Feb

2

GED: Influence My Thinking

February 2, 2009 | 9 Comments

We have GED in-house this year for Randolph students and I’m wrestling with the subject. I understand how valuable GED is for adults who, for whatever reason, didn’t make it to a diploma. I saw Kimberly Mansfield deliver a wonderful program as part of Gowanda’s Adult Education program. It was one night per week, free [...]

Jul

3

Why Do We Need An Assistant Superintendent?

July 3, 2007 | 3 Comments

Because my position of assistant superintendent is newly created and it’s one that had only a week’s worth of discussion at the BOE, there has been some subsequent discussion in the community about it. While many have been congratulatory, I can’t ignore the concerns of some of my neighbors. In my experience, any time a district decides to spend [...]

Jun

20

The Complicated Cohort Story

June 20, 2007 | 2 Comments

I’d like to clarify all of the reporting of data that readers see. There are two ways that we are constantly looking at data–by school year and by cohort.
As a principal, I compare how we did on our Regents exams and graduation rate by school year. That’s what I reported in my earlier post, Winding Down. [...]

Jun

20

Winding Down

June 20, 2007 | 1 Comment

We’re winding down now with only one Regents exam left tomorrow, Physics. Our results are pouring in, seniors on the cusp are being notified about graduation, and commencement is the day after tomorrow.
After two-three manic weeks, winding down feels great. Our new hires should be approved at the BOE tonight, our summer school appointments are going [...]

May

30

Business First Bites

May 30, 2007 | 5 Comments

I’m warning readers right up front that this is not going to be a positive post. I’ve struggled with how to post about this topic, I’ve avoided it, but it’s all that’s on my mind this week. It’s much of what’s on most administrators’ minds, if they’ll admit it or not.
Business First ranks the school [...]

May

20

Gowanda High School Report Card

May 20, 2007 | 1 Comment

The Buffalo News has a story in today’s Sunday newspaper showing the NYS Report card for Erie and Niagara high schools. While our elementary school is in Erie County, our high school is in Cattaraugus County, so we’re not included in the report.
How does Gowanda stack up? The News reports passing rates (at 65%) and [...]

May

2

The Personal Side of the Graduation Rate

May 2, 2007 | 4 Comments

cross posted on LeaderTalk
What if there isn’t a darned thing I can do to prevent some of our high school students from dropping out? What if there really isn’t any way to leave no child behind?
Here are some of my statistics of our G-Town drop-outs from September 2004 through January 2007.

40% signed out, 60% just [...]

Apr

30

Four Years to Graduate Or No Goal?

April 30, 2007 | 1 Comment

At the conference I attended on Friday, I was very pleased to hear Chancellor Bennett’s response to my inquiry about cohort outcomes after four years of school and cohort outcomes after five years of school. Chancellor Bennett’s response to my question was extremely positive and in favor of the idea that it’s okay to take [...]

Feb

15

True Confessions of a High School Principal

February 15, 2007 | 4 Comments

Here’s a straight to the heart honest confession for you. Ready? Half the time I wonder if anything we’re evaluating, planning, changing, adding, and/or eliminating is really going to make a difference. The other half of the time, the time spent reading everything I can get my hands or mouse on, I’m more and more convinced we’re [...]

Feb

9

An Open Letter to Governor Spitzer

February 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Dear Governor Spitzer:
I’ve read the description of your executive budget recommendations for elementary and secondary education. Thank you. Your financial support of public education is unprecedented in my seventeen years in education. We’ve said “show me the money if you want improvements” and you’ve effectively said, “Here it is, now you better make it happen.” [...]

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