Full disclosure: I’m a friend of Rex Scott, the principal of Catalina High. I find him to be smart, capable and diligent, the kind of principal I think I would like to work for as a teacher. That will undoubtedly influence what I say here. That being said . . .
My sense is that TUSD made the wrong decision voting not to renew Rex Scott’s contract. But with a 4-1 vote and Sanchez’s agreement, I have to think there were some good reasons for the vote, just as I’m sure Kristel Foster’s no vote was made thoughtfully.
Here are some of my concerns about the decision.
I strongly object to the state’s “Live by the AIMS test, die by the AIMS test” mentality. Catalina High’s “D” state rating, which is the primary reason for the non-renewal, is based almost entirely on the student scores on the AIMS test, which I find to be a questionable measure of the quality of the school or its principal. In this case, the school score was only 2 points below a C. The AIMS test being the blunt instrument it is, having 2 points deciding whether or not Scott’s contract is renewed doesn’t make sense.
Another problem is, if I’m right about this, a high school’s state grade is based almost entirely on the AIMS test taken by sophomores, which means the school has taught the students for less than two years. In the case of Catalina High, the turnover rate makes many students’ tenures even shorter. According to the Star article, the school has the highest turnover rate of any TUSD high school: 58.1 percent. Add to that the fact that the students speak 40 different languages and standardized tests are, in many ways, reading tests (even the math sections). The students’ weak English language skills are a major component of their test scores. Imagine the challenge ELL teachers have trying to teach students who speak so many languages and come to the U.S. from so many distinct cultures.
With a high turnover, a United Nations worth of languages and less than two years to educate the students before the test — often far less than two years — casting a principal aside because of a 2 point deficit on the state score seems highly questionable.
Rex Scott has very high evaluations from staff, parents and students, much higher than the principal who preceded him and high in relation to other district principals, so I’m assuming the non-renewal is based on student achievement on the AIMS test, not on Scott’s overall competence. If that’s the case, this move sends a clear message to people who want to be TUSD principals: avoid schools with low income students, especially when there’s a large ELL population. While even a mediocre principal at a high performing — read high SES — school won’t be in danger of losing the job because of test scores, a good principal at a low performing — read low SES — school will always be on the chopping block. Will principals who want to keep their jobs and those who hope to move up the administrative ladder apply for positions at schools like Catalina High? If, for instance, H.T. Sanchez were an administrator looking for a principal’s position, would he apply for the Catalina High spot, knowing a few years of test scores that fall below the cut mark could lead to a non-renewal, which could damage his resume and possibly dash his hopes of becoming a superintendent later in his career?
One final point. TUSD is working with the University of Virginia on developing a transformation model for the district. Six schools are involved in this program, including Catalina High. All six principals have to reapply for their jobs. So why rush through the process with Scott instead of allowing him to go through the later reapplication process with the other principals?
I hesitate to cast too much blame due to my respect for the people who support Scott’s non-renewal — and I realize I’ll never know what was discussed in the Board’s confidential executive session — but the decision just doesn’t feel right to me.
This article appears in Mar 20-26, 2014.
Just another reason not to send your kids to TUSD. According to the Az Daily Star TUSD wants us to be the “Immigrant Destination District” 3/26/14. So why is anybody complaining.
From the article, it seems that HT Sanchez was the person who recommended non-renewal, and the board members who don’t get out to the TUSD schools they oversee very much, just went along. HT Sanchez touts his “turnaround” skills as a principal. I guess he thinks he could do better.
And Cam Juarez’s statement about low expectations is so off the mark, it’s laughable. “As a person who has been treated in such a way where the bar is lowered because I have a disability and came from a disadvantaged background, I can’t stand for that. I’m not alluding that’s the case, but I think the bar needs to be raised.” He’s not alluding that’s the case, but he’ll say it anyway? Please. Keep your allusions to yourself, instead of impugning the reputation of an excellent man.
BTW, How does raising the bar improve low test scores? The corporate education model has found a home in TUSD.
There are other measures that go into the score. # of ELL reclassified, dropout rate (or improvement in same), graduation rate (or improvement). It’s not just AIMs.
Also, since more than 50% of the school’s grade is based on “growth” (i.e., improvement in AIMs scores and/or the above indices), and since school’s with lower scores have more room for improvement, theoretically this would provide more opportunities to get a higher grade at a lower performing school.
The model is flawed, clearly. I don’t think the data points measured by AIMs are much use. I’d rather have an employee and/or fellow citizen who can think, logically and creatively, than a math and English whiz.
However, that’s the system and you have to work with it.
Aims test, common core, more department of education
Programs that will hopefully be abandoned. Remember
New math? That experiment was forced on us, at the time I was in 3rd grade. It ruined my understanding of math as we stopped learning the basics.
TUSD was a mess back in the 70s but it’s almost beyond beyond words how bad it is now.
My education was ruined, I dropped out in 10th grade.
A few years later, I earned a GED and made something
of my life. What exactly do they TEACH the kids now?
Is it all an agenda? My teachers while underpaid and chained to an ill advised curriculum, did not teach me subversive behavior.
I have to wonder what might have happened at Catalina High School had the principal, Rex Scott, been empowered to run his school as he deemed necessary in order to assist students on their path towards achieving their dreams, rather than having to march to the beat of State Legislators hell bent on dismantling public schools; which was the purpose of the AIMS test.
I would like to urge all those who care about student success to read a very new book: Hold Fast to Dreams: A College Guidance Counselor, His Students, and the Vision of a Life Beyond Poverty, written by Beth Zasloff and Joshua Steckel.
The legislature has put Sanchez and the board in the unconscionable position that they could be forced to vote to remove Scott even though they believe that doing so is NOT in the best interests of students. Isn’t that just awesome! It’s not a TUSD problem. The legislature says that when a school receives a letter grade of D for a third year in a row, the State Board of Education has the option of turning the school over to private management, including for-profit. So if the board believes, with good reason, that standardized tests do not tell us whether students are getting a good education, then they go for the lesser of two evils, neither of which is good for kids. But this isn’t about kids, is it? It’s about politics and profiting from public education.
If Sanchez and board members think Scott is not doing a good job, then of course, they must remove him, and that could be the reality. But if they felt coerced to do so at the students’ peril, then they are obligated to speak up about this rotten system and say that THEY ARE HOLDING THEIR NOSES while they cast their votes. If Sanchez did not want to remove Scott but felt compelled to do so, then he should have said it. Let the community know how this circus works. Don’t legitimize it. It is not clear why Cam believes Scott’s expectations for students were too low and he should have been more specific. If it is based on nothing more than test scores, then he has drunk the kool-aid. That is mindless and truly disappointing. While Kristel cast a principled vote, the system is such that three board members could not cast such principled votes because that would give the state the opportunity to take over the school, which could be worse for the kids than removing Scott. It’s another f#@kfest in Arizona.
Hate to burst the writer’s delusional bubble (not really) but that principal sucked and the school sucks even worse. My daughter went there and BEGGED to go elsewhere which we did after only one semester. She has been happy ever since. Kids doing drugs I. The hallways, constant fights, disabled students being knocked over & seriously injured, teachers ignoring IEPs, have no control over classrooms, no cameras or proper supervision etc. How is that for good reason for high turnover, poor testing scores etc etc etc. My daughter has straight A’s and was due to graduate this year but CHOSE to graduate late and retake the classes she “lost out on” in that one lousy semester. It’s a sad day when a child has more sense than the “educators” in this school. They get a child that wants to learn and get a good education and they scare her away. I feel sorry for every kid in that school. Whether they are aware or not, they are the ones that will truly suffer in the long run.
You make a very important point about the damage done by letting AIMS scores determine job stability for excellent principals in low SES/high EL schools.
I’ve read David’s review and I’ve read the comments. All of them contain at least one point (in some cases many more) that strike a strong chord with me. I’m a “team member” (H.T.’s phrase) and our team – both state and local – are so painfully flawed that all my thoughts and opinions just melt into one simple sadness.
My point in the post was to point out a decision I think is wrong, not to get doom-and-gloomy or play “Ain’t it awful” about TUSD. The Catalina High decision isn’t an awful decision. It’s a close call I disagree with. It’s not a sign that the district is dysfunctional.
To me, TUSD is closer to functional than at any time since I’ve been watching it over the past few years. I think highly of H.T. Sanchez. I think highly of the majority of the board and most of the decisions they have made. I’m very hopeful about the direction the district is going. When I think there’s a false step that may lead to other false steps, I write about it. It doesn’t mean I’m right. It simply means I want to add my voice to the discussion.
To my way of thinking, thoughtful criticism is a show of support. That’s the spirit in which I wrote the post.
No worries here folks. HT will just make a personal phone call to David and he’ll become completely acritical of anything the superintendent/district does and be completely in agreement with the decision in no time. He’s been 100% in agreement with everything else. David Safier on The Range, where no-bid contracts only matter if he doesn’t have to write about someone he likes and he throws the 4th estate completely under the bus.
I taught at Catalina HS for 18 years and Rex Scott is one of the best principals we ever had. Ever since TUSD replaced Linda Schloss as principal Catalina HS became a wonderful place to learn and work. I cannot address any facts about the this school year because of the one bad decision, ending the AFJROTC program, made by Rex Scott. Rex and his two assistant principals, Dave Berry and Pablo Madrid have been doing a great job of trying to improve the student performance and should be praised for their efforts. No one ever seems to address where the ultimate responsibility lies for student achievement and that is with the individual student and parents. The responsibility for a great school belongs to all parties, administrators, teachers, parents and students. The state rating system doesn’t take all this into consideration and is therefore extremely flawed. Except for one bad decision, Rex has been doing a outstanding job and should continue as principal at Catalina HS.