In this week’s School of Thought column at TIME.com I take a look at 11 education players poised to shake things up in 2011. From Michael Bennet in the Senate to Michelle Rhee around the country as well as Steve Brill, Jeb Bush, David Coleman, John Deasy, Jonah Edelman, “The Kristens,” Wendy Kopp, and Diane Ravitch:
With budget cuts looming, and with more states considering radical changes to teacher tenure and other important policies, 2011 looks to be a big year for education, for better or for worse. Here are 11 reformers poised to shake things up even more in these tumultuous times. These activists are political and apolitical, working to change schools systems from within and without, and can be found in the for-profit, nonprofit and governmental sectors. Some are big names in the education world, others are more behind-the-scenes players. But what they all have in common is the potential to change how Americans think about education and how kids experience school in 2011 — and beyond.
I’m new to this site so perhaps you’ve previously covered Sal Khan (www.khanacademy.org), but he deserves to be on any top ten, eleven or twelve list of education movers and shakers. And an honorable mention to Madeleine Sackler for that other education documentary, “The Lottery,” that wasn’t on Oprah but is up for an Oscar.
It will be very interesting to see how Deasy handles hypocrisy in his new role as LAUSD Superintendent. He was our Santa Monica Superintendent before heading out East and he perfected the idea of “Printing” permits to balance our school budget. He was Superintendent when Santa Monica issued over 2,100 permits to LAUSD students. LAUSD finally woke up and realized that $50 million dollars a year is lost due to these permits issued to all surrounding districts. Dr. Deasy will now start to cancel all those thousands of permits he gladly approved in 2001. He created a Santa Monica elementary school that was 48% Los Angeles families. Our 3,200-student high school has 600 students driving into Santa Monica every day. Many of us voted for Community Schools, not Commuter Schools. Of course the SM Teacher’s Union loved the permits because it meant no layoffs as our student population decreased. I can’t believe I am so happy to have Mr. Deasy back in LA. May I be the first to say “Welcome and power up the permit shredder”.
That’s “Dr.” Deasy.
One player who will not be around to shake things up is Terre Haute Tribune-Star columnist Stephanie Salter.
She just completed a 3 column sequence on “that Bennett and his boss, Gov. Mitch Daniels, play fast and loose with statistics and anecdotal evidence in their committed campaign to paint Hoosier schools as “a mess” in need of radical reform. ”
Readers in the know know we won’t get that from Andrew here on Eduwonk when discussing Daniels and Bennett.
Unfortunately, she’s taking a leave of absence to get married.
Read more
This is a highly biased listing, that simply promotes reformers for bringing reform whether it be good, unproven, or bad. The only anti-reform (actually just anti-Rhee and corporate/charter based reform) was Ravitch and she was the only one that was “analyzed” in a negative way. The article stated that she has an “appetite for publicity,” and that “she does not have a reform agenda or alternatives of her own, but so far, her audience is not demanding them.” The fact is she does have many alternatives and so do the many teachers and educators that support her. They are just different than the reformers the list writer appears to agree with, and far less vocal and financed than those of the klein, Rhee, Gates Foundation, and TFA crowd. The reason for the complete lack of objectivity and actual analysis on the top “education players” is seen in the final disclaimer, of which the author apparently has both financial and relationship ties to majority of the people/organizations named. I cant believe such a list can be seriously printed with such conflict of interests.
Phillip:
Salter is a hack. Get over it, man. You link to her drivel every few posts so we can further realize the depths of your inanity, although I’m surprised you didn’t blockquote the entire article this time.
Charles:
You’re commenting on a list of “reformers [who will] shake things up”, so maybe that is the reason they are all pro-reform? Would you rather have a list of movers and shakers that move and shake nothing?
I was reading your list and felt a mention of “Troops to Teachers” an alternative certification program run by DANTES is worth mentioning. This program puts ex military personnel into education training program at a local university and then offers them to the most needed school districts especially those with high needs or low income areas. I have been in this program for almost 15 years and seen it changing but it still is a source of personnel into the teaching profession. Several have won Teacher of the Years in their state and they have a higher retention rate than most college grads (I am told). My military career and training has help me immensely in the education field as I was already using the lesson planning skills and classroom management skills. I also found my military background enable me to survive in the classroom and have a better classroom management than many of my detractors thought possible. I am use to working with kids barely out of high school in the military so it wasn’t a big step to work with some younger. I currently am the technology coordinator at an alternative school (behavior) in Ms. and work with kids in the 7th to 12th grade. I teach technology but i focus on helping these students reach their potentials in math and reading using technology. So military personnel with education training CAN be benefical to a school, especially now when some of the worse issues today are discipline in the classroom.
I’m very upset that Eduwonk doesn’t link more often to the Terre Haute newspapers. Cancel my subscription!
Phillip:
Salter is a hack. Get over it, man. You link to her drivel every few posts so we can further realize the depths of your inanity, although I’m surprised you didn’t blockquote the entire article this time.
Translation:
I’m still mad at the Marlboro Man for calling me an asshole.
Yes, thanks for clarifying my point. “Stop acting like a loony on eduwonk” was clearly not on your list of resolutions, I see.
edconsumer Says:
January 7th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I’m very upset that Eduwonk doesn’t link more often to the Terre Haute newspapers. Cancel my subscription!
Translation:
Who cares about those hicks!
They can’t even get KIPP to succeed in that state.
Chris Smyr Says:
January 7th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Yes, thanks for clarifying my point. “Stop acting like a loony on eduwonk” was clearly not on your list of resolutions, I see.
I’d rather be a loony than an asshole.
Can we get that quoted on the main page, Andy?
“The Intrepid Phillipmarlowe: I’d rather be a loony than an asshole.”
It explains a whole lot.
Drop dead
Do I get to ask which one you are? Might the options be non-mutually exclusive?
I read your January 6, 2011 article in Time’s online newspaper. Until we bring that major sector, Parents, back into Education as full partners, we will simply continue spinning the wheels of education. I invite you to view my present series, Your Stake in Society’s Most Precious Resource-Our Children by Mrs. Dorothy Barron at my blog, Parents Taking Charge in Education; the link: http:/mrsdbarron.blogspot.com
No surer way to elicit a response than to take a position, for you will be sure to find several others to counter it. Take none and you’ll always be dreadfully safe.