P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| Administrators on the Move |
| Educators in the News (Alq-Anc) |
| Preview A-Z directory: 1,000+ names |
NY PTA PRES. STEALS CANDY SALE MONEY, FUDGES BOOKS
ALQAISI, Laura
PTA President-Public School 152 (Woodside) (New York) (1996-2003). Also,
president-Presidents’ Council (district PTA organization). Also, parent
coordinator (paid position) (PS 152) (2003).
SEPT. 8, 2005 PTA CANDY THEFT UPDATE: "A Queens PTA president
heartlessly fudged the numbers from chocolate-bar sales at an elementary
school to swipe $40,000 set aside for a new computer room, prosecutors said
yesterday." (SOURCE--By Alex Ginsberg/New York Post) "Laura AlQaisi, 38, was
accused of looting more than $40,000 from her kids' school in Woodside--
including thousands that students earned during fund-raising chocolate sales--
in what sources called one of the biggest ripoffs in city PTA history. '[She]
used the association as her own private piggy bank,' said District Attorney
Richard Brown, calling her alleged actions 'a betrayal of the trust of the parents
PTA President-Public School 152 (Woodside) (New York) (1996-2003). Also,
president-Presidents’ Council (district PTA organization). Also, parent
coordinator (paid position) (PS 152) (2003).
SEPT. 8, 2005 PTA CANDY THEFT UPDATE: "A Queens PTA president
heartlessly fudged the numbers from chocolate-bar sales at an elementary
school to swipe $40,000 set aside for a new computer room, prosecutors said
yesterday." (SOURCE--By Alex Ginsberg/New York Post) "Laura AlQaisi, 38, was
accused of looting more than $40,000 from her kids' school in Woodside--
including thousands that students earned during fund-raising chocolate sales--
in what sources called one of the biggest ripoffs in city PTA history. '[She]
used the association as her own private piggy bank,' said District Attorney
Richard Brown, calling her alleged actions 'a betrayal of the trust of the parents
| Laura AlQaisi leaving court |
who elected her to serve.'...For several years, the mother of three allegedly failed to deposit money raised by
students into PTA accounts and wrote a string of checks worth more than $16,000 to herself or to cash. 'This
behavior has no place anywhere in or near our children's schools,' Schools Chancellor Joel Klein fumed."
(SOURCE--Scott Shifrel, Joe Williams, Dave Goldiner/New York DAILY NEWS) (CONTINUED BELOW: See
FOLLOW-UPS)
students into PTA accounts and wrote a string of checks worth more than $16,000 to herself or to cash. 'This
behavior has no place anywhere in or near our children's schools,' Schools Chancellor Joel Klein fumed."
(SOURCE--Scott Shifrel, Joe Williams, Dave Goldiner/New York DAILY NEWS) (CONTINUED BELOW: See
FOLLOW-UPS)
AS SUPE 'YOU GET BLAMED FOR EVERYTHING'
ALVAREZ, David
Counselor-San Bernardino County Probation Dep't. To middle school principal to ass't
sup't to sup't-Coachella Valley USD (dismissed 1989) (Riverside County). "Riverside
County district was so mired in fiscal mismanagement at the time that an investigation
found it had all but bilked the state out of more than $400,000 and still needed a $7.5
million state bailout to stay afloat." "Alvarez said that he inherited a bad situation in
Coachella Valley and though he made 'valiant' efforts to correct matters by bringing in new
auditors and consultants, was unable to stem the financial slide. In the end, he said, he
was dismissed by a newly elected board that wanted to hire its own superintendent." Next,
four superintendent jobs between 1989 and 1998. (SOURCE--Jack Foley/San Jose Mercury
News). Also, member-California Latino Superintendents Ass'n.
(CONTINUED BELOW: See FOLLOW-UPS)
Counselor-San Bernardino County Probation Dep't. To middle school principal to ass't
sup't to sup't-Coachella Valley USD (dismissed 1989) (Riverside County). "Riverside
County district was so mired in fiscal mismanagement at the time that an investigation
found it had all but bilked the state out of more than $400,000 and still needed a $7.5
million state bailout to stay afloat." "Alvarez said that he inherited a bad situation in
Coachella Valley and though he made 'valiant' efforts to correct matters by bringing in new
auditors and consultants, was unable to stem the financial slide. In the end, he said, he
was dismissed by a newly elected board that wanted to hire its own superintendent." Next,
four superintendent jobs between 1989 and 1998. (SOURCE--Jack Foley/San Jose Mercury
News). Also, member-California Latino Superintendents Ass'n.
(CONTINUED BELOW: See FOLLOW-UPS)
| David Alvarez |
EASY RIDIN' HARLEY-HOPPIN' SUPERINTENDENT
ALWIN, Lance
District administrator-USD of Antigo (Wisconsin). One of two finalists for
sup't-Stevens Point Area Public School District. David R. Schuler, the other
finalist, got the job. (2002) (SOURCE--Lisa Nellessen-Lara/Stevens Point Journal)
One of two finalists for sup't to sup't-Baraboo PS, "home of the "Little Red
Pick-Up Truck Award" (July 2004) (Wisconsin).
DEC. 2003 UPDATE--THE MOTORCYCLE: "To newcomers in town, Lance Alwin might
come across as a hog rider who made a wrong turn. In fact....his beloved high school
football coach later became president of Harley-Davidson, maker of the Springer
Heritage he owns. At the district's teacher orientation in August, Alwin dressed as an
easy rider, replete with bandanna and black jeans, to strike a key point: You have to
look beyond surface appearances." (SOURCE--The Administrator/AASA) Dec. 2003)
ALWIN, Lance
District administrator-USD of Antigo (Wisconsin). One of two finalists for
sup't-Stevens Point Area Public School District. David R. Schuler, the other
finalist, got the job. (2002) (SOURCE--Lisa Nellessen-Lara/Stevens Point Journal)
One of two finalists for sup't to sup't-Baraboo PS, "home of the "Little Red
Pick-Up Truck Award" (July 2004) (Wisconsin).
DEC. 2003 UPDATE--THE MOTORCYCLE: "To newcomers in town, Lance Alwin might
come across as a hog rider who made a wrong turn. In fact....his beloved high school
football coach later became president of Harley-Davidson, maker of the Springer
Heritage he owns. At the district's teacher orientation in August, Alwin dressed as an
easy rider, replete with bandanna and black jeans, to strike a key point: You have to
look beyond surface appearances." (SOURCE--The Administrator/AASA) Dec. 2003)
| Lance Alwin |
ERDI CONSULANT HELMED NEW ORLEANS' TROUBLED SCHOOLS
AMATO, Anthony
Sup't-Community SD 6 (12 years) (New York). To sup't-Hartford PS (Connecticut) (2 1/2 years). To sup't finalist-
Hawaii PS (Hawaii). To sup't finalist-Portland PS (Oregon). To sup't finalist- Elgin SD U-46 (Illinois). To sup't-New
AMATO, Anthony
Sup't-Community SD 6 (12 years) (New York). To sup't-Hartford PS (Connecticut) (2 1/2 years). To sup't finalist-
Hawaii PS (Hawaii). To sup't finalist-Portland PS (Oregon). To sup't finalist- Elgin SD U-46 (Illinois). To sup't-New
Orleans PS (Feb. 2003) (salary $200,000, plus
deferred annuity for each year of service, plus
four-year contract). (SOURCE--New OrleansCity
"Amato was hired...in hopes that he could turn
repair financial problems--including apparent
Founded “The New Orleans Center for Mardi
become commercial artists for the Mardi Gras
Orleans' Monthly Entertainment Magazine) Also,
MAR. 27, 2002 UPDATE: "The Portland School
Hartford, Conn., superintendent Anthony Amato,
Portland's top job last week. After Patricia
deferred annuity for each year of service, plus
four-year contract). (SOURCE--New OrleansCity
"Amato was hired...in hopes that he could turn
repair financial problems--including apparent
Founded “The New Orleans Center for Mardi
become commercial artists for the Mardi Gras
Orleans' Monthly Entertainment Magazine) Also,
MAR. 27, 2002 UPDATE: "The Portland School
Hartford, Conn., superintendent Anthony Amato,
Portland's top job last week. After Patricia
$24,000 housing allowance, plus a $30,000 tax
eligible for annual $20,000 performance bonus;
Business) (12,000 employees) (Louisiana).
around the city's foundering school system and
fraud and payroll corruption." (SOURCE--AP)
Gras Art” to groom high school students to
Industry." (SOURCE-Rene Pierre--Where Y'At--New
ERDI consultant.
Board is scrambling to find alternatives to
who went from front-runner to long shot for
Harvey, the superintendent of the St. Paul, Minn.,
eligible for annual $20,000 performance bonus;
Business) (12,000 employees) (Louisiana).
around the city's foundering school system and
fraud and payroll corruption." (SOURCE--AP)
Gras Art” to groom high school students to
Industry." (SOURCE-Rene Pierre--Where Y'At--New
ERDI consultant.
Board is scrambling to find alternatives to
who went from front-runner to long shot for
Harvey, the superintendent of the St. Paul, Minn.,
school system, withdrew her name from consideration, board members met privately last Thursday and emerged
with a decision that puts Amato, the only official candidate, in an awkward position: They're not ready to offer him
a job." (DRAWING/STORY SOURCE--Willamette Weekly) (CONTINUED BELOW: See FOLLOW-UPS)
AMATO, Iris (Mrs. Anthony AMATO)
Teacher-Hartford PS (Connecticut). Resigned.
with a decision that puts Amato, the only official candidate, in an awkward position: They're not ready to offer him
a job." (DRAWING/STORY SOURCE--Willamette Weekly) (CONTINUED BELOW: See FOLLOW-UPS)
AMATO, Iris (Mrs. Anthony AMATO)
Teacher-Hartford PS (Connecticut). Resigned.
PLAGIARIZED COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
ANANIS, Michael V. "Mike"
Guidance counselor, to ass't principal, to special education director, to ass't sup't. To
sup't-Hopkinton Public Schools (Massachusetts) (1996-2000). To sup't-SAU39
(Amherst) (New Hampshire) (2000-2004). Applicant (second choice), sup't-Minuteman
Regional Vocational School District. (July 2004). Also pres.-Massachusetts Ass'n of
School Personnel Administrators. Also, chair-Massachusetts DOE's Personnel
Advisory Council. Also, pres.-Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Ass'n.
JUNE 11, 2004 UPDATE: Applicant to one of 4 finalists for exec. dir.-Greater Lawrence
ANANIS, Michael V. "Mike"
Guidance counselor, to ass't principal, to special education director, to ass't sup't. To
sup't-Hopkinton Public Schools (Massachusetts) (1996-2000). To sup't-SAU39
(Amherst) (New Hampshire) (2000-2004). Applicant (second choice), sup't-Minuteman
Regional Vocational School District. (July 2004). Also pres.-Massachusetts Ass'n of
School Personnel Administrators. Also, chair-Massachusetts DOE's Personnel
Advisory Council. Also, pres.-Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Ass'n.
JUNE 11, 2004 UPDATE: Applicant to one of 4 finalists for exec. dir.-Greater Lawrence
| Michael V. Ananis |
Educational Collaborative (Methuene) (Massachusetts) (salary $100,000+) (170 employees) ($11 million
budget).
JULY 22, 1999 PLAGIARISM UPDATE: "HOPKINTON--The superintendent of schools who admitted
plagiarizing part of a high school commencement address says he's stepping down. Michael Ananis says
he will leave the job when his current contract expires on June 30, 2000. At Hopkinton High School's
graduation on June 5, Ananis used a portion of a 1991 speech given to Georgia Tech graduates without
mentioning its author, Coca Cola executive Brian Dyson." (SOURCE--Associated Press)
(CONTINUED BELOW: See FOLLOW-UPS)
budget).
JULY 22, 1999 PLAGIARISM UPDATE: "HOPKINTON--The superintendent of schools who admitted
plagiarizing part of a high school commencement address says he's stepping down. Michael Ananis says
he will leave the job when his current contract expires on June 30, 2000. At Hopkinton High School's
graduation on June 5, Ananis used a portion of a 1991 speech given to Georgia Tech graduates without
mentioning its author, Coca Cola executive Brian Dyson." (SOURCE--Associated Press)
(CONTINUED BELOW: See FOLLOW-UPS)
| F O L L O W - U P S |
| ALQAISI, Laura. cont'd |
| ALVAREZ, David cont'd |
| AMATO, Anthony cont'd |
| ANANIS, Michael - cont'd |
her own private piggy bank,' said
District Attorney Richard Brown,
calling her alleged actions 'a betrayal
of the trust of the parents who elected
her to serve.'...For several years, the
mother of three allegedly failed to
deposit money raised by students
into PTA accounts and wrote a string
of checks worth more than $16,000 to
herself or to cash. 'This behavior has
no place anywhere in or near our
children's schools,' Schools
Chancellor Joel Klein fumed."
(SOURCE--Scott Shifrel, Joe Williams,
Dave Goldiner/New York DAILY NEWS)
District Attorney Richard Brown,
calling her alleged actions 'a betrayal
of the trust of the parents who elected
her to serve.'...For several years, the
mother of three allegedly failed to
deposit money raised by students
into PTA accounts and wrote a string
of checks worth more than $16,000 to
herself or to cash. 'This behavior has
no place anywhere in or near our
children's schools,' Schools
Chancellor Joel Klein fumed."
(SOURCE--Scott Shifrel, Joe Williams,
Dave Goldiner/New York DAILY NEWS)
To sup't-Lancaster USD (5 years)
(California). (Ibid.) To sup't-Chino USD. "A
politically divided school board terminated
his employment with 18 months remaining
on his $100,000-per-year contract. He
received a buyout worth about $150,000, he
said. (Ibid.) "Alvarez's termination and
contract buy-out resulted in a lawsuit when
Rich McKee, president of the California First
Amendment Coalition, sued the district for
violating the Brown Act, which stipulates that
all actions taken in closed session must be
reported during open session. McKee, who
won the lawsuit in November 1997,
accused the board of violating the Brown Act
by approving the buy-out—based on
discussion that took place in closed
session—without notifying the public."
(SOURCE--Heather Bremner/ Imperial Valley
Press)
To sup't-Gilroy USD (1997) (salary
$102,000) (9,000 students).
(California). (Ibid.) To sup't-Chino USD. "A
politically divided school board terminated
his employment with 18 months remaining
on his $100,000-per-year contract. He
received a buyout worth about $150,000, he
said. (Ibid.) "Alvarez's termination and
contract buy-out resulted in a lawsuit when
Rich McKee, president of the California First
Amendment Coalition, sued the district for
violating the Brown Act, which stipulates that
all actions taken in closed session must be
reported during open session. McKee, who
won the lawsuit in November 1997,
accused the board of violating the Brown Act
by approving the buy-out—based on
discussion that took place in closed
session—without notifying the public."
(SOURCE--Heather Bremner/ Imperial Valley
Press)
To sup't-Gilroy USD (1997) (salary
$102,000) (9,000 students).
JULY 2003 UPDATE: "Give him
one year, he says, and we'll see
positive results." (SOURCE--Sara
Woodward/New Orleans Magazine)
SEPT. 2003 UPDATE: "In
perhaps the most telling sign of
the poor state of the New
Orleanspublic schools, the
would-be
valedictorian at one high
school was unable to pass the
state graduation test. More
than 100 of the system's 119
schools ranked below the state
average in standardized tests,
attendance and dropout rates.
Of those, 50 were deemed
'academically unacceptable.'
And a parent has taken out
newspaper ads promoting his
lawsuit seeking to recoup what
he sees as the unavoidable
cost of sending children to
private schools. Into this mess
steps Anthony Amato."
(SOURCE--The Associated Press)
one year, he says, and we'll see
positive results." (SOURCE--Sara
Woodward/New Orleans Magazine)
SEPT. 2003 UPDATE: "In
perhaps the most telling sign of
the poor state of the New
Orleanspublic schools, the
would-be
valedictorian at one high
school was unable to pass the
state graduation test. More
than 100 of the system's 119
schools ranked below the state
average in standardized tests,
attendance and dropout rates.
Of those, 50 were deemed
'academically unacceptable.'
And a parent has taken out
newspaper ads promoting his
lawsuit seeking to recoup what
he sees as the unavoidable
cost of sending children to
private schools. Into this mess
steps Anthony Amato."
(SOURCE--The Associated Press)
FEB. 6, 2003
QUESTIONABLE
JUDGMENT UPDATE:
"School Committee
Chairman Daniel J.
Murphy also
questioned Ananis
about a 1999 incident
when he was
accused of
plagiarizing words he
spoke in a graduation
speech as superin-
tendent of Hopkinton
schools. Ananis said
he found the
passage on the
Internet with no
named author and
mistakenly assumed
it was public material.
After the graduation,
he learned the author
was Coca-Cola
executive Brian
Dyson. 'I was deeply
chagrined and deeply
embarrassed by the
mistake I'd made,' he
said. But he added
the lessons of his
indiscretion made
him more forgiving
and 'aware of the
humanity we all
possess.' Jack A.
Watkins, chairman
of the search
committee that
chose the finalists,
said his committee
'hit (Ananis) hard on
this history' and was
satisfied with his
explanation. Ananis
also came under fire
in Hopkinton for
presiding over a
disciplinary hearing
as president of the
Massachusetts
Interscholastic
Athletic Association
without disclosing
that his daughter
played on one of the
basketball teams
involved, the
Associated Press
reported. He later
excused himself
from the discipline
decision." (SOURCE
--Grace Rubenstein/
Eagle Tribune)
"Ananis said he was
happy to get a
chance to give
proper credit for his
words, but upset that
QUESTIONABLE
JUDGMENT UPDATE:
"School Committee
Chairman Daniel J.
Murphy also
questioned Ananis
about a 1999 incident
when he was
accused of
plagiarizing words he
spoke in a graduation
speech as superin-
tendent of Hopkinton
schools. Ananis said
he found the
passage on the
Internet with no
named author and
mistakenly assumed
it was public material.
After the graduation,
he learned the author
was Coca-Cola
executive Brian
Dyson. 'I was deeply
chagrined and deeply
embarrassed by the
mistake I'd made,' he
said. But he added
the lessons of his
indiscretion made
him more forgiving
and 'aware of the
humanity we all
possess.' Jack A.
Watkins, chairman
of the search
committee that
chose the finalists,
said his committee
'hit (Ananis) hard on
this history' and was
satisfied with his
explanation. Ananis
also came under fire
in Hopkinton for
presiding over a
disciplinary hearing
as president of the
Massachusetts
Interscholastic
Athletic Association
without disclosing
that his daughter
played on one of the
basketball teams
involved, the
Associated Press
reported. He later
excused himself
from the discipline
decision." (SOURCE
--Grace Rubenstein/
Eagle Tribune)
"Ananis said he was
happy to get a
chance to give
proper credit for his
words, but upset that
OCT. 29, 1998 UPDATE: "Gilroy schools
Superintendent David Alvarez, hired just over
a year ago, narrowly missed being fired for
alleged lackluster performance and trying
to give himself a $12,000 pay hike....Board
critics cited as reasons for wanting Alvarez
out: repeated failure to provide key
financial information needed during teacher
negotiations; failure to meet agreed-upon
deadlines for goals set following his
evaluation; attempting (and failing) to get
board approval of a $12,000 'longevity' pay
increase, typically given only after years of
service; and arranging for his daughter to
get summer work with a firm doing
consulting work for the district....The failure
of Alvarez to provide fiscal data has perhaps
most infuriated his critics on the board. 'This
board has refused to hold (Alvarez)
accountable. I can only hope that the district
doesn't go bankrupt,' [board member Mark]
Good added." (Ibid.)
Superintendent David Alvarez, hired just over
a year ago, narrowly missed being fired for
alleged lackluster performance and trying
to give himself a $12,000 pay hike....Board
critics cited as reasons for wanting Alvarez
out: repeated failure to provide key
financial information needed during teacher
negotiations; failure to meet agreed-upon
deadlines for goals set following his
evaluation; attempting (and failing) to get
board approval of a $12,000 'longevity' pay
increase, typically given only after years of
service; and arranging for his daughter to
get summer work with a firm doing
consulting work for the district....The failure
of Alvarez to provide fiscal data has perhaps
most infuriated his critics on the board. 'This
board has refused to hold (Alvarez)
accountable. I can only hope that the district
doesn't go bankrupt,' [board member Mark]
Good added." (Ibid.)
| AlQaisi (second from right) at meeting with NYPS Chancellor Joel Klein in an earlier and happier time |
"AlQaisi "was released without bail
Wednesday after being arraigned on
grand larceny and other charges in
Criminal Court in Kew Gardens. She
was arrested on Tuesday outside
her home in Flushing, prosecutors
said. The theft was first discovered
last year after AlQaisi's successor as
president, Laura Druiett, reported to
the school's principal, Robert Burke,
that the association did not have as
much money in the bank as
expected. Officials from the city
Department of Education investiga-
ted and then confronted AlQaisi in
April 2004. A month later, she
produced receipts totaling about
$6,000 for teacher supplies and
student awards. But she stopped
return- ing the investigators' calls
after May 2004, sources familiar with
the investigation said. 'We definitely
want restitution,' said Marge
Feinberg, a spokes- woman for the
education department. If convicted,
AlQaisi faces up to 7 years in
prison." (SOURCE--Herbert
Lowe/Newsday)
Wednesday after being arraigned on
grand larceny and other charges in
Criminal Court in Kew Gardens. She
was arrested on Tuesday outside
her home in Flushing, prosecutors
said. The theft was first discovered
last year after AlQaisi's successor as
president, Laura Druiett, reported to
the school's principal, Robert Burke,
that the association did not have as
much money in the bank as
expected. Officials from the city
Department of Education investiga-
ted and then confronted AlQaisi in
April 2004. A month later, she
produced receipts totaling about
$6,000 for teacher supplies and
student awards. But she stopped
return- ing the investigators' calls
after May 2004, sources familiar with
the investigation said. 'We definitely
want restitution,' said Marge
Feinberg, a spokes- woman for the
education department. If convicted,
AlQaisi faces up to 7 years in
prison." (SOURCE--Herbert
Lowe/Newsday)
| Fall 2003: Anthony Amato ringing in the first day of school in New Orleans (PHOTO/AP) |
DEC. 2004 UPDATE: Speaker at
"the big Christmas party at the
Primsoll Club" for the
LouisianaEngineering Society,
ASCE,
ASME, SPE, and API. Comment:
"If this guy is for real, we may
truly see a spectacular
turnaround in this area’s public
schools!" (SOURCE--LES
Newsletter)
JUNE 29, 2004 UPDATE: "DA
LOOZAS - 2. New Orleans
School Board Members--The
ruling majority on the Orleans
Parish School Board got KO'd
when it tried to convene hastily
and fire Tony Amato. Now he
holds the patronage and
personnel cards. The board
was already on shaky ground
amid federal corruption
investigations; the move on
Amato sealed their legislative--
and perhaps electoral--fate."
(SOURCE --Clancy DuBos/Best of
New Orleans)
"the big Christmas party at the
Primsoll Club" for the
LouisianaEngineering Society,
ASCE,
ASME, SPE, and API. Comment:
"If this guy is for real, we may
truly see a spectacular
turnaround in this area’s public
schools!" (SOURCE--LES
Newsletter)
JUNE 29, 2004 UPDATE: "DA
LOOZAS - 2. New Orleans
School Board Members--The
ruling majority on the Orleans
Parish School Board got KO'd
when it tried to convene hastily
and fire Tony Amato. Now he
holds the patronage and
personnel cards. The board
was already on shaky ground
amid federal corruption
investigations; the move on
Amato sealed their legislative--
and perhaps electoral--fate."
(SOURCE --Clancy DuBos/Best of
New Orleans)
"In December, a $641,000 bookkeep-ing
error was discovered when—pending a
contract agreement with the
teachers' union—district officials discovered
there wasn't enough money to pay the
teachers. Alvarez said he discovered the
miscalculation, which he blames on a clerk,
and brought it to the board's attention. Yet, in
January 1999, when the board discovered
that total spending on consultants during his
tenure was in excess of $5 million, Mark
Good, a board member, demanded that
Alvarez produce accurate information on
expenditures. Alvarez said Monday any
accusations that he had "financial difficulties"
while serving in the district is simply 'not
true.' 'As a superintendent you get blamed
for everything,' he said. 'You get blamed
when there's not enough toilet paper in the
bathroom. I'm not an accountant. I'm not a
bookkeeper.' Gilroy Unified board President
Jim Rogers—a district administrator during
Alvarez's tenure—said Alvarez's district
credit cards were taken away because of
his fiscal irresponsibility and an
unnecessary trip to the East Coast.
'Basically because of a couple of questions
that came up they (board members) decided
the best thing was for him to not have a credit
card,' said Rogers. Alvarez denied any
association with the plastic money. In the
summer 1999 Gilroy Unified board members
decided to replace Alvarez with the deputy of
administrative services until they had hired
another superintendent. In January, Alvarez
officially resigned and opened a private
consulting business called DSA and
Associates." (SOURCE--Heather
Bremner/Imperial Valley Press)
error was discovered when—pending a
contract agreement with the
teachers' union—district officials discovered
there wasn't enough money to pay the
teachers. Alvarez said he discovered the
miscalculation, which he blames on a clerk,
and brought it to the board's attention. Yet, in
January 1999, when the board discovered
that total spending on consultants during his
tenure was in excess of $5 million, Mark
Good, a board member, demanded that
Alvarez produce accurate information on
expenditures. Alvarez said Monday any
accusations that he had "financial difficulties"
while serving in the district is simply 'not
true.' 'As a superintendent you get blamed
for everything,' he said. 'You get blamed
when there's not enough toilet paper in the
bathroom. I'm not an accountant. I'm not a
bookkeeper.' Gilroy Unified board President
Jim Rogers—a district administrator during
Alvarez's tenure—said Alvarez's district
credit cards were taken away because of
his fiscal irresponsibility and an
unnecessary trip to the East Coast.
'Basically because of a couple of questions
that came up they (board members) decided
the best thing was for him to not have a credit
card,' said Rogers. Alvarez denied any
association with the plastic money. In the
summer 1999 Gilroy Unified board members
decided to replace Alvarez with the deputy of
administrative services until they had hired
another superintendent. In January, Alvarez
officially resigned and opened a private
consulting business called DSA and
Associates." (SOURCE--Heather
Bremner/Imperial Valley Press)
DEC. 16, 2004 UPDATE:
"Eleven New Orleans public
school employees and
vendors were indicted Thurs-
day on charges of theft,
extortion or bribery, and
acting U.S. Attorney Jim Letten
said more charges will follow
as part of a two-year
investigation that could stretch
into 'many years.' The
indictments of politically
connected insurance brokers
and teachers paying
kickbacks to have their work
hours inflated, among others,
reflect the growing breadth of
the probe, which has a task
force of 10 full-time
investigators from five agencies
uncovering graft daily, said FBI
Special Agent in Charge Louis
Reigel. The indictments
included long- anticipated
charges against insurance
brokers Glenn Davis and
Chuck Swanson, who were
implicated in bribe schemes in
an earlier plea deal with a
school system official; three
teachers and a secretary at
Fannie C. Williams Middle
School who conspired to
fraudulently inflate their work
hours as part of a kickback
scheme; three employees who
embezzled $150,000 from the
Orleans Parish School Federal
Credit Union; and two
secretaries at Eleanor McMain
High School accused of
cashing paychecks of people
no longer employed at the
school. What initially was a
90-day commitment of agents
in a multi-agency task force has
grown into nine months, and
Reigel said, 'We're not going
away.' (SOURCE--The Daily
Administrator)
"Eleven New Orleans public
school employees and
vendors were indicted Thurs-
day on charges of theft,
extortion or bribery, and
acting U.S. Attorney Jim Letten
said more charges will follow
as part of a two-year
investigation that could stretch
into 'many years.' The
indictments of politically
connected insurance brokers
and teachers paying
kickbacks to have their work
hours inflated, among others,
reflect the growing breadth of
the probe, which has a task
force of 10 full-time
investigators from five agencies
uncovering graft daily, said FBI
Special Agent in Charge Louis
Reigel. The indictments
included long- anticipated
charges against insurance
brokers Glenn Davis and
Chuck Swanson, who were
implicated in bribe schemes in
an earlier plea deal with a
school system official; three
teachers and a secretary at
Fannie C. Williams Middle
School who conspired to
fraudulently inflate their work
hours as part of a kickback
scheme; three employees who
embezzled $150,000 from the
Orleans Parish School Federal
Credit Union; and two
secretaries at Eleanor McMain
High School accused of
cashing paychecks of people
no longer employed at the
school. What initially was a
90-day commitment of agents
in a multi-agency task force has
grown into nine months, and
Reigel said, 'We're not going
away.' (SOURCE--The Daily
Administrator)
the mistake was
revealed by an
anonymous letter,
rather than a call to
him. "It creates a
kind of 'gotcha'
mentality," he said.
"Clearly, somebody
was out to do
damage."
(SOURCE--South Coast
Today)
JULY 14, 2003
UPDATE: "Many say
that the Internet has
worsened the
problem by obscuring
original sources
....Ananis said at the
time that he received
the unattributed
remarks in an e-mail,
and that he believed
the words to be in
the public domain."
(SOURCE--Anand
Vaishnav/Boston Globe)
JULY 15, 2004
UPDATE: To exec.
dir.-Rindge School of
Technical Arts
DEC. 2004 UPDATE:
Introduced block
scheduling to
Rindge.
(SOURCE--CRLS
Bulletin)
revealed by an
anonymous letter,
rather than a call to
him. "It creates a
kind of 'gotcha'
mentality," he said.
"Clearly, somebody
was out to do
damage."
(SOURCE--South Coast
Today)
JULY 14, 2003
UPDATE: "Many say
that the Internet has
worsened the
problem by obscuring
original sources
....Ananis said at the
time that he received
the unattributed
remarks in an e-mail,
and that he believed
the words to be in
the public domain."
(SOURCE--Anand
Vaishnav/Boston Globe)
JULY 15, 2004
UPDATE: To exec.
dir.-Rindge School of
Technical Arts
DEC. 2004 UPDATE:
Introduced block
scheduling to
Rindge.
(SOURCE--CRLS
Bulletin)
| Calexico USD wrestlers |
JAN. 2003 UPDATE: To sup't/CEO-Calexico
USD (California).
JUNE 6, 2003 UPDATE: "He’s ba-a-ack:
former Gilroy schools superintendent David
Alvarez surfaces in Calexico. David Alvarez,
who resigned in disgrace as superintendent
of the Gilroy Unified School District in
February of 2000 amidst charges of financial
mismanagement, negligence of office, and
improper personal conduct, has surfaced
again, this time as superintendent of schools
in Calexico, on the Mexican border. Alvarez
was hired by the Calexico school board in
January to replace former superintendent
Roberto Moreno, who was ousted in
December. Given a fresh start 550 miles from
Gilroy, how is Alvarez doing? The answer will
not surprise anyone familiar with Alvarez’ Gilroy
history. After just five months at the helm of the
Calexico schools, Alvarez is once again
embroiled in controversy....As part of the
layoffs, Alvarez has decided to fire the French
teacher at the high school, who happens to
be the only legitimate foreign language
instructor employed by the district (since over
90 percent of the school’s population are
native Spanish-speakers, Spanish is not
taught as a foreign language). While the
district’s only advanced placement foreign
language program will be cancelled, the
district’s six Spanish teachers and two special
education Spanish teachers will all be retained.
How often are people going to speak French
in Calexico? quipped Alvarez at a board
meeting packed with concerned parents and
students....The fiasco brewing in the Calexico
school district has pungent overtones of the
fine mess Alvarez left behind in Gilroy. It is not
unreasonable to ask, Did someone on the
Gilroy school board commit the
unconscionable act of giving Alvarez a positive
recommendation? According to Gilroy school
board president Jim Rogers, none of the
current board members received any
inquiries from Calexico. If any officials from
Calexico had made contact, he said, he would
have known about it. Alvarez may still have
supporters at the Gilroy school district offices.
It is possible someone there would actually
recommend him. In any case, Calexico
officials apparently failed to do their
homework on Alvarez." (SOURCE--Doug
Meier/Republic-of-Gilroy.com)
USD (California).
JUNE 6, 2003 UPDATE: "He’s ba-a-ack:
former Gilroy schools superintendent David
Alvarez surfaces in Calexico. David Alvarez,
who resigned in disgrace as superintendent
of the Gilroy Unified School District in
February of 2000 amidst charges of financial
mismanagement, negligence of office, and
improper personal conduct, has surfaced
again, this time as superintendent of schools
in Calexico, on the Mexican border. Alvarez
was hired by the Calexico school board in
January to replace former superintendent
Roberto Moreno, who was ousted in
December. Given a fresh start 550 miles from
Gilroy, how is Alvarez doing? The answer will
not surprise anyone familiar with Alvarez’ Gilroy
history. After just five months at the helm of the
Calexico schools, Alvarez is once again
embroiled in controversy....As part of the
layoffs, Alvarez has decided to fire the French
teacher at the high school, who happens to
be the only legitimate foreign language
instructor employed by the district (since over
90 percent of the school’s population are
native Spanish-speakers, Spanish is not
taught as a foreign language). While the
district’s only advanced placement foreign
language program will be cancelled, the
district’s six Spanish teachers and two special
education Spanish teachers will all be retained.
How often are people going to speak French
in Calexico? quipped Alvarez at a board
meeting packed with concerned parents and
students....The fiasco brewing in the Calexico
school district has pungent overtones of the
fine mess Alvarez left behind in Gilroy. It is not
unreasonable to ask, Did someone on the
Gilroy school board commit the
unconscionable act of giving Alvarez a positive
recommendation? According to Gilroy school
board president Jim Rogers, none of the
current board members received any
inquiries from Calexico. If any officials from
Calexico had made contact, he said, he would
have known about it. Alvarez may still have
supporters at the Gilroy school district offices.
It is possible someone there would actually
recommend him. In any case, Calexico
officials apparently failed to do their
homework on Alvarez." (SOURCE--Doug
Meier/Republic-of-Gilroy.com)
FEB. 16, 2005 FORT WORTH
CANDIDACY UPDATE: "New
Orleans Parish schools
superintendent Tony Amato...on
the short list of folks the Fort
Worth board is considering as
a replacement for Tom Tocco.
Not true, Static’s school board
Deep Throat said—'Not on the
short list, the long list, or any
list.' That may be good news
for Cowtown, since almost a
dozen Orleans Parish school
employees have recently been
indicted by a federal grand jury
for extortion and other criminal
offenses. The indictment
charges the employees with
stealing about a quarter of a
million dollars in a kickback
scheme that involved 'highly
lucrative health insurance
policies,' the indictment read.
And there may be more to
come. Sorry, New Orleans,
you gotta keep old Tony. The
last thing Fort Worth needs is
another superintendent who
might look the other way
while crooks haul off millions
of tax dollars under his
nose." (SOURCE--Fort Worth
Weekly)
CANDIDACY UPDATE: "New
Orleans Parish schools
superintendent Tony Amato...on
the short list of folks the Fort
Worth board is considering as
a replacement for Tom Tocco.
Not true, Static’s school board
Deep Throat said—'Not on the
short list, the long list, or any
list.' That may be good news
for Cowtown, since almost a
dozen Orleans Parish school
employees have recently been
indicted by a federal grand jury
for extortion and other criminal
offenses. The indictment
charges the employees with
stealing about a quarter of a
million dollars in a kickback
scheme that involved 'highly
lucrative health insurance
policies,' the indictment read.
And there may be more to
come. Sorry, New Orleans,
you gotta keep old Tony. The
last thing Fort Worth needs is
another superintendent who
might look the other way
while crooks haul off millions
of tax dollars under his
nose." (SOURCE--Fort Worth
Weekly)
JULY 2003 UPDATE: "Six months into his
tenure and residents here are already asking
questions....After interviewing Alvarez, one of
eight candidates recommended by
International Group Inc., a Visalia- based
recruiting company, board members decided
he was a good fit despite a track record of
leaving districts on bad notes. 'We knew he
had problems and he went out on
his own to do some consulting,' said Rita
Huerta, CUSD board president. Still, 'we took it
upon the company to trust them. We paid
these people and we thought we had made a
good choice.'"
(SOURCE--Heather Bremner/Imperial Valley Press)
tenure and residents here are already asking
questions....After interviewing Alvarez, one of
eight candidates recommended by
International Group Inc., a Visalia- based
recruiting company, board members decided
he was a good fit despite a track record of
leaving districts on bad notes. 'We knew he
had problems and he went out on
his own to do some consulting,' said Rita
Huerta, CUSD board president. Still, 'we took it
upon the company to trust them. We paid
these people and we thought we had made a
good choice.'"
(SOURCE--Heather Bremner/Imperial Valley Press)
APR. 12, 2005 UPDATE:
Resigned from New Orleans
superintendency after 2 1/2
years, separation agreement
includes no severance pay but
a "nondisparagement" clause.
APR. 12, 2005 WWL.AM RADIO
POLL: "Enough? If you were
Orleans Parish public schools
Superintendent Anthony Amato
would you have resigned?
No: 24% Yes: 76%
MAY 2005 UPDATE: "New
Orleans schools Superintend-
ent Tony Amato lost the
competition to run one of the
nation's largest school
systems Thursday as Tampa
officials chose an insider
for the post. He said he's
looking into several attractive
alternatives, including other
school districts, foundations
and think tanks. 'There are
plenty of things on the table
right now, districts and
private concerns,' Amato
said. 'It's a good market.'"
(SOURCE--Brian Thevenot/ New
Orleans Times-Picayune)
Resigned from New Orleans
superintendency after 2 1/2
years, separation agreement
includes no severance pay but
a "nondisparagement" clause.
APR. 12, 2005 WWL.AM RADIO
POLL: "Enough? If you were
Orleans Parish public schools
Superintendent Anthony Amato
would you have resigned?
No: 24% Yes: 76%
MAY 2005 UPDATE: "New
Orleans schools Superintend-
ent Tony Amato lost the
competition to run one of the
nation's largest school
systems Thursday as Tampa
officials chose an insider
for the post. He said he's
looking into several attractive
alternatives, including other
school districts, foundations
and think tanks. 'There are
plenty of things on the table
right now, districts and
private concerns,' Amato
said. 'It's a good market.'"
(SOURCE--Brian Thevenot/ New
Orleans Times-Picayune)
JAN. 14, 2005 SPENDING UPDATE:
"Administrative Buffoonery: Superintendent
David Alvarez Pulls Some Shenanigans--Not
Laughing In Calexico. Down along the United
States/Mexico border lies the bustling border
town of Calexico, California. For the past few
months, [Alvarez] has been getting himself into
a little hot water for some of his rather...umm
...er..ah..extra curricular spending habits. It
seems that last July 13th, the good
Superintendent pocketed a check for
$12,272. This was his contracted rate of pay
for unused vacation. That's fine. We here at
the 'Wonks see nothing wrong with that.
Where Alvarez runs into problems is at the
end of July when he charged $1417.40 on the
district's credit card for some personal
items. These included a vehicle from Dollar
Rent A Car over in Yuma, Arizona, as well as a
hotel room in, of all places, Bloomington,
Minnesota. Not only was Alvarez's use of the
credit card contrary to district guidelines, he
didn't bother to report the purchases.
According to [The Imperial Valley Press],
"District officials noticed the misuse of the
credit card at the end of August, and sent
Alvarez a letter requesting $1,417.40.'
Superintendent Alvarez didn't get around to
paying off his bill until December 8th.
Interestingly, the paper goes on to report that
the district, under Alvarez, had suspended
(pending dismissal) a lower-ranking
employee for the very same thing. The
'lower-ranking employee' was suspended after
the Superintendent's financial irregularities
were discovered by "district officials.' Alvarez
(not surprisingly) declined to give a statement,
but the number two official in the district,
Assistant Superintendent David Groesbeck
said that it was 'easy to mistake the district
MasterCard for your personal plastic.' We
here at the 'Wonks have shown once again
that there is one standard of acceptable
behavior for the Chiefs, and a different one
for the braves in some organizations within
the Educational Industry." (SOURCE--The
Education Wonks)
"Administrative Buffoonery: Superintendent
David Alvarez Pulls Some Shenanigans--Not
Laughing In Calexico. Down along the United
States/Mexico border lies the bustling border
town of Calexico, California. For the past few
months, [Alvarez] has been getting himself into
a little hot water for some of his rather...umm
...er..ah..extra curricular spending habits. It
seems that last July 13th, the good
Superintendent pocketed a check for
$12,272. This was his contracted rate of pay
for unused vacation. That's fine. We here at
the 'Wonks see nothing wrong with that.
Where Alvarez runs into problems is at the
end of July when he charged $1417.40 on the
district's credit card for some personal
items. These included a vehicle from Dollar
Rent A Car over in Yuma, Arizona, as well as a
hotel room in, of all places, Bloomington,
Minnesota. Not only was Alvarez's use of the
credit card contrary to district guidelines, he
didn't bother to report the purchases.
According to [The Imperial Valley Press],
"District officials noticed the misuse of the
credit card at the end of August, and sent
Alvarez a letter requesting $1,417.40.'
Superintendent Alvarez didn't get around to
paying off his bill until December 8th.
Interestingly, the paper goes on to report that
the district, under Alvarez, had suspended
(pending dismissal) a lower-ranking
employee for the very same thing. The
'lower-ranking employee' was suspended after
the Superintendent's financial irregularities
were discovered by "district officials.' Alvarez
(not surprisingly) declined to give a statement,
but the number two official in the district,
Assistant Superintendent David Groesbeck
said that it was 'easy to mistake the district
MasterCard for your personal plastic.' We
here at the 'Wonks have shown once again
that there is one standard of acceptable
behavior for the Chiefs, and a different one
for the braves in some organizations within
the Educational Industry." (SOURCE--The
Education Wonks)
MAY 10, 2005 UPDATE: One of
30 applicants for sup't-School
District of Hillsborough County
(Florida). Lost to MaryEllen
Elia, former SDHC Chief
Facilities Officer. (SOURCE--
Jeffrey S. Solochek/St. Petersburg
Times)
30 applicants for sup't-School
District of Hillsborough County
(Florida). Lost to MaryEllen
Elia, former SDHC Chief
Facilities Officer. (SOURCE--
Jeffrey S. Solochek/St. Petersburg
Times)
AMATO SAYS: "At this point
in time, I am convinced that
the action I have taken is not
only best for me and my family,
it is in the best interest for the
children that I came here to
serve. I made it very clear
when I came to New Orleans
that my focus was on
providing a quality education
for all children. Over the past
two years I have worked hard to
keep my commitment to the
city and to its children. I am
deeply grateful for the
community welcome and
community support that New
Orleans has offered to me and
my family over the past two
years. As I pass on the
baton, I wish the district well,
the city well and all the
children that comprise the
New
Orleans Public Schools the
very best that life has to offer."
(SOURCE--NOPS Website)
in time, I am convinced that
the action I have taken is not
only best for me and my family,
it is in the best interest for the
children that I came here to
serve. I made it very clear
when I came to New Orleans
that my focus was on
providing a quality education
for all children. Over the past
two years I have worked hard to
keep my commitment to the
city and to its children. I am
deeply grateful for the
community welcome and
community support that New
Orleans has offered to me and
my family over the past two
years. As I pass on the
baton, I wish the district well,
the city well and all the
children that comprise the
New
Orleans Public Schools the
very best that life has to offer."
(SOURCE--NOPS Website)
JULY 18, 2005 UPDATE--LETTER FROM THE
SUPE: “We must have one single driving priority:
the Academic Achievement of our Students” In
January 2003, I was appointed Superintendent of the
Calexico Unified School District. In the role of the
Chief Executive Officer of the Calexico Unified
School District I serve as the Secretary of the
Board of Trustees and the Educational Leader
of the District. Calexico is the largest and fastest
growing District in the Imperial Valley. The District
enrollment is approaching 9,000 students with
over 1,000 employees providing quality education
and services. The District’s rapid growth reflects the
City of Calexico’s growth in housing and business.
It is projected that CUSD will grow approximately
35% over the next 5-8 years. In an effort to build
new schools to meet the rapid growth of the District,
the community passed “Measure J” a General
Obligation Bond of $30 Million with a 77% yes
vote in March 2004. This Bond will generate the
funds to build “Cesar Chavez Elementary
School”, a new junior high school, and the
renovation of Calexico High School. The CUSD
administration and the Board of Trustees is
indebted to the community for their support of this
important measure that will enable us to provide
new schools for our growing student
population. The District is also engaged in a
district wide educational reform movement to
improve student achievement at all grade levels. As
part of this reform effort we began a process
several months ago to develop a “Vision” for
CUSD that outlines our Mission, Core Beliefs,
Academic Goals and Priorities. This process
has created a mindset for all of us that
students are our top priority and this will be
accomplished through improved teaching and
learning, and a rigorous curriculum that will
enhance our students’ educational goals and
success. This past school year every school in the
District improved its 2003 API (Academic
Performance Index) scores. This is the criterion that
has been set by the state to measure the progress
or lack of progress that each school makes towards
achieving the academic goals set by the State Board
of Education. The positive results that CUSD
achieved in not only meeting but surpassing its
academic goals come as a direct result of the
collaborative efforts of our teachers, staff, and
administrators and a strong commitment from
our Board of Trustees to focus our energies on
“Academic Achievement”. I am proud to serve as
the Superintendent of a progressive, dynamic,
innovative District that is committed to
excellence and educational reforms that focus
on student Achievement and success. I look
forward to our continued work as total community to
provide the very best for our students.
David Alvarez,
Superintendent
SUPE: “We must have one single driving priority:
the Academic Achievement of our Students” In
January 2003, I was appointed Superintendent of the
Calexico Unified School District. In the role of the
Chief Executive Officer of the Calexico Unified
School District I serve as the Secretary of the
Board of Trustees and the Educational Leader
of the District. Calexico is the largest and fastest
growing District in the Imperial Valley. The District
enrollment is approaching 9,000 students with
over 1,000 employees providing quality education
and services. The District’s rapid growth reflects the
City of Calexico’s growth in housing and business.
It is projected that CUSD will grow approximately
35% over the next 5-8 years. In an effort to build
new schools to meet the rapid growth of the District,
the community passed “Measure J” a General
Obligation Bond of $30 Million with a 77% yes
vote in March 2004. This Bond will generate the
funds to build “Cesar Chavez Elementary
School”, a new junior high school, and the
renovation of Calexico High School. The CUSD
administration and the Board of Trustees is
indebted to the community for their support of this
important measure that will enable us to provide
new schools for our growing student
population. The District is also engaged in a
district wide educational reform movement to
improve student achievement at all grade levels. As
part of this reform effort we began a process
several months ago to develop a “Vision” for
CUSD that outlines our Mission, Core Beliefs,
Academic Goals and Priorities. This process
has created a mindset for all of us that
students are our top priority and this will be
accomplished through improved teaching and
learning, and a rigorous curriculum that will
enhance our students’ educational goals and
success. This past school year every school in the
District improved its 2003 API (Academic
Performance Index) scores. This is the criterion that
has been set by the state to measure the progress
or lack of progress that each school makes towards
achieving the academic goals set by the State Board
of Education. The positive results that CUSD
achieved in not only meeting but surpassing its
academic goals come as a direct result of the
collaborative efforts of our teachers, staff, and
administrators and a strong commitment from
our Board of Trustees to focus our energies on
“Academic Achievement”. I am proud to serve as
the Superintendent of a progressive, dynamic,
innovative District that is committed to
excellence and educational reforms that focus
on student Achievement and success. I look
forward to our continued work as total community to
provide the very best for our students.
David Alvarez,
Superintendent
LOCAL NEWSPAPER SAYS:
"The city's school
superintendent announced
his resignation Tuesday after
more than two stormy years in
the post, during which the
school system lost millions of
dollars, federal officials
investigated allegations of
corruption and test scores
remained among the worst in
the state. The New Orleans
school board, feeling pressure
from state education officials
who want to take over the failing
school system, accepted
Anthony Amato's resignation,
effective June 30, 2005." "Most
of the recently installed board
members have complained
that Amato acts unilaterally,
won't give them information
they need to make decisions,
has made no progress in fixing
finances and can't effectively
manage staff. The abrupt
resignation came a day after
one of the most divisive and
raucous School Board
meetings in the past decade,
in which Amato's management
was a consistent target of
parents, board members and
state legislators in the
audience....When he arrived
two years ago, Amato
mesmerized audiences with
inspired speeches and grand
promises, including a vow to
bring the fastest test score
improvement of any system in
the state. Amato will end his
administration with a mixed
record on academic growth, a
nearly empty bank account and
an administration riddled with
key vacancies, particularly in
top financial positions."
(SOURCE--New Orleans Times-
Picayune)
"The city's school
superintendent announced
his resignation Tuesday after
more than two stormy years in
the post, during which the
school system lost millions of
dollars, federal officials
investigated allegations of
corruption and test scores
remained among the worst in
the state. The New Orleans
school board, feeling pressure
from state education officials
who want to take over the failing
school system, accepted
Anthony Amato's resignation,
effective June 30, 2005." "Most
of the recently installed board
members have complained
that Amato acts unilaterally,
won't give them information
they need to make decisions,
has made no progress in fixing
finances and can't effectively
manage staff. The abrupt
resignation came a day after
one of the most divisive and
raucous School Board
meetings in the past decade,
in which Amato's management
was a consistent target of
parents, board members and
state legislators in the
audience....When he arrived
two years ago, Amato
mesmerized audiences with
inspired speeches and grand
promises, including a vow to
bring the fastest test score
improvement of any system in
the state. Amato will end his
administration with a mixed
record on academic growth, a
nearly empty bank account and
an administration riddled with
key vacancies, particularly in
top financial positions."
(SOURCE--New Orleans Times-
Picayune)
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| H e l p i n g A m e r i c a ' s M o m s & D a d s , s t u d e n t s a n d t a x p a y e r s |
WHAT'S WRONG ___ WHO'S RESPONSIBLE Education, Inc. & the big pot o'money Administrators on the Move, Educators in the News (Aa-Ald) (Ale-Alp) (AlQ-Anc) (And-Arz) (As-Az) Featured educator Where are they now? Lax oversight The media ___ WHAT YOU CAN DO Accountability Practical how-to's Success stories, Kindred spirits What to expect ___ Commentary/Home About Contact |
AASA - American Association of School Administrators ASA - Association of School Administrators CSD - Consolidated School District DOE - Department of Education ES - Elementary School HS - High School ISD - Independent School District JHS - Junior High School MS - Middle School MSM - Mainstream media NSBA - National School Boards Association NSPRA - National School Public Relations Association PS - Public School(s) SBEC - State Board for Educator Certification SD - School District Sup't - Superintendent TAKS - Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills TASA - Texas Association of School Administrators TASB - Texas Association of School Boards TASBO - Texas Association of School Business Officials TEA - Texas Education Agency TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills USD - UnifiedUnited School District |
| GUIDE |
| FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of education issues vital to a republic. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Section 107 which states: the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright," the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use" you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
| QUOTES |
Helping parents & taxpayers implode Education, Inc. |
| I n p r o g r e s s |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2006 Peyton Wolcott |
| POP QUIZ: Is your supe minding the store? Or is he/she content to fiddle with the curriculum amidst networking opportunities? Does your supe allow money to flow through your district without sufficient internal controls? Would your schools' lack internal controls allow PTA moms and CFO's and everybody in between to steal the candy money-- and more? |
David v. Goliath: How America's Moms & Dads are taking on Education, Inc. PEYTON WOLCOTT |
Our public schools don't work, and there's little refuge to be had in private schools, however pricey, in part because teachers there are embarrassed not to be working in the slums and make up for it by putting pictures of Frida Kalho where Abe Lincoln used to be. --Peggy Noonan Wall Street Journal |
How LA Unified put a school on a former oilfield now an earthquake fault riddled with toxic pollution, all on the way to becoming the priciest school in the u.s. ______ "District policies and procedures, ineffective state laws and multiple layers of oversight with no accountability created a 'perfect storm' of factors that led to the Belmont fiasco. -- Steve Cooley, district attorney |
How the Feds are spending Your tax dollars More than $100 million in federal funds has been awarded nationally since 2002 for “character education.” San Francisco’s public schools received $1 million of those funds in the last four years to create “caring communities” at 16 district schools that serve “low-achieving, ethnically diverse” student populations. --Bonnie Eslinger San Francisco Examiner ____ QUESTION: Where's the Quantifiable evidence that our nation's $100 million investment in "character education" has worked? |
Long Island's Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon Speaks Out on Public School Corruption So far, 13 school officials from six school districts and two state-chartered, nonprofit educational organizations--SCOPE Education Services in Smithtown and the Nassau Board of Cooperative Educational Services--have been charged with misusing public funds in the past. 'Without stricter financial controls, we will continue to see individuals defrauding school districts.' --Quoted in Newsday |
Candidate for President Harry Truman 'The Buck Stops Here' Award ______ As a superintendent you get blamed for everything. You get blamed when there's not enough toilet paper in the bathroom. I'm not an accountant. I'm not a bookkeeper. --David Alvarez |
Poor teachers are not fired, just transferred--- the dance of the lemons. --Shirley Svorny |
In perhaps the most telling sign of the poor state of the New Orleans public schools, the would-be valedictorian at one high school was unable to pass the state graduation test. --Associated Press |
Vouchers can promote rapid privatization only if they create a large enough demand for private schools to constitute a real incentive for entrepreneurs to enter the industry. That requires first that the voucher be universal, available to all who are now entitled to send their children to government schools and second that the voucher, though less than the government now spends per pupil on education, be large enough to cover the costs of a private profit-making school offering a high- quality education. If that is achieved there will in addition be a substantial number of families that will be willing and able to supplement the voucher in order to get an even higher quality of education. As in all cases, the innovations in the "luxury" product will soon spread to the basic product. For this image to be realized, it is essential that no conditions be attached to the acceptance of vouchers that interfere with the freedom of private enterprises to experiment, to explore, and to innovate. If this image is realized, everybody, except a small group of vested interests, will win: parents, students, dedicated teachers, taxpayers—for whom the cost of the educational system will decline—and especially the residents of central cities, who will have a real alternative to the wretched schools so many of their children are now forced to attend. --Milton Friedman |
It is enough for children to learn to count to ten and follow simple instructions. -- Adolph Hitler |