Sunday, May 15, 2011

5/31/11 Alliance Academy informational



May 31st, 2011


The faculty at Alliance, led by site rep Jeffrey Hilliard, are conducting an informational picket on Tuesday morning, May 31 from 7am to 8am in front of the Alliance campus on 98th Avenue to call attention to the unsafe campus climate all year about which OUSD has been dragging its feet.


“The OUSD Alliance Academy Administration has created an


UNSAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT


on The Elmhurst Campus, and in The Elmhurst Community!”



THE FACTS:

After the exit of the beloved original Alliance Academy Principal Yvette Renteria, OUSD assigned an inexperienced Principal, and an inexperienced Assistant Principal who have done the following since September 2010:

· Multiple violations of the OEA/OUSD Teacher Contract Terms, violated multiple OUSD District Safety Policies, and have violated the California State Education Code regarding safety and school climate.

· This School-Year, The New Alliance Academy Administration made The Elmhurst Campus unsafe by allowing Gang Activity (colors, posturing, & recruiting), Sexual Harassment/Hate Language, and Habitual Harassment/Bullying & Violence of students & staff with few consequences, and undermining teachers’ authority.

· Since September 2010, The OEA Union Site Representative has had to file over 7-Grievances related to safety and school climate concerns, Contract & Ed Code Violations, and to protect the rights of all Teachers, Staff, & Students of Alliance Academy.

· In what the OEA views as ‘Retaliation’ for his Activism & Advocacy, in late March 2011, we believe that The Alliance Academy Administration began directing some parents to write complaints against a well-respected and long-time teacher at Alliance, who is also the OEA Union Site Representative.

· Lastly, in April & May after almost a whole year, Teachers began to feel all the effects from all the stress attributed to verbal profanity, sexual harassment, hate language, open disrespect, defiance, and disruption from some students; lack of disciplinary support from the site Administration; and the Alliance Administration constantly undermining Teachers’ Classroom Authority, despite many attempts by the Alliance teachers to address the issues for the good of the entire school community.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Contact OUSD Superintendent - Tony Smith at (510) 879-8200 or at tony.smith@ousd.k12.ca.us and tell him to resolve the Teacher Safety & School Climate Concerns at Alliance Academy.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Summer 2011 Professional Development for Secondary Math Teachers (PAID!)




Dear Secondary Mathematics Teachers --

There was very positive feedback from the All-City Secondary Mathematics Conversation last week. Huge appreciation to all participants and organizers.

We agreed to next steps:
  1. share information (summarized below and attached) with math colleagues
  2. initiate sign-ups for summer leadership and professional learning opportunities
    • facilitating course / grade-level teams
    • participating in course / grade-level work groups
    • participating in math PD opportunities

Below is a listing (thanks, Cass!) of up-coming and summer teacher leadership and professional learning opportunities with contact info. We need widespread participation to make good on the promise of quality instruction and a full-scale transition to Common Core State Standards in the coming years. Please forward widely.

Cheers,

Phil Tucher
Team Manager for Mathematics, Science, and Technology
OUSD Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction
(o) 510.336.7561
(m) 510.381.5287
philip.tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us
Community Schools, Thriving Students



INTERVENTION PEDAGOGY, FOCUSED ON MISCONCEPTIONS
Introductory session. Focus on fractions [Grades 4-9]
Thurs, May 19, 3:45-5:30 @ Tilden
Free- 20 teacher limit
Contact: Robin.Lovell@ousd.k12.ca.us

MEANINGFUL GROUPWORK IN THE MATH CLASSROOM: APPLYING THE COMPLEX INSTRUCTION FRAMEWORK
Tools and strategies to optimize participation, learning and accountability for diverse students working on group-worthy mathematical tasks.
Weds-Thurs, June 29-30, 9-3:30 @ the Urban School in SF
$360 (by May 15), $400 after (funding for district slots pending; please communicate your interest asap!)
http://centerforinnovativeteaching.org/page.cfm?p=365#groupworkmath
Contact: philip.tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us

GRADE/COURSE-LEVEL WORK GROUPS (for Core Curriculum Task Force and Oakland Mathematics Leadership Network)
Work with colleagues and specialists to develop course scope and sequence, performance assessment tasks and other curricular documents.
(Geometry work group is already getting started!)
June 27- July 1 OR Aug 8-12 OR By Arrangement, 8:30-3:30 @Bret Harte
Paid $30/hour
Contact: phillip.grebe@ousd.k12.ca.us or philip.tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING AND INTRO TO COMMON CORE STANDARDS
For Secondary math teachers on using formative assessments and learning about Common Core Standards.
June 27- July 1 OR Aug 15-19, 8:30-3:30 @Bret Harte
Paid $22.99/hour
Contact: Joanna.Sperber@ousd.k12.ca.us

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE AND LITERACY (Similar to QTEL pd from WestEd)
June 27- July 1 OR Aug 15-19, 8:30-3:30 @Bret Harte
Paid $22.99/hour
Contact: Joanna.Sperber@ousd.k12.ca.us

SECONDARY MATHEMATICS 1-DAY INSTITUTE
Grade 6-12 teachers, leaders and coaches to learn about OUSD Math Initiatives, to learn different lesson structures and instructional strategies, and to have paid grade-level planning with other colleagues in the district.
Aug 17, 8:30-3:30, location TBD
Paid $22.99/hour
Contact: Joanna.Sperber@ousd.k12.ca.us

SILICON VALLEY MATH INITIATIVE
-
Lesson Study (ongoing throughout year)
- Problem of the Month Performance Tasks (once a month during school year)
- Coaching Institute for a coach and team (Aug 1-5, $500 stipend)
Contact: Erik.Moll@ousd.k12.ca.us or Phillip.Grebe@ousd.k12.ca.us

TEAM-MATH
Mentoring and math-specific new teacher support by teachers. Mentors still needed for next year.
Summer and induction dates TBD.
Stipends provided.
Contact: Philip.Tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us