John White Twists The Knife

This is a follow up on my previous post about the wacky teacher performance bonus.  I have been called a straight shooter - That means when I have something to say about an important issue, I say it straight out. I emailed John White about the teacher bonus.  I would call it a one way conversation and maybe because White's position is indefensible.  I encourage all of you to make your voices heard!  Here it is.

Teacher paid $43,000 bonus as part of New Beginnings charter school incentive system | The Lens

"On Mar 16, 2013, at 2:34 PM, 'Lee Barrios'  wrote:

So John -

Do you realize or care that this makes you look like a fool?  If you knew about this or could even predict it and didn't intervene = Fool.  If you didn't know about it = Fool.  I want to see you explain this to the legislature.  No, no, better yet, I want to see you explain this and many other pieces of this puzzle to a U.S. Attorney.  The next time the word EQUITY comes out of your mouth you had better qualify.  You certainly did not intend it to include teacher performance.  As much as I disagree with your education agenda, I could never have guessed you would have gone so far as to wage this all out war on the teaching profession.
Lee P. Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT

Secondary English, Journalism, Gifted

Asst. National Director - Save Our Schools

178 Abita Oaks Loop

Abita Springs, Louisiana 70420

985-789-8304

www.geauxteacher.net

 On Mar 16, 2013, at 3:42 PM, John White <John.White@la.gov> wrote:

So I understand, what is your specific objection?

Sent from my iPhone

 On Mar 16, 2013, at 4:40 PM, "Lee Barrios"  wrote

This should not be a competition to see who can get the most money.  

 You have said, although research shows that pay for performance has little to no effect on student performance, that this is supposed to be about improving student performance.  If you expect money to encourage teachers to "work harder" you must also make them feel there is some inkling of fairness to the pay.  According to this report the higher paid teacher was not the higher performer.   

Teachers also need to "BELIEVE" that the money is from a reliable, repetitive source and this money was from a grant that was not available to all schools nor will be available to this school again I am guessing.  What teachers get paid has always been public information along with their credentials - that in itself is a form of accountability.   

That is no longer the case unless you plan to publish every teachers' pay and bonus each year.  In fact I believe you have made that a point of autonomy for charters and will not release that information even if asked.  You have removed the link to teacher certification, along with many other things, from the LDE website.  I finally found where to get the information and will share that as widely as possible.   

One very important problem that maybe you didn't foresee is that when the media reports "success" like this and a highly effective teacher that there isn't a chance in hades that next will not come reports for ineffective teachers.  We all knew that was inevitable in spite if your promises because it has happened in LA and NY.   

Don't you realize that this ridiculous incident will bring lawsuits and investigations?  I know I am going to find out how that grant money was made available to this particular charter.  There are already comments from people about Tim Ryan and questioning this charter management.   

What else can I say. . . It's just wrong on every level and most importantly it is money wasted that is sorely needed for books, equipment etc.  I believe this is just another attempt to twist the knife in the backs of teachers who believe in public education without discrimination for every single child.  I can't remember when I have been this upset with somebody. 

 I am writing and tweeting everybody from the President on down about this.  

Lee P. Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT

White's 'reply':

 Thanks for writing, as always.
John
Sent from my iPhone"