Principals to Protest NY State

Friday, 03 February 2012 00:00

Elementary and high school principals will air issues
with revised Annual Professional Performance
Review at February 15 event at LIU Post

Elementary and high school principals from five Long Island school districts and two college professors will present a public forum on New York’s new teacher evaluations on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at LIU Post (formerly the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University).

The principals oppose the new evaluations, which they say are detrimental to education. Under rules that took effect in September, test scores can account for up to 40 percent of a teacher’s evaluation.

“At first glance, using test scores might seem like a reasonable approach to accountability,” said a paper endorsed by the teachers who will take part in the forum at LIU Post. “As designed, however, these regulations carry unintended negative consequences for our schools and students that simply cannot be ignored.”

The changes to the Annual Professional Performance Review became state law in 2010. In June 2011, New York State United Teachers sued the state over the evaluations.

In October, Carol Burris, principal of Southside High School in Rockville Centre and Sean Feeney, principal of The Wheatley School in East Williston posted an open letter in protest of the new evaluations. It has since been signed by more than 1,200 principals across the state.

The LIU Post forum will take place at 4:30 p.m. at Tilles Center at the LIU Post Campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. The moderator will be Dr. Arnold Dodge, assistant professor and chairman of the Department of Educational Leadership and Administration at LIU Post.

Panelists from area schools will include:

• Dr. Sean Feeney, principal, The Wheatley School, East Williston Schools

• Sharon Fougner, principal, E.M. Baker School, Great Neck Schools

• Dr. Carol Burris, principal, Southside High School, Rockville Centre Schools

• Gail Casciano, principal, Nassakeag Elementary School, Three Village Schools

• Dr. LaQuita Outlaw, principal, Bay Shore Middle School, Bay Shore Schools

• Dr. Terry Orr, Professor, Bank Street College, Director, Future School Leaders Academy

Administrators, teachers, parents and other concerned citizens are invited to attend. There will be time for audience comments and questions.

For RSVP use the following link: http://www.event­brite.com/event/­2630562082.