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| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
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| Conservative Commentary - Robert Scott named Commissioner of Education (Texas) 10.16.07 |
| THE BIG PICTURE |
| Bremond ISD |
| Practical steps in your own schools: How to Organize 95 Questions How to ask for public records |
| EDU-LOBBYING Pearson Texas $1.423 billion Akin Gump/Areva/Libya/Rice WashingtonDCLobbying TexasLobbying Texas Monthly TexasEduMissioner 95Questions Donna Garner |
| Akin DC |
| Akin TX |
| 95Questions |
| Akin / Areva / Libya |
| D.Garner |
| Texans have Governor Rick Perry (far right) and Interim Commissioner of Education Robert Scott (right) to thank for the Texas Education Agency's check register being posted online this past February; it was a natural next step after Perry's Executive Order RP 47 in August 2005, "relating to a comprehensive financial accountability and reporting system to ensure transparency and fiscal efficiency in school district operations," a system requiring school districts to spend 65% of the monies entrusted to them by taxpayers in the classroom. Robert Scott, a Distinguished Speaker on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007 at the annual Texas Association of School Boards / Texas Association of School Administrators (TASB/TASA) convention in Dallas, encouraged the 8,000 (SOURCE--The Dallas Morning News) public school superintendents and board members present to join the movement towards transparency and place their check registers online. Those in the audience report that Scott was well received--so much so that the large convention hall had to be enlarged to make room for more of Scott's audience as they arrived. At the same conference education lawyer/lobbyist Sandy Kress, whose clients include the Pearson edu-entities to whom Texas taxpayers have sent $1.423 billion since 1998, presented regarding the Commission for a College Ready Texas, which he chairs, the hour before Scott, in a conference room and not a convention hall; Kress' presentation was not covered by any of the state's newspapers that I have been able to find. By naming Robert Scott as Commissioner of Education, Gov. Perry apparently joined other Texas education watchers in viewing TASB/TASA as an informal straw poll of what the populace wanted in an education commissioner. As Perry and his able staff subsequently weighed the merits of Scott and Kress, it is my belief that Perry recognized that the TASB/TASA crowd, which represents the Texas education establishment, apparently, with their feet, picked Scott. |
| Terrence Stutz reported last week in The Dallas Morning News that Sandy Kress has confirmed "he is not a candidate for state education commissioner, leaving current acting Commissioner Robert Scott as the most likely person to be named to the post by Gov. Rick Perry. "Mr. Kress said that although he has been encouraged by several business and civic leaders to consider the job, he has no plans to give up his current position as an Austin-based partner in the Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld law firm and wants to retain his membership on key education panels. 'I have a full plate of things that engage me in Texas and around the country, and I intend to continue working on all the assignments I currently have,' said Mr. Kress, a former president of the Dallas school board and current chairman of the Governor's Commission for a College Ready Texas." |
| Is it true? Sandy Kress no longer in the running for Texas edu-missioner? By Peyton Wolcott Wed., Oct. 10, 2007 |
Big Pots of Money Most people view school districts as places that educate children. But they also can be viewed as big pots of taxpayer money. -- Scott Parks, Dallas Morning News |
| TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION Introducing Robert Scott, our new Commissioner of Education By Peyton Wolcott Updated Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 3:02 a.m. |
| Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott |
| Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, announced at 11:08 a.m. yesterday morning his appointment of Robert Scott as Commissioner of Education for the great State of Texas. With a fiscal conservative as governor, and conservatives Don McLeroy as chair of the State Board of Education and now Robert Scott officially at the helm of our state department of education (the Texas Education Agency), I believe we are poised to climb our way out of the fuzzy math/whole word abyss in which we've been stagnating for too many years, starting with the new curriculum standards now being written for the English Language Arts & Reading portion of the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (ELAR-TEKS); instead of the "mushy" (then-Governor Bush's word) goop we settled for a decade ago from the edu-establishment -- what Scott Parks of the Dallas Morning News calls the "education-industrial complex" -- we now finally have an opportunity to return to measurable objective standards of the kind which create a climate in which children can learn sufficient facts and information so that they can devise their own strategies for successful living. Bottom line: It is my fervent hope that ten years from now when I go to a big box store and ask the cashier what six times nine is, he or she will be able to tell me -- without consulting a calculator. This is how we build a disciplined and informed populace capable of thinking for themselves. This is how we continue to keep our nation strong. God bless America. |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry |
For Immediate Distribution October 16, 2007 Governor's Press Office: 512- 463-1826 Robert Black Krista Moody AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today named Robert Scott as Texas Commissioner of Education. Scott, who has served as interim Education Commissioner since June 2007, has been an integral part of raising the bar for scholastic achievement and success in Texas for more than 15 years. “Robert Scott is the right choice to lead Texas’ education system toward continued success and new benchmark achievements,” said Perry. “With an unmatched record of service and commitment to Texas’ students, Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education that prepares them for success in and out of school.” Scott served four years as Chief Deputy Commissioner of Education, managing daily operations for the Texas Education Agency (TEA). By overseeing development of new assessment and accountability systems, Scott championed efforts to raise standards and promote rewards for effective teachers. During that time he also established initiatives to strengthen early childhood and high school education. In 2003, Scott served as interim Commissioner of Education and oversaw a massive restructuring of the TEA, which resulted in more than $37 million in savings for Texas taxpayers. Previously, Scott served as a senior advisor for public education to Gov. Perry, acting as a liaison between the Governor’s Office and various education groups and entities throughout the state. He has served as an education advisor in the Texas Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, and as an advisor to Commissioners of Education Mike Moses and Jim Nelson. “With Robert Scott at the helm of the Texas Education Agency, I am confident Texas will continue to be a national model for student achievement, accountability and innovation,” said Perry. Scott received a bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Texas and is the father of two children who attend public school in Austin ISD. |
| Gov. Rick Perry (R) and Interim Commissioner of Education Robert Scott (L) |
| OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR R i c k P e r r y |
| Gov. Perry Names Robert Scott Texas Commissioner of Education |
| Special thanks to our citizens o Donna Garner who has been sounding the clarion call for true reform for many years now. o Cathie Adams of the Texas Eagle Forum for alerting conservatives. o Sandy Kress, for caring about Texas schoolchildren. o Don McLeroy, David Bradley, Barbara Cargill, Terri Leo and other conservative SBOE members for being willing to serve our schoolchildren, their parents and taxpayers. o Gov. Perry for making what many of us believe is the correct -- if difficult -- decision. o The many kind souls who prefer to work behind the scenes who contribute so much. o And Robert Scott for having a measurable record of accomplishment which speaks volumes about the man and the kind of commissioner he will be. |
| Special thanks to members of the press o Scott Parks of the Dallas Morning News for drawing attention to the commercial aspects of public education. o Radio host Lynn Woolley for bringing Robert Scott's work with TEA's online check register to the attention of Texas and the nation. o Mark Lisheron of the Austin American- Statesman for covering the online check register issue. o Editorial leadership at the San Antonio Express- News and the Houston Chronicle, including Helen Eriksen's Katy blog. |
| Nes gadol haya sham. |
| Perry gives interim TEA leader the job full time Houston teacher union leader calls Scott right person for Texas schools By Peggy Fikac Oct. 16, 2007, 7:26PM AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday appointed Robert Scott as education commissioner, making official the post he has had on an interim basis since Shirley Neeley stepped down this summer. "Robert Scott is the right choice to lead Texas education system toward continued success and new benchmark achievements," Perry said in a statement. "With an unmatched record of service and commitment to Texas students, Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education that prepares them for success in and out of school." Scott was chief deputy education commissioner at the Texas Education Agency for four years and also served as interim commissioner in 2003. He has been Perry's senior adviser for public education, an education adviser in the Texas Senate and the U.S. House and an adviser to former education commissioners Mike Moses and Jim Nelson, Perry's office said. Alief trustee Sarah Winkler, vice president of the Texas Association of School Boards, said she's thrilled Scott got the nod. "This is good for public education to know we have a commissioner of education and that he's familiar with our issues," Winkler said. "That makes it a smoother transition." As a first order of business, Winkler said she hopes Scott rethinks his plan requiring districts to provide matching incentive pay for teachers. She also hopes he continues to streamline practice testing for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, but that he leaves the actual test intact for elementary students. Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said she's thrilled that Perry stood up to pressure to give a former education adviser to President Bush, Sandy Kress, the prestigious post. "Having him appoint the right person as commissioner is the best present he could ever give public education," Fallon said. "Robert Scott is going to be fantastic because he's been fantastic as chief deputy. Everyone respects Robert. He's bright. He knows the law and he knows the Legislature." Neeley stepped down effective July 1, saying she did so at Perry's request after he didn't reappoint her to the post she assumed in 2004. Perry press secretary Robert Black said then that the governor was looking for "new energy and new direction" for the agency. Scott had been considered the top contender for the job. Perry's office today said Scott "has been an integral part of raising the bar for scholastic achievement and success in Texas for more than 15 years." Houston Chronicle writer Jennifer Radcliffe contributed to this report from Houston. |
| Reactions in the press |
| The Houston Chronicle |
| The Dallas Morning News |
| Robert Scott named Texas Commissioner of Education 03:16 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News choppe@dallasnews. com AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry named Robert Scott, a lawyer with a non-educator background, to take over permanently as state Commissioner of Education on Tuesday. Mr. Scott has been serving as interim commissioner since last June. “With an unmatched record of service and commitment to Texas’ students, Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education that prepares them for success in and out of school,” Mr. Perry said in making the announcement. Mr. Scott began work in education as a policy analyst and advisor to a congressman, state senator and later for Mr. Perry. He served as interim commissioner in 2003 until Mr. Perry named Dr. Shirley Neeley to the full- time role, at which time he became chief deputy at the agency. Dr. Neeley retired this summer after not being reappointed to the post by the governor and again Mr. Scott was named as interim commissioner. Teacher associations and some education groups have been hesitant to support Mr. Scott as fulltime commissioner because of his close ties to Mr. Perry. The governor said that Mr. Scott’s four years as chief deputy education commissioner has shown his ability to raise standards, implement accountability and promote merit awards for teachers. Mr. Scott’s appointment was sidetracked in June when an internal investigation by the TEA’s inspector general cited him and other officials for improperly steering state contracts to friends. Mr. Scott called the accusation “absolutely false” and said he never urged the hiring of people cited in the report. The independent State Auditor’s Office has undertaken a review of the allegation and that report is expected this fall. Mr. Scott’s appointment is to a term that expires in January 2011. |
| Postcards from the Trail Scott named education commissioner By Jason Embry Austin American-Statesman Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 10:36 AM Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday named Robert Scott, one of his closest advisers and a powerful force at the Texas Education Agency for many years, to lead that agency as the state’ s education commissioner. Scott will be the third commissioner appointed by Perry but the first of the three to lack experience as a school superintendent or teacher. Jim Nelson, the last commissioner appointed by George W. Bush, also came to the job without working as a teacher or administrator. Scott, 38, has been acting commissioner since June, when Perry told then-commissioner Shirley Neeley that he would not reappoint her. He oversaw day-to-day operations of the agency as chief deputy commissioner under Neeley, and previously served, separately, as an adviser to Perry, Nelson and former commissioner Mike Moses. “With an unmatched record of service and commitment to Texas’ students, Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education,” Perry said. As commissioner, Scott will oversee the state’s 4.6 million-student education system and write the fine print on executive orders from Perry and laws passed by the Legislature. He’ll also head an agency with 915 employees and an annual administrative budget of $123 million. He’s twice been interim commissioner. When the Legislature faced a budget shortfall in 2003, he led an effort to scrap almost 200 jobs and $40 million in operating costs. Jeri Stone, executive director of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, said she was not troubled by Scott’s lack of experience in the classroom, instead praising his “broad policy experience.” “He’s worked closely with us in the past, he’s been accessible and he’s been willing to modify based on our concerns,” Stone said. Linda Bridges, president of the American Federation of Teachers - Texas, was more skeptical. “In positions like this we would prefer someone have some hands-on experience in public education so that they undertand what we’re doing from being in the trench level, instead of trying to understand it from the outside,” Bridges said. “But our goal is to work with whoever is there.” Scott was the subject of some controversy this summer when a report from the agency’s inspector general said he and others at the agency had helped friends and associates win subcontracts to provide consulting and other services. Scott said the report was untrue, and the state auditor’s office has been investigating its claims for months. The new commissioner, who will make $180,000 per year, said Tuesday that much of his time will focus on the ongoing process of rewriting the state’s curriculum to help students better prepare for college and teachers better understand the state’s expectations. “Aligning all of those rewrites to make sure we have clear and consistent standards is hugely important,” Scott said. “It’s not all over the map right now, but the standards are not grade- level specific.” |
| Texas Education Agency first state department of education in U.S. to put its check register online Nothing can or will change in our schools until we are able to readily and easily track how they are spending our money By Peyton Wolcott - Updated Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 5:00 a.m. |
| Scott takes post as education commissioner By APRIL CASTRO The Associated Press Wed, Oct. 17, 2007 AUSTIN -- Robert Scott has officially taken the helm as the state's new education commissioner, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday. Scott, 38, has been interim education commissioner since June, when Shirley Neeley announced her resignation. A single father of two, he spent more than two years in Perry's office as senior adviser for public education. In addition to an upcoming curriculum overhaul, Scott said that preparing Texas students for college will be a focus of his tenure. "I want to put an end to the phrase 'kids that aren't going to college,'" he said. After graduating from the University of Texas in 1992 with a degree in government, Scott started his career as a legislative director for Democrat Gene Green, first in Austin when Green was a state senator and then in Washington when Green was elected to Congress. He's been involved with the Texas Education Agency for 13 years, during which time he earned a law degree from UT. As Neeley's chief deputy commissioner, Scott spent four years managing the TEA's daily operations. He also served as interim commissioner for five months in 2003, before Neeley was selected. During that time, he oversaw a restructuring of the agency mandated by the Legislature to improve efficiency. |
| The Fort Worth Star- Telegram (AP) |
| Scott named Texas education commissioner By APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer Tue, Oct. 16, 2007 AUSTIN -- Longtime education guru Robert Scott has officially taken the helm as the state's new education commissioner, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday. Scott, 38, has been interim education commissioner since June, when Shirley Neeley announced her resignation from the post. "With an unmatched record of service and commitment to Texas' students, Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education that prepares them for success in and out of school," Perry said. Scott, a single father of two, spent more than two years in Perry's office as senior adviser for public education. In addition to an upcoming curriculum overhaul, Scott said that preparing Texas students for college will be a focus of his tenure. "I want to put an end to the phrase 'kids that aren't going to college,'" he said. After graduating from the University of Texas in 1992 with a degree in government, Scott started his career as a legislative director for Democrat Gene Green, first in Austin when Green was a state senator then in Washington when Green was elected to Congress. He's been involved with the Texas Education Agency for 13 years, during which time he earned a law degree from the University of Texas. As Neeley's chief deputy commissioner, Scott spent four years managing the daily operations of the TEA. He also spent five months in 2003 as interim commissioner, before Neeley was selected. During that time, he oversaw a massive restructuring of the agency, which was mandated by the Legislature to improve efficiency. Shortly before Neeley's exit, Scott came under fire after an internal audit found that the agency improperly awarded contracts for state work and noted a Waco case in which contract work went to a Scott acquaintance. Scott said he was not involved in negotiations and said his name may have been confused with another employee named Robert Scott. The state auditor is investigating. While in Perry's office, Scott served as a liaison between the governor and various education groups throughout the state. Educator groups, which have often been on the opposing side of Perry's policy priorities, seemed pleased with the announcement. "The best we can hope for in any commissioner is that he or she will balance the interests of the community with the policy goals of the person who appointed him," said Jeri Stone, executive director of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association. She called Scott a good choice. "He's a good guy, he's experienced. He knows where we've been and how we got where we are," she said. http://www.tea.state.tx.us |
| Perry appoints Robert Scott state education commissioner Jeffery D. Hooten 10/17/07 Gov. Rick Perry appointed Robert Scott as the state's education commissioner on Tuesday. Scott had been the interim commissioner since June. He earned a law degree from UT and has worked in the Texas Education Agency for 13 years. "We would be hard pressed to find any one with a record of service and commitment to Texas students like that of Robert Scott," said Krista Moody, spokeswoman for the governor's office. As education commissioner, Scott will oversee the direction of public education in Texas, including curriculum policy. Rob D'Amico spokesman for the Texas branch of the American Federation of Teachers, said his organization intends to maintain open communication with Scott in order to provide a voice for educators in policy making. "We look forward to working with Mr. Scott," D'Amico said in a press release. "We hope that he will be receptive to hearing from teachers and other public education employees, since these are the people who are in the trenches each day dealing with the challenges facing public education." |
| The Daily Texan |
| New education chief vows to try harder to listen, learn By The Editorial Board Monday, October 22, 2007, 02:17 PM Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott has something to prove. Unlike most people who have held the job of education chief, Scott is not an educator. He is not a former principal, superintendent or school board member. He doesn’t have the instant credibility commanded by former commissioners with extensive academic credentials in education. Scott, 38, is a lawyer and former education adviser to Gov. Rick Perry. He also served as deputy commissioner of the Texas Education Agency. His two children attend Austin public schools. Perhaps it is that nontraditional background that makes him study harder and listen more attentively. That posture has taken him to low-performing campuses across Texas (including Johnston High in Austin) in search of answers to long- standing problems regarding high dropout rates, poor performance by low-income students, teacher shortages in critical subject areas and crafting a curriculum that helps better prepare students for the workforce and college. We talked to him about some of those challenges, and one thing is clear: Scott gets it. He knows that improving schools means being candid about the problems, getting involved at the campus and legislative levels, and crafting solutions that recognize and address problems. His predecessor, Shirley Neeley, a former superintendent of the Galena Park district in Houston, seemed content to be a cheerleader for public schools. Scott differs from her in that he is spending time in the trenches with teachers and their unions and with parents and students. Along the way, he has won much of their confidence. Scott gave this answer on teacher pay: “I would advocate taking a look at our entire pay structure. Beginning teachers are compensated fairly well in relation to their peers, first year out of college. It’s the structure that we’ve created that causes our 15- and 20- year educators not to be able to reach higher levels of compensation. I think we ought to take a look at that and at stretching out the salary schedule and providing opportunities … to allow teachers to earn more compensation.” Scott also favors an incentive system to attract science, math, bilingual and other teachers in areas of high demand. That is overdue. He gave this answer on the dropout problem: “If you talk to kids about why they drop out or are thinking about dropping out, they cite several reasons. They feel disenfranchised from their school, they are behind in their credits, they’ve got to work and they’ve got to take care of their families. We need to build schools and programs that address those needs that can re-engage those kids and give them a pathway to graduation and end the excuses.” We don’t question Scott’s desire to do the right thing for Texas public schools. But we do wonder whether his loyalty to the governor will get in the way. For instance, Perry has supported vouchers that would divert public school dollars to private schools. That would undermine financing for public schools that educate 4.6 million Texas schoolchildren. Scott should oppose that. Perry selected Scott to carry out the governor’s vision for public schools. That’s fine. But when a governor’s vision conflicts with the best interests of public schools, we need a commissioner courageous enough to speak truth to power. That’s a test we hope Scott passes. |
| The Austin American- Statesman |
| Official Press Release Oct. 16, 2007 |
| Perry Names Robert Scott Education Commissioner Oct 16, 2007 12:59 pm US/Central CBS News/Dallas-Ft. Worth FEATURED SLIDESHOW: Useless Body Parts (AP) Gov. Rick Perry says longtime education official Robert Scott has officially taken the helm as the state's new education commissioner. Before Tuesday's announcement, Scott had served as interim education commissioner since June, when Shirley Neeley resigned. Scott spent four years as Neeley's chief deputy commissioner, managing the daily operations of the Texas Education Agency. Perry says Scott's experience and commitment to Texas students make him a good fit. |
| The Austin American- Statesman |
| The Austin Chronicle |
| Naked City Beyond City Limits By Kimberley Reeves October 19, 2007 In other education news, Gov. Rick Perry named acting Education Commissioner Robert Scott to head the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday. Scott, a longtime employee, has served as acting head of the agency since former Commissioner Shirley Neeley departed in June. For most of the summer, it appeared Sandy Kress, former adviser to President George W. Bush on the No Child Left Behind Act, had the inside track with the governor's appointment office, but rumors are that conservative sugar daddy James Leininger put the kibosh on that plan. Kress told The Dallas Morning News two weeks ago that he had never been in the running. In the meantime, Scott has announced plans for a major reorganization of the TEA – minor reorganizations are an annual event – and told school administrators at a recent conference he's committed to aligning high school and college curriculum, overhauling career and technology education, and getting the nod from the feds to expand the program to use the state's credit to guarantee school district bonds. |
| Associated Press |
| The above was also published online: Scottish Independent School News, UK |
| The El Paso Times |
| Why Perry dumped Neeley as education commissioner Dave McNeely Abilene Reporter-News Saturday, September 1, 2007 AUSTIN -- If it were a comedy, it might be called "How Perry Cut Shirley." Dr. Shirley Neeley, the former superintendent of schools in Galena Park who Gov. Rick Perry named the Texas Commissioner of Education in early 2004, left that job July 1, after learning in mid-June that Perry wouldn't reappoint her. It started better. On Jan. 12, 2004, Perry called her "a results-driven educator (whose) focus on high standards and classroom excellence, her refusal to accept the status quo or conventional wisdom, and her proven track record of success make her the ideal Texan to lead the Texas Education Agency." At the end, "The governor felt that it was the appropriate time for new leadership and a new energy at the Texas Education Agency," said Perry spokesman Robert Black. "Over the last few years, he has been disappointed in the agency's lack of action to deal with the accusations of cheating in our public schools. He looks forward to bringing in someone who will take decisive action to deal with this issue and be willing to work hard to take education in Texas to the next level." Neeley, the first woman to head the TEA, took her ouster like a -- well, philosophically. "I can compare my situation to that of a superintendent when a school board decides to take no action or not extend their contract," she wrote in a letter to TEA employees. "Any way you look at it, the message is clear: when it is time to go, it is time to go." Although evidence of widespread cheating on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, known as TAKS, may have been a big part of it, some think Neeley had tired of cheerleading for Perry. And there was tension with her deputy commissioner, Robert Scott, who served as interim commissioner before she arrived and now since she's gone. Neeley had overseen impressive improvement in student test scores during her tenure at Galena Park, despite its lower middle-class status. She had been appointed by Perry in early 2004 to succeed Dr. Felipe Alanis. His tenure of just over a year as Texas Education Commissioner had ended on July 31, 2003. When Alanis left, Perry sent over his staff education adviser, Robert Scott, to temporarily head the agency. Scott, 38, was no stranger to TEA. He was there from November of 1994, following a stint on the Washington staff of U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, until early 2001. Wizened viewers say Neeley had gotten infatuated with the TEA post before she ever took it and made a mistake in not claiming more power at the outset. Agency employees had been reporting to Interim Commissioner Scott, who reported to the governor. Neeley agreed to keep that arrangement -- becoming, in essence, a figurehead. Neeley said when she took office that teachers and administrators should not fear school choice -- aka vouchers, a Perry pet project. But vouchers not only never got off the ground; they have lost ground. An occurrence in mid-2005 may help explain why Neeley began to assert herself. Perry invited her to a press conference. During it, he unveiled an executive order that 65 percent of state money for schools be spent in the classroom. It was the first she'd heard of it. She was blindsided. She had no part in developing it, but was left, flat-footed, to try to explain and defend it to the state's superintendents and principals. It was then, observers say, she began to regain her voice. A seasoned adminstrator as a superintendent, she began to assert herself more in policy. She decided her loyalty wasn't to the governor's politics, but to superintendents, principals, teachers. Although as recently as the end of May Neeley told a reporter that because her re-appointment hadn't come up all through the spring legislative session, she was confident of re-appointment. She was wrong. The Dallas Morning News editorialized against Perry picking Scott as his real rather than interim commissioner, on grounds he was around when the TAKS test problems occurred and that the agency needs someone with experience in classrooms or school administration. But the state's superintendents seem to prefer Scott to some alternatives mentioned. Those include four who served with Perry in the Texas House of Representatives: former House Education Committee chairman Kent Grusendorf; Texas Association of Business head Bill Hammond; former House Appropriations Committee chair Talmadge Heflin; and Ric Williamson, chairman of the Texas Department of Transportion. Others mentioned include former Bush Administration education official Sandy Kress and voucher and alternative teacher certification supporter Jim Windham of Houston. The Austin American-Statesman editorially suggested appointing former state senator and acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, a Mount Pleasant Republican who chaired the Senate Education Committee and now heads up Raise Your Hand Texas, a group dedicated to supporting Texas public schools. But in a Rick Perry administration, that is unlikely. |
| Curriculum changes delayed Associated Press Tuesday, July 24, 2007 AUSTIN -- The State Board of Education has postponed until next year the adoption of new reading and writing curriculum standards for Texas public school students. Education groups urged the board to allow more time for teachers to provide input on how to best teach English language arts. Revisions are necessary because we learn more about how to better teach and because our world changes. When the textbooks were written, students weren't as well versed with technology as they are now, said Cynthia Tyroff, supervisor of secondary language arts for San Antonio's Northside Independent School District and a member of the Coalition of Professional Associations of English and Reading Teachers. The state's reading curriculum was last revamped 10 years ago. Last week's decision means the board will vote on new curriculum in February, rather than taking a preliminary vote this September and final action in November. Board Chairman Don McLeroy, R-Bryan, and acting Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott had wanted to push ahead for a preliminary vote on the plan this fall. But the board said it wants the new curriculum for the 2009-10 school year, with new standards accompanied by new instruction materials and end-of-course exams, said board member Terri Leo, a Spring Republican. We recognize that this is going to be costly ... but we feel like the cost is well worth it because the end result is that kids will have higher achievement, Leo said. Board member David Bradley, R-Beaumont, said ACT results from the 2006 class showed many students leaving high school didn't have the reading skills required for success in college. Seventy-seven percent of African-American students, 72 percent of Hispanic students and 40 percent of white students scored below 21 in reading. Researchers say 21 is the requirement for success in social studies among first year college students. Kids coming into college do not have reading skills, comprehension skills -- and writing skills were just horrible, Bradley said. Education groups urged board members to adopt a curriculum that consolidates English and reading skills, and builds from year to year. You want to know exactly what should be taught, what was the prerequisite study before that and how that is leading into the next year's study as well. We call that spiraling the curriculum,' said board member Lawrence Allen Jr., D-Houston, who is also director of special projects in the Houston Independent School District. Of Local Note ... Revisions to the state's reading and writing curriculum should eliminate repetition and overlap, said Sherry Gilly with the Abilene Independent School District. For example, the English curriculum repeats material from one grade to another. The updated curriculum is supposed to build on skills, not just repeat them. Another revision to the curriculum will be making skills more measurable and specific, said Gilly, English/language arts coordinator for AISD. Some of the skills are hard to measure because they can't be taught in a single lesson. For example, students are expected to listen efficiently to oral reading and they are expected to read independent material regularly. Gilly said she would like to see schools move away from separate instruction for reading, English and writing and integrate those as the AISD has started doing. It makes more sense to put it all together, she said. Once the state has made changes to the English/language arts curriculum, the AISD will start revising its curriculum. -- Sidney Levesque |
| Perry names longtime aide as education chief Robert Scott, who lacks classroom experience, has held commission- er's post in interim capacity. By Jason Embry AMERICAN- STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday named Robert Scott, one of his closest advisers and a powerful force at the Texas Education Agency for many years, to lead the agency as the state's education commissioner. Scott will be the third commissioner appointed by Perry but the first of the three to lack experience as a school superintendent or teacher. Jim Nelson, the last commissioner appointed by then-Gov. George W. Bush, also came to the job without working as a teacher or administrator. Robert Scott Scott, 38, has been acting commissioner since June, when Perry's office told then-Commissioner Shirley Neeley that she would not be reappointed. He oversaw operations of the agency as chief deputy commissioner under Neeley and previously served, separately, as an adviser to Perry, Nelson and former Commissioner Mike Moses. "With an unmatched record of service and commitment to Texas' students, Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education," Perry said. As commissioner, Scott will oversee the state's 4.6 million-student education system and write the fine print on executive orders and laws passed by the Legislature. He'll also head an agency of 915 employees and an annual administrative budget of $123 million. He's twice been interim commissioner. When the Legislature faced a budget shortfall in 2003, he led an effort to scrap almost 200 jobs and $40 million in operating costs. Jeri Stone, executive director of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, said she was not troubled by Scott's lack of classroom experience. "He's worked closely with us in the past, he's been accessible, and he's been willing to modify based on our concerns," Stone said. Linda Bridges, president of the Texas federation of American Federation of Teachers, was more skeptical. "In positions like this, we would prefer someone have some hands-on experience in public education so that they understand what we're doing from being in the trench level, instead of trying to understand it from the outside," Bridges said. "But our goal is to work with whoever is there." Scott was the subject of some controversy this summer when a report from the agency's inspector general said he and others had helped friends and associates win subcontracts to provide consulting and other services. Scott said the report was untrue, and the auditor's office has been investigating its claims for months. Scott, who will make $180,000 per year, said Tuesday that he will focus on the ongoing process of rewriting the state's curriculum. "Aligning all of those rewrites to make sure we have clear and consistent standards is hugely important," Scott said. "It's not all over the map right now, but the standards are not grade-level specific." jembry@statesman.com; 445-3654 |
| Also published: Abilene Reporter-News The Beaumont Enterprise The Brownsville Herald |
| TEA results a mixed bag Exemplary school rate up, recognized campuses down By Enrique Rangel August 2, 2007 Amarillo Globe-News Austin Bureau AUSTIN - First the good news. Like most of the state, the Panhandle and the South Plains will have a record number of exemplary schools in the 2007-08 academic year, according to the annual accountability ratings that the Texas Education Agency released Wednesday. In the Amarillo Independent School District alone, compared to last year, the number of exemplary schools increased from eight to 14 and in the Lubbock ISD it doubled from three to six. But the bad news is that the number of recognized campuses - the second highest rating in the Texas school system - dropped substantially in the region and throughout the state. "A growing number of schools earned the state's top rating because their students excelled academically," said Acting Commissioner of Education Robert Scott. "Unfortunately, there were also, as we raised standards, a number of campuses and districts that dropped from recognized to acceptable this year. "That is part of the challenge we face as we raise standards. Some districts rise and some districts lower. Our goal is to set a challenging standard that districts can meet if they work hard." And one of the goals is to improve in math and sciences, he said. In all, the number of exemplary districts in the state went up from 19 to 27 or 2.2 percent of the 1,222 districts, including charter operators. Also, there were five fewer districts this past year than last year. As for the individual schools, the number of exemplary campuses increased to 637 from 564, a net gain of 73, or 13 percent. But the number of recognized districts decreased from 330 to 214 and the number of recognized campuses dropped to 2,345 from 2,826, a net loss of 481, or 17 percent. And more bad news. The number of academically unacceptable districts and campuses - the worst of the four TEA ratings - remained basically unchanged for the districts but was up slightly for the campuses. Last year there were 62 academically unacceptable districts and this year there were 59. On the other hand, the number of academically unacceptable campuses increased to 301 from 286. However, in the Panhandle and the South Plains the number of academically unacceptable schools dropped slightly, according to preliminary analysis. In the Panhandle, besides Amarillo ISD, the biggest improvement went to Dumas ISD, which moved up from academically acceptable to recognized. The achievement happened despite the district's troubles finding and retaining bilingual and English as a Second Language teachers for its large immigrant student population. One of its campuses, Hillcrest Elementary School, was also upgraded to recognized from academically acceptable. DISD officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday because they were in an all-day meeting. However, in an interview earlier this week, Assistant Superintendent Mark Stroebel said they were confident the district would be upgraded because everyone, the teachers, the students and the administrators, have been working hard at it. "I was very pleased to see that," said John Bass, executive director of Region 16 of the Education Service Center, which includes 26 counties and 64 school districts in the Panhandle. "Dumas has always had high expectations and they always work hard with the students." On the other side of the coin, Sundown ISD moved down from exemplary to recognized, but Superintendent Mike Motheral said he and his staff were not disappointed. "We know what we need to do to get back to exemplary," Motheral said. "We are only a student away from reaching our goal and I think we can do it next year." |
| Also published: Longivew News-Journal Waco Herald-Tribune |
| The Longview News- Journal |
| Local educators mixed on response to new TEA chief LISD's Wilcox expresses confidence; teachers association president questions experience By ADAM J. HOLLAND Longview News-Journal Friday, October 19, 2007 The top liaison between the Association of Texas Professional Educators and its members in Longview Independent School District expressed concern Wednesday about the state's new head honcho of education. Longview ISD Superintendent James Wilcox, meanwhile, expressed confidence that Robert Scott would be effective in his new role. Gov. Rick Perry named Scott, 38, as Texas commissioner of education on Tuesday. He had served on an interim basis since June, when Shirley Neeley resigned, and also served temporarily in 2003. Scott was a senior adviser to Perry for public education. What worries the association is Scott's lack of experience as a public school classroom teacher, principal or superintendent. "We want whoever is placed in that position to have an educational background with students," said Paulette Brown, the association's president for the Longview ISD chapter. Brown teaches at the Dade Center. "We want someone who knows the chains in public education and how it connects." Brown added that she "fully supported" a statement Tuesday by Association of Texas Professional Educators State President Sue Melton, in which she expressed hope that Scott will make sure that educators are involved and at the table during his tenure, which expires in Januar, 2011. Wilcox said he did not think Scott's background would be a problem locally. "I think that superintendents, in particular, would like to see another superintendent as commissioner," Wilcox said. "But I've known Mr. Scott since before he was named chief deputy commissioner (of education), and I don't have a problem with him. I think he will be good for us in the long run." Scott's first action as the new commissioner will be a reorganization of the Texas Education Agency to strengthen its accreditation functions and oversight of both the financial and academic performance of public schools, according to the agency's Web site. Although no details were provided as to how he would carry out his first action, the site reported Scott would close campuses that are repeatedly failing to serve Texas students, if necessary. Commissioner of Education Robert Scott — University of Texas School of Law graduate, State Bar member — Served as education policy liaison to Gov. Rick Perry — Interim commissioner of education, summer 2003 — Texas Education Agency's chief deputy commissioner, 2004- 2007— Interim commissioner of education, June 2007 — Named commissioner of education Oct. 16. Appointment expires January 2011. Source: Texas Education Agency and Gov. Rick Perry's office |
| Amarillo Globe- News |
| NOTE: The Austin American- Statesman endorsed former TASB lobbyist Bill Ratliff on July 1, 2007 |
| The Wrong Man for the Job - Bill Ratliff by Donna Garner The Lynn Woolley Show July 2, 2007 I want to leave no doubt in anyone's mind: Texas definitely does not need Ex-Texas Senator Bill Ratliff as the next Commissioner of Education. In yesterday's Austin American-Statesman (AAS), the editorial board recommended Ratliff for the position. Why am I not surprised? During the 1990's it was Ratliff, Mike Moses (Ex-Commissioner of Education), and the AAS who ran the show. Ratliff and Moses came up with their miserable ideas, and the AAS advertised them free of charge! Now that the public is looking more objectively at education in our state, they are beginning to realize we have major problems with our public schools; and the people who helped to create this chaos are trying to distance themselves from the mess they created. Ratliff is not just a "private citizen" with a big heart for the schools. Besides his legislative retirement benefits, Ratliff makes large sums of money as a taxpayer-enriched opportunist. Ratliff is a registered lobbyist (http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/dfs/loblists .htm) with many clients including the TexasAssociation of School Boards (TASB). Having retired from the Texas Senate in 2003, he began representing TASB on May 10, 2004. That year he received up to $99,999.99 from TASB, and again in 2005, and 2006. We taxpayers paid Ratliff's rich lobbying fees because the membership dues that education entities pay to join TASB come from our taxpayers' dollars. Because the TASB dues come from public funds, we taxpayers are actually paying TASB to lobby Legislators for more school funding so that our taxes will increase. We are paying to lobby ourselves! Ratliff is also a paid lobbyist for Raise Your Hand from which he is to make $49,999.99 in 2007: http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tedd/lobco n2007d.htm. The Austin paper did not bother to mention Ratliff's many lobbying allegiances and conflicts of interest nor did the paper mention other important facts about Ratliff. Not only did he author the failed and oft-maligned Robin Hood Plan, but he also drafted SB 1 in 1995 which stripped local teachers of control over what they taught. Due to SB 1, Texas teachers have lost control over their day-to-day instruction and instead must follow the poorly constructed Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. The English / Language Arts / Reading TEKS are particularly egregious because they are not explicit, measurable, or specific for each grade level; and the curriculum requirements listed in the ELAR/TEKS are much too numerous for a teacher to cover thoroughly in a year's time. Therefore, teachers flit from one TEKS element to the next, never really having time to make sure students gain mastery. It is these poorly written standards (the opposite of back-to-the-basics curriculum requirements) upon which the much-despised TAKS tests are based. As the author of SB 1, Ratliff is also responsible for taking the authority away from elected local school boards and placing that power into the hands of unelected superintendents. No longer do locally elected school board members have any real control over the all-important issues of personnel hiring and district curriculum decisions. Local school board members' duties have basically been reduced to (1) hiring and firing the superintendent, (2) buying and selling property, and (3) setting board policy (e.g., those items which involve board members themselves -- elections, vacancies on the board, travel and reimbursement policies, etc.). Ratliff is also responsible for the loss of control by the elected State Board of Education. At the state level, Ratliff tried for years to replace the elected State Board of Education (SBOE) with an appointed one. Appointed boards really do not care what voters want. They will do the will of whoever appoints them and of the lobbyists who orchestrate from a distance. Ratliff's SB 1 reduced the authority of the elected SBOE and enhanced the power of the unelected Texas Commissioner of Education who at the time was Ratliff's joined-at-the-hip ally, Mike Moses. Ratliff always pretended that the SBOE had lost control over textbook content; and until Attorney General Greg Abbott's 2006 opinion, the SBOE was shut out of fulfilling its lawful responsibilities. For eleven years the Board labored under Ratliff's false interpretation; and during that time, numerous inferior textbooks were placed in front of our Texas students. Because of Ratliff's influence on SB 1, elected SBOE members cannot even elect their own chairperson; the Governor appoints one. I certainly trust that Gov. Perry will completely ignore the Austin American Statesman's endorsement of Ratliff as Commissioner of Education. The future of true education reform in this state depends upon this appointment. |
| Other media: Initial reports |