GSU Blogger - Dr. J. Kahrs

I have been overwhelmed this year and not handling it very well. I know I have not done my best in this program and am struggling to keep up at work. I was wondering what strategies some of you may do to help balance things,especially if you are going through something stressful at home (i.e. cancer, relationship, birth, etc)

Many teachers are behind on curriculum maps prior to students being tested for EOG and EOC. This has been and issue for several years in our county, especially since Common Core. Some teachers spend too much time re-teaching standards that they get so far behind on the pacing guides. We have implemented common planning time, benchmarks, and formative assessments. It is unfortunate that students are held accountable for mastering curriculum that they were not necessarily taught. Are teachers in your schools behind on pacing? What are some strategies that help keep teachers on pace?

I just recently found out that in order to become an assistant principal and principal you have to sign away your tenure. I find this shocking and a little troubling. Recently, I learned of a 1st year principal whose contract was not renewed. This particular individual did not have a clue his contract would not be renewed. I guess I thought if assistant principals and/or principals were struggling they would be put on a PDP, assigned a mentor, or something. Since I am trying to become an assistant principal this is a little scary.

For the past year, I have heard how overwhelmed teachers are and how demanding it is in the profession. I have only been out of the classroom for two years; however, I didn't experience the overwhelming feelings as a middle grades math teacher. Every year that new teachers come in, they have to be trained on our way of doing things and on the curriculum being implemented. We have offered sign-on bonuses for new teachers. High-need teaching area (math and world languages) teachers receive additional stipends. We have also increased the amount of professional development opportunities available to teachers. Unfortunately, we continue to lose a large amount of teachers each year. What are some of the reasons teachers are leaving the system or profession all together? What are some of the things people in your county are doing to retain teachers.

How do we get around the testing schedule we have currently in place? In my current high school we have some type of testing going on from today until finals in May. Milestones, SLO, Aspire, AP, and I am sure am missing others but this seems a bit too much. Are there any alternatives? Whatever happened to "old fashioned" schoolwork?  

I am a bit of an PBS junkie.  The News Hour is the fist thing I turn on when I get to my office, and I watch as I check my email accounts and plan my day.  And I usually have NPR on in the car.  Two recent reports caught my attention:  1.)  The lack of vocational training in our country that is causing shortages in jobs like plumbing 2.) The systematic way in which immigrants to this country are encouraged to start their own businesses. In our current American education system, college is the avenue that children are encouraged to pursue.   Law school is expensive and we are educating lawyers that the nation cannot use.  When Chatham County opened a vocational/technical school a few years back there was great excitement, and still there is a waiting list to get in.  In less than a decade Woodville Tompkins Technical and Career High School has become a U.S.New and World Report Bronze Medal winner and they are preparing kids to be part of the...