Among the many observations that I record
in my book, Understanding the Minneapolis
Public Schools: Current Condition,
future Prospect is that key academic decision-makers at the school district
are intellectual lightweights.
Consider the
credentials of Superintendent Ed Graff:
Ed Graff (Superintendent)
Degrees Earned Institution
at at Which Degree Was Earned
M. A., Education
Administration University of Southern Mississippi
(online degree)
B. A., Elementary Education University of Alaska,
Anchorage
Other Credentials
Professional Licensures
DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL
ADMIN DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL ADMIN PRINCIPAL K-12
Although for many months the district
posted an opening for a chief of academics, Graff decided over the course of
summer 2019 to assume that role himself.
Cecilia Saddle, Deputy Chief of Academics (her fully verbose title is
Deputy Chief of Academics, Leadership, and Learning) has long since been passed
over for that position.
Saddler’s own credentials are as
follows:
Cecilia Saddler (Deputy Chief of Academics, Leadership, and
Learning)
Degrees Earned Institution
at Which Degree Was Earned
M. A., Teaching University
of Iowa
B.A. English University of
Iowa
Saddler does, then, hold a bachelor’s degree in English, but her
masters is in education; she has also
for some time been working on her doctorate in education, so that she has no
advanced training in a key subject area (mathematics, natural science [biology,
chemistry, physics], history, social sciences, or English [literature and
usage]).
Over the summer, the
position of Executive Director of
Department of Teaching and Learning was bestowed upon Aimee
Fearing. This was another affront to
Saddler, who had assumed leadership of that department as deputy chief of
academics.
Fearing’s credentials are as follows.
Academic
Credentials for Aimee Fearing
Minneapolis
Public Schools
Executive
Director, Teaching and Learning
Degrees
Earned Field in Which
Institution at
Which
Degree Was
Earned Degree Was
Earned
Bachelors
Degree ESL Education
University
of Northwestern
13 May 2000
Masters
Degree
Education Hamline University
23 May 2003
Doctorate
Degree Education Hamline University
30 April 2015
Other Credentials
Professional
Licensures
K-12 Principal
Licensure
Expiration, 30
June 2023
K-12 ESL
Licensure
Expiration, 30
June 2023
5-12
Communication Arts Licensure
Expiration, 30 June 2023
So these top Davis Center officials responsible for academic
decision-making have lightweight academic training. Degrees in departments, schools, and colleges
of education are insubstantial. No one
at the Davis Center has an advanced degree in any discipline central to the
academic program of the Minneapolis Public Schools--- no advanced degrees in mathematics, natural
science, English, history, or the social sciences. Note that the ACT college readiness
assessment includes exams in writing, English, reading, mathematics, and
science reading. None of the academic
decision-makers has demonstrated ability to succeed in a graduate level program
that would prepare students at advanced levels in these ACT areas of
focus. Very few even have pertinent
bachelor’s degrees. They are academic
lightweights.
This sort of training pertains also to the associate
superintendents, who are responsible for mentoring site principals and other
school staff.
Perpend:
Academic Credentials for Shawn Harris-Berry
Minneapolis Public Schools Associate Superintendent
Degrees Earned
Field in Which
Institution at Which
Degree Was Earned
Degree Was Earned
Bachelors Degree
(1985) Business
Education
University
of Wisconsin--- Eau Claire Masters (1995)
Secondary School University
of St. Thomas
Administration
Doctorate Degree
(2005) Educational
Leadership St. Mary’s University
Other Credentials
Teaching License – Business
Education (7-12) expires 6/30/2020
Administrative License –
District Superintendent expires 6/30/2020
Administrative License – K-12
Principal expires 6/30/2020
Administrative License –
Secondary School Principal expires 6/30/2020
Academic Credentials for LaShawn Ray
Minneapolis Public Schools Associate Superintendent
Degrees Earned
Field in Which
Institution at Which
Degree Was Earned Degree Was
Earned
Bachelors Degree (1994)
Social Sciences University
of Wisconsin – River Falls
Master’s Degree (year
2006)
Education St.
Cloud State University
Superintendent’s
(2018) Minnesota
State Mankato
Other Credentials
Teaching License – EBD (K-12)
expires 6/30/2023
Administrative License – K-12
Principal expires 6/30/2023
Superintendent –
6/30/2023
Carla Steinbach-Huther (Associate
Superintendent)
Degrees Earned Institution
at Which Degree Was Earned
Education Specialist Degree University
of St. Thomas
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction University of St.
Thomas
B.A. or B.S., Sociology University
of Wisconsin-Lacrosse
Licensures:
Social Studies
District Superintendent
Secondary Principal
Ron Wagner (Associate Superintendent)
Degrees Earned Institution
at Which Degree Was Earned
Education Specialist Degree University
of St. Thomas
M.A., Education Ball
State University
B.A. or B.S., Education Ball
State University
Licensures:
Elementary Education
English/ Language Arts
Mathematics
District Superintendent
K-12 Principal
Brian Zambreno
Degrees Earned Institution
at Which Degree Was Earned
Doctorate (PhD),
Education St.
Mary’s University of Minnesota
Education Specialist
Degree University of
St. Thomas
M.A., Education Hamline
University
B.A. or B.S., Liberal
Arts University
of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Licensures:
District
Superintendent
K-12 Principal
English as Second
Language
There is not one scholar among the
associate superintendents, the pattern observed also for the chief
decision-makers who spend their time mostly at the Davis Center; the associate superintendents purportedly
spend their days rambling around to their schools of responsibility, but they
are on the list of Davis Center staff.
Why do many more than half of students at
the Minneapolis Public Schools languish below grade level in reading,
mathematics, and science?
Why do seventy-five percent (75%) of
impoverished students so languish?
Why is subject area knowledge so abysmal,
so that even those students who manage to graduate walk across the stage to
claim a piece of paper that is a diploma in name only?
This is because curriculum is weak,
teachers are at best mediocre, and there is not one scholar among the academic
decision-makers.
Sometimes single critical lines get lost
among those distracted or by those who are overwhelmed with the enormity of
such bad news.
So let me repeat, then behold what this
means and the cleaning of house that we must do:
Half of students at the Minneapolis Public
Schools languish below grade level in reading, mathematics, and science.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of impoverished
students so languish.
Student subject area knowledge is abysmal,
so that students who manage to graduate walk across the stage to claim a piece
of paper that is a diploma in name only.
This
is because curriculum is weak, teachers are at best mediocre, and
there
is not one scholar among the academic decision-makers at the Davis Center of
the Minneapolis Public Schools.
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