failing 55 grade in gym to a minimum passing 65, records show. She then got a credit for each class, which she didn’t deserve, several staffers charged.

“He thinks he’s God and can do whatever he wants,” one said.

The office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools is probing the allegations, said spokeswoman Regina Romain. Taveras did not return a call or e-mail seeking comment.

Taveras, 50, a former deputy chancellor in the city Department of Education who closed failing schools, left a private job to lead DeWitt Clinton in 2013, vowing to revive the once-great Kingsbridge school. Its many VIP alumni include playwright Neil Simon, writer James Baldwin and comedian Tracy Morgan.

But last July, the state Education Department gave DeWitt Clinton and other lagging schools two years to show “demonstrable improvement” or face a takeover.

The 2,100-student school boasts an honors program and winning sports teams but has overall low attendance and 45 percent graduation rate. It’s also one of 94 Renewal schools the mayor and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña say they’ll fix with an extra $400 million in three years.

Normally, a teacher requests a grade change if warranted. The teacher submits a written request to an assistant principal.

But in several cases reviewed by The Post, Taveras signed the forms himself. The teacher’s name is printed on the forms, but space for the teacher’s signature is blank.

Taveras changed a student’s failing 55 grade in an English class to 90, granting a credit. He submitted the forms last summer.

For another student, a failing 55 in algebra for a summer class in 2014 was changed to 65. Taveras filed the forms that October.

A student who got a failing 55 in gym in 2013 saw it changed to 65 after Taveras filed the forms in October 2014. Insiders said the teacher was unlikely to dispute the change because her mother is Taveras’ secretary.

The senior whose two grade changes were signed by Taveras had failed to take repeated offers to make up missed class time and work, staffers said.

In weekly e-mails, Taveras has prodded teachers to raise their “pass rates,” citing some as low as 7 percent. He urges them to give failing kids makeup work or extra projects so they can get the class credit.

“Our goal is to have a pass rate of 80 percent for the year,” he wrote last December.

In January 2014, Taveras urged teachers to follow “surprising grading policies” that seem to let lousy performance slide at prestigious high schools and colleges. For instance, Columbia University defines a “D” as “poor but passing.” At Harvard University, a “D” or “D”-minus is given for “work that is unsatisfactory but that indicates some minimal participation in class activities that is worthy of course credit toward the degree.”

“I believe we as a school need to better define our grading policies and practices,” Taveras wrote.

The Secrets of Autism

Mark and Bonnie Zampino (second and third from the left)

Re-posted from Parentadvocates.org:

My Son Has the Kind of Autism No One Talks About by Bonnie Zampino
The media shows us all of the feel-good stories, like the child with autism who gets to be the manager of the high school basketball team, or the boy with autism who goes to the prom with the beautiful girl, or the girl with autism who is voted onto the homecoming court. We light it up blue every April and pat ourselves on the back for being so aware. But we aren't aware.
           

My Son Has the Kind of Autism No One Talks About
Huffington Post, Posted: 09/25/2015
by Bonnie Zampino
LINK

Like most parents of children with autism, I have been reading about the family in California who is being sued by several families in their neighborhood. The lawsuit contends that their child is a public nuisance because of his behaviors that his parents failed to fix.

One of the plaintiffs in this case stated "This is not about autism. This is about public safety."

But he is wrong. This is absolutely about autism. It's just not about the autism people hear about.

The media shows us all of the feel-good stories, like the child with autism who gets to be the manager of the high school basketball team, or the boy with autism who goes to the prom with the beautiful girl, or the girl with autism who is voted onto the homecoming court. We light it up blue every April and pat ourselves on the back for being so aware.

But we aren't aware.

Because for every boy with autism who manages his high school basketball team, there are 20 boys with autism who smear feces. And for every girl with autism who gets to be on the homecoming court, there are 30 girls with autism who pull out their hair and bite their arms until they bleed. And for every boy with autism who gets to go the prom, there are 50 boys with autism who hit and kick and bite and hurt other people.

This is the autism that no one talks about. This is the autism that no one wants to see.

We aren't aware.

One of the plaintiffs said "We're not upset about him being autistic. We are concerned and upset about his violence (toward) our children."

There is no way to be upset by this child's behaviors and not be upset about autism.

Autism and behaviors go hand-in-hand. Why? The behaviors are communication. Individuals with autism often can't communicate in a way that typically functioning people can understand. So they do things to get their needs met. And often the things they do are scary and violent.

We aren't aware.

My son, who is the same age as the child in this story, was extremely aggressive when he was younger. He did all of the things that the child involved in this lawsuit did. My son ran after other children on the playground just to push them down. He hit. He kicked. He bit. He pulled hair. And I never knew what was coming. For the longest time, I would flinch when he ran up to me...I didn't know whether he was going to hug me or hit me. Can you imagine, as a mom, what that's like? To flinch when your child runs to you?

We aren't aware.

Because I didn't know what my son was going to do to other children, we stopped going to the park. We stopped going to the Mommy and Me class at the library. We started going to the grocery store at 6:00 a.m. when most people weren't around. He didn't go to daycare but had a sitter at home so he wouldn't be around other kids in a daycare setting. I essentially isolated him in order to keep other people safe. Can you imagine what it's like to be a mom and not be able to take your child to the park? Or have your child attend birthday parties? Or have play dates?

We aren't aware.

Because of my need to isolate my son, I also isolated myself too. I watched from my window as other moms in the neighborhood sat in their camp chairs and chatted while their children played. I couldn't join them because my son couldn't be around the other kids. Once a mom asked if my son could come to their house and play with her son. Can you imagine what it was like to feel so excited and then feel so ashamed when, after explaining my son's issues to her so she would be aware, that invitation was rescinded?

We aren't aware. Not at all.

But we can be. We can open our eyes and understand that autism isn't all about the high functioning child who is "quirky" but OK to be around. Autism isn't all about the six-year-old who can play Piano Man better than Billy Joel. Autism can be hard. Autism can be sad. Autism can be messy. Autism can be violent. Autism can be isolating.

Once we become really aware, lawsuits like this won't happen. Why? Because instead of putting blue lights on our front porches, we will go outside with our kids and we will help them play together...typically functioning kids and kids with autism. We will get to know our neighbors and we will embrace the children with behaviors and embrace their parents along with them.

We will learn what things trigger our child's classmate who has autism so that we can help the children interact while avoiding things that will cause aggression. We will be a true village, including those who can model appropriate behaviors and those who are trying so hard to learn them. We will work on teaching our children not to hit and how to avoid being hit.

The parents involved in this lawsuit, on both sides, need to do more. More education, more understanding, more inclusion and more involvement.

Now tell me, is autism the real public nuisance?

We can become aware ... if we really want to.

A Special Space hosts special dedication

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August 22, 2012
By Michelle Horst - Journal staff writer (mhorst@journal-news.net) , journal-news.net

CHARLES TOWN - In her space dedicated to providing out-of-school care for children all along the autism spectrum, Bonnie Zampino welcomed friends and community members to the grand opening of the sensory-designed classroom Tuesday morning.

Upon searching for a care provider for her son, Zampino discovered her community, and none close by, had a center that could provide care tailored to the needs of children who fell among various points on the autism spectrum.

"There are a lot of places that have opened schools, and some places have tried to integrate child care with therapy, but they have failed. I think that's because it's just too much," Zampino said earlier in the summer.

The space was once used for activities at Zion Episcopal Church on East Washington Street, and has been developed into what Zampino described as "therapeutic because of the environment."

The special parts of the space include a music area where all equipment is headphone-compatible so other children are not stimulated and disturbed; an area of technology that includes a laptop and Wii system with sport games and a bicycle to tune fine and gross motor skills; and an educational game cafe.

"We have a lot of emotional recognition games because social skills are often an issue. We also have a book-nook for calming sensory and an art area," Zampino said.

A Special Space will welcome children ages 5-12, as well as preschool students. Charles Town Mayor Peggy Smith cut the ribbon to the new center Tuesday morning, and it will open for business Monday.

"I'm proud to have A Special Space in the community. The need was here, and it's been filled," Smith said.

The center has focused on a 1-to-6 teacher-to-student ratio, and plans to enroll more children before the opening day.

"We want the community to understand, this is therapeutic because of the environment, and our caregivers are trained, but this is not just special needs. It's for all children, and it's all about inclusion. This could be for someone who just is anxious or a child who is shy, or a child who is just fine," Zampino said, adding that if a parent had the opportunity to choose a class of 30 or 15 for their children, the better choice would be the one with the lower student-teacher ratio.

Dr. Belinda Mitchell, assistant professor in the department of education at Shepherd University, who is working to develop a master's degree program in special education at Shepherd, said that by being a parent and an educator she has seen the need for A Special Space in the community.

"As an educator, it's difficult to know that something the students worked on that day in school, because they are not in the right place for afterschool care, what they learned can fall apart in the afternoon," Mitchell said. "A Special Space provides an opportunity to parents, teachers and children to collaborate the day care piece into the puzzle," she said.

More information on A Special Space can be found online at www.aspecialspace.org.

- Staff writer Michelle Horst can be reached at 304-263-8931, ext. 138.