Did we just hire another Delta T?
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Standards Solution Guru
Sharon Pagonis |
We are subcontracting the writing of Curriculum grades 1-12 to one woman who uses unknown subcontractors from who knows where? What ever happened to hiring a company with a proven track record?
A teacher recently challenged my loyalty to teachers by accusing me of not being pro - teacher. I am a dues paying member of the same union as he and resent the implication. The only difference is that I do not work in a paid position for this District. My allegiance is to the students.
I am pro student...
You can't get anymore pro teacher than that. This person would do better to question this Michelle Rhee admirer who is being trusted to cut and paste curriculum into a template she created for an entire School District. Seems to me EPSD teachers are able to do that themselves. If Curriculum can be subcontracted all over East Jabit, why can't it be subcontracted out to the folks who have skin in the game by someone who has a proven record in doing such. This type of company does exist. One such led a group of teachers in the process when I was in the classroom. It was a rewarding experience.
Teachers, Administrators and others who care. This is a sad comment on the ability of the paid employees in the EPSD. All of you should be just as angry as I am instead of accusing me of not standing with you.
A few years ago, I read curriculum cut and pasted from various sources by the then Director of Curriculum & Instruction. I gave him a failing grade. This woman gets a D, based on her website where I could find no examples. I assume that there are boiler plates that the many subcontractors or vendors will use to create curriculum for you.
One of our Board Members recently referred to a prospective graduation speaker as "scraping the bottom of the barrel". Although I understood why, I thought it a bit crude. Now I want to say the same about this choice of Curriculum writer or mapper.
Are we scraping the bottom of the barrel?
Last night, I spent some time watching video footage from the days when Carlisle was hiring more teachers than we had classrooms. I marveled again how Stephen Brown sat quietly with his knee bobbing up and down under the table in disapproval, but he let it ride. He knew what was coming. A few months later we were in a supposed economic crisis and "had to abolish Secretaries and Paraprofessionals" - that lead to the firing of over 100 people. At least 32 of these employees had "promises of employment signed by EPSD". Stephen and his cohorts are doing the same thing now. There are Personnel items on the recent agenda that should have sent Board members through the roof.
Are we going back to the future?
In 2011, when Carlisle arrived, we had surplus on top of surplus. We have surplus on top of surplus now.
I don't know about you, but I'd like to get ahead of another crisis like the one this town had to endure during the entire year of 2012.
Watch this one closely.......
Standards Solution
Holding, LLC - $72,000.00
"Standards Solution Holding, LLC is a
team of educators that are specialists in
curriculum, instruction, and
assessment. Standards Solution
Holding, LLC consultants will assist
the district to prepare for the Common
Core State Standards by leading
workshops to align practices with the
Common Core State Standards, as well
as by creating documents to assist the
district to transition to PARCC.
Standards Solution Holding, LLC’s
consultants and product developers are
certified educators with years of
distinguished service as teachers,
supervisors, and administrators.
May 2016 Conduct curriculum map in
grades 1-12 for English, mathematics,
science and social studies May and
June 2016 Meet with small groups to
discuss findings of curriculum map
July 2017 Submit the first draft of work
completed to date August Submit the
final draft and present to BOE for
approval."
Sharon Pagonis
Linkedin Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-pagonis-6a286938
1999 - 2002 Columbia Teacher's College
Standards Solution 2009 - 2016
What has she done with her time? Did she teach? Was she an Administrator somewhere? I would like to see her Curriculum vitae.
Where are the Testimonials from the satisfied School Districts?
Who are her team of Consultants/Educators? What are some of the names and where do they work? Name the members of this TEAM.
Seems to me, she
works out of her home in Washington NJ.
Our new Superintendent does not hesitate to point out the fact that one or more of EPSD programs are not used by any of the Districts that work.
So why are we using one of those Companies right now to write the Curriculum for our entire school district? Where are the Testimonials for Standards Solutions from Districts that work? Her Linkedin profile identifies
Michelle Rhee as one of her influencers. Picture that.
Michelle Rhee is pro Teach For America and dead set against unions. This does not bode well for us....
Company website....
"If I could give this review zero stars, I would. I worked here about a year ago and I can attest to the fact that all the bad reviews about this place are true! I walked out on the job which is something I have never done before. When you feel you have been backed into a corner every single day by the owner, I felt I had no other choice. Talking to her reasonably was not an option because she is a raging lunatic. You never knew what mood you were going to get when she walked through the door. I used to dread going into work every day. She absolutely makes you feel like you can't do anything right and that you are completely worthless. The only people that have been able to make it at this place are people she knows personally, like her best friend and former nanny. Stay away from Standards Solution and you will be happy you did!..."
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Standards-Solution-Reviews-E919777.htm
Have we been PUNKED.....Again.....?
Word on the street is that the Dwight Morrow High School Alumni Association will not be seated on the stage at today's DMHS Graduation. 
