At Monday’s school board meeting, local activist, Terry Knapp raised the issue of the District hiring more African-American teachers…
Superintendent Lathan responded to Knapp's suggestion to hire more minority teachers by saying she would begin by recruiting more from North Carolina. That state's numerous historically black colleges offer a pool of potential applicants. Lathan also took issue with tallies of the number of people she has hired from North Carolina already. "It's getting old," she said, pointing out the North Carolina transplants were now living in Peoria and paying taxes. Source
Personally, I like the thought of our students getting the opportunity to learn from teachers from historically black colleges (HBCUs). North Carolina is certainly not the only state with HBCUs, but they sure got some good ones and this whole issue makes me curious about which HBCUs the ever growing NC contingent may have attended.
Curious, because my niece is an experienced teacher, educated at Bradley University, who recently left the area to work on the East Coast. I know what her experiences are and what the folks on the East Coast liked about her. So for comparison, I took a quick look at the Vite’ of one of the District’s most recent hires from NC, Cenithia Tice, Assistant Principal at Irving and Lincoln; and sure enough she came from an HBCU:
Current
Natural Hair Stylist at Studio Evolutions
Event Planner at Fields of Enticing Events
Teacher at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Education
Gardner-Webb University
Rowan Cabarrus Community College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina A&T State University is impressive. However, I refuse to believe that the District's current hiring practice is that teachers (African-American or otherwise) who are from the area and locally educated at Bradley, Western, ISU, etc., are not good at what they do, or that Illinois colleges are not turning out teachers who are just as capable as teachers from North Carolina. I would encourage locals who are looking to work with the District to go ahead and apply, the District just might have you.
UPDATED with some Facebook response...
27 comments:
Illinois State University has had one of the top-ranked teacher education programs in the country for years. Bradley University has seen a dramatic change in its program to upgrade that department. I can't understand how either could be beaten out by a North Carolina school.
Give the woman a chance...the real proof will be in how she treats her fellow staff members, in my opinion.
The real question is whether or not black graduates want to settle in Peoria District 150 any more than do their white counterparts. I would love to see black recruits--especially males (to take the place of the two very capable, great male role models that have literally been chased out of District 150 (at least one by a black female administrator)--for the classroom. The problem is that Lathan does all her recruiting for administrative positions that have no direct impact on the lives of children--and they are all women. As soon as a black teacher sets foot in District 150 she (usually) becomes an administrator. That is not about the children--it's about getting ahead. I wish we could go back to teachers doing their time in the classroom (whether they are new to the area or not)--to experience the environment over a considerable length of time before they become the judge of those whose shoes they have never filled. There is no doubt, black teachers, especially males, are needed in District 150.
One thing I am confused about as far as hiring district teachers from the area. We pay all this money for teachers to get higher education or higher pay and then they leave the district after 150 has paid for their schooling. I know of a person who went through Grow Your Own to get her degree, when it folded they still paid for her schooling since she was so far along. She applied for and received a teaching position out of the district. Wasn't there a contract for them to stay in the district? The other side to this coin should be they have to pay back the money if they don't stay and teach in the district.
She probably got pink slipped due to reduction in the workforce. Then it becomes the district's loss to have put so much into a new teacher, only to RIF them.
I wonder why the HR report and minutes of the last meeting are not on the D150 site yet. Those are due the day after a meeting is conducted.
The practice of District 150 lacking quality certified minortity teachers has occurred for many years. I'm not sure why this is an issue now considering this has been ongoing for quite some time.
She didn't get pink slipped she just graduated in May and was hired beginning in August for a different school district. She never applied to Dist 150, but had all her years paid for by Grow your own including her last two at Bradley.
Most of my students say they don't want to be a teacher, because the kids are too bad.
A read for all D150 employees:
When your boss is a screamer:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444772404577589302193682244.html?google_editors_picks=true
Lathan gets away with murder. Can you imagine a white male from south carolina telling Metamora board members that he will hire only white males from south carolina b/c they are more effective with white students. She's a racist that is being paid to be racist. Wow.
Given the current climate in the community, who WOULD want to work in 150? If Dr. Lathan can get some outsiders to come teach in the district, amen to her! "Locals" are all to familiar with the history of the district and are probably way too jaded to be objective.
I hear and see the way people react to Black kids around here and it's disgusting...I've never lived in a place where racism and intolerance are so much the norm. Kudos to Dr. Lathan for recruiting from outside the area.
Rixblix, you have some nerve complaining about which you know nothing. Be honest and admit that you cannot get a job teaching.....anywhere!
Lathan lies...all of the time. She bought a house but the rest of them rent in Peoria or live in other school districts. Ask where Renee and Shmeika's kids go to school....not PSD 150.
Keep asking the questions Terry, even if they aren't answered truthfully.
Ok. Where did you find this photo? Her booty is almost showing! Didn't Lathan have a lot to say about Mrs. Simmons' tight clothing? I guess it's only acceptable to wear short & tight clothing if you are from a HBCU in NC!
Shmeika Skyes's Patterson's kids go to Dunlap. She told me!
MOST D150 teachers have sent or are sending their kids to schools other than D150. Todays speaker WON'T change that mindset and most taxpayers don't expect teachers to be leaders in order to change the entrenched perceptions. Bedroom communities are the "safe" option.
What University's course material gives you tools you'll really need to succeed here? Who trains you what to say when someone in your overcrowded classroom exhibits bad behavior and rains m-f bombs all over? "Oh come here little suger booger! I'm gonna write you this little ole' hall pass, so you can walk yourself down and see the little ole' dean. Then they can give you a little ole' cookie and some kool-aid and hear all about mean little ole' me, little angel child!"
"It's OK sweetums!" "They'll tell you it's OK too and send you back up here to our classroom a changed person and give you a halo!" "Maybe they'll send someone to sit in back of my class and make notes about how little well little ole' me is teaching little ole' you!"
To the previous Anonymous: you've made me laugh hard!! Thanks for making my day! (because it's true)
Here is a partial list of HBCU's that actually train some pretty good teachers. All minority educators who are great in their profession are not from North Carolina. Have you heard of these fine institutions: Alabama A&M, Alabama State University, Philander Smith and University of Arkansas (Pine Bluff), Florida A&M, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Lane Colle, Harris-Stowe State College(St. Louis), Tennessee State University, Prairie View A&M (Texas), Hampton University. Fisk University, Howard University and Spelman have Colleges of Education.
There are about 106 HBCU's in 20 states, Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands.
Who is the recruiter for Peoria Public Schools? Go get them!!!!
Next think you know Knapp will sue District 150 because they hire black teachers over white teachers.
Where you get the idea that Knapp doesn't want minority teachers? False info, for sure.
Today District 150 teachers got a preview from Steve Perry. Among other things, Perry believes the following:
"Good teachers are born not made. There's just something about them--some mysterious character trait--that they've had all their lives. Teaching is an art, a God-given talent, like singing, painting, and writing.
Finland's bottom 10 percent is better than our top 10 percent.
Anatomy of a Lesson: There is a clear,linear, and logical order to the class.
Example: The lesson begins with an initiation that introduces or defines a thesis statement. Each progression is chunked into reasonable sections and culminates in the fulfillment of the objective.
The leaders of our teachers unions have ruined public education. . . . Teachers' unions are not the only parasites feasting on our public schools. Add the unions representing principals, secretaries, custodians, security officers, and paraprofessionals, and you'll begin to see why our schools don't work."
Any teachers care to share with us their take on today's back to school rally featuring Perry as the keynote speaker?
Anonymous submissions are okay.
Any takers please send the info to me on emergepeoria@comcast.net
I wonder who taught him how to cuss? That sure was a first for a keynote speaker.
I wonder who over on Wisconsin Ave. he is related to. What a huge waste of money. I really enjoyed being berated to energize me for the coming school year.
You know it has become the norm to blame all white people for the problems of our society. I am so sick and tired of being made fun and ridiculed because I am white and I can't teach black children. Funny thing is I AM MARRIED TO A BLACK MAN AND OUR CHILDREN WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE BLACK. aLTHOUGH, MY CHILDREN ARE PROUD TO BE BI-RACIAL. mY CHILDREN WERE TAUGHT BY SOME WONDERFUL TEACHERS some Africian American, Asian and of course the endangered white teacher. They were also in some classes that were plain awful, balck and white teachers. Get a grip, teaching is the only profession where we are not allowed to be thankful for a paycheck, we are dammed if we want the union to help us keep our jobs and fight for decent pay. Then, Lathan has the nerve to bring the latest Savior to brow beat her staff. What a shame, send her back to wherever she came from. She will turm this district into an East St. Louis type school district.
Last post- you are already there- your district is as bad as East St. Louis.
If you feel like you were being berated you're one of those people that shouldn't be teaching.
Agreed anon- we have MANY in D150 who collect checks, drive home (outside our district)and never think twice of the hardships their students face.
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