For the last several years Shawn Harris-Berry
has served as principal of North High School, the latter formally identified as
two schools, one a communication and arts academy, the other a community
school. But in the common parlance the
two schools are one; Berry served as
principal for both schools.
Here is the school profile:
North Academy of Arts and Communications
Academic Performance
Mean Score on ACT >>>>> 15.6
Percentage of Students Proficient on the
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs),
Academic Years ending in 2014, 2015, 2016,
2017, and 2018
North High School Principal >>>>>
Shawn Harris-Berry
(North Academy of Arts and Science)
Math
2014 2015
2016 2017 2018
----- 16%
2% -----
2%
(-----) (57)
(38) (-----) (42)
Reading
2014 2015
2016 2017 2018
23% 9%
5%
11% 2%
(66)
(57)
(36) (66)
(55)
Science 2014
2015
2016 2017 2018
----- 10%
5% -----
2%
(-----) (57)
(38) (-----)
(42)
Student Population
Enrollment:
216
Percentage
of Percentage of
Enrollment
at Site Enrollment
Districtwide
Native American 1% 4%
African American 86% 39%
Asian American 3%
8%
Hispanic American 2% 18%
White American 8%
31%
English Learners
3% 19%
Receiving Free or 87% 62%
Reduced Price Lunch
Receiving Special 29% 16%
Education Services
Notice the low Minnesota Comprehensive
Assessment (MCA) performance for students at North High School, with the
academic year ending in 2018 featuring identical grade level performance rates
of two percent (2%) for students taking the tests for mathematics, reading, and
science. Figures in parentheses
indicate number of students taking each test.
Students take the MCA Reading exam in grade 10
and the MCA Mathematics exam in grade 11;
the MCA Science exam is also taken one year during high school
matriculation. These figures indicate
that only one or two students at North High School demonstrated grade level
performance in reading, mathematics, or science.
That would be just one or two students.
One or two students--- got it?
Two percent in each category--- understand?
Thus, essentially no students at North High School
were legitimate high school students during the academic year ending in
2018; and the figures for the other
years yield the same observation. And no
wonder: This is a school in which
classes are frequently tumultuous, many teachers are inept in their fields, and
very little is conveyed in knowledge and skill sets on any given day or in the
course of the academic year.
North High School is a terrible high
school--- comprendes tu?
Shawn Harris-Berry’s performance was
accordingly abominable:
Those on the parent committee at North High
School know this.
Teachers with whom I have spoken bemoan
conditions at North.
Basketball coach Larry McKenzie and others
tout graduation rates for athletes and the general student body; however, with the indicated MCA scores and a
median ACT score of 15.6 (19th percentile, meaning the lower 81
percent of those taking the ACT
nationally), this means that academic standards have been so debased that
students walk across the stage to receive a piece of paper that is a diploma in
name only. Such students have at best a
middle school level of knowledge and skill sets; they in no way rise to the level suggested by
the absurd claim at the Minneapolis Public Schools: “Every Student, College or Career Ready.”
……………………………………………………………………
For her abysmal performance, Harris-Berry has
now been assigned to the position of associate superintendent.
She has been promoted for her inept
performance.
The Peter Principle prevails again.
She has been kicked upstairs.
Care to formulate your own expression for this
wretched occurrence, consistent with a debased pattern?
During academic year 2018-2019, there were
three of these associate superintendents:
Ron Wagner
Carla Steinbach-Huther
Brian Zambreno
Harris-Berry and former Lake Nokomis principal
Lashawn Ray have been added to this incompetent group, which has the responsibility of supervising
site principals. Annual pay for each
associate superintendent was $148,500 during academic year 2018-2019; for academic year 2019-2020, that figure has
risen to $150,896. This means that the
central office (Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway) financial burden has now
risen by $301,792 with the addition of Harris-Berry and Ray, along with the
additional $7,486 for the three administrators already ill-performing this job.
Ah, you say that once personnel are
established in these sinecures, that a 2% or so annual pay hike becomes a
public burden?
And that bureaucratic creep ever adds to that
burden?
My word, you’re getting observant, almost
astute in your analysis..
Harris-Berry and Ray will in all probability
just plug into the currently corrupt system whereby the associate
superintendents protest the sinecures of principals and other site personnel
while doing nothing to raise the academic performance of students.
As Malcolm X would frequently say, staring a hole
into the interviewer or audience,
“As you can see, there’s a contradiction
here.”
……………………………………………………………
Harris-Berry’s credentials fit the pattern for
central office administrators. Not many
of the latter have actually acquired the doctorate, but those who have, like
Harris-Berry, hold only the flimsy sort bestowed by education departments,
schools, or colleges lacking anything remotely approaching academic rigor. Here are Harris-Berry’s credentials:
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
Business education is a lightweight degree and
does not pertain to key academic areas such as mathematics, English, natural
sciences, or the social sciences. Keep
in view the fact that the ACT exam tests for writing, reading, English,
mathematics, and science reasoning skills.
Degrees in elementary or secondary school
administration and educational leadership are mere professional certifications
for the purpose of gaining access to positions that are more lucrative than
those of the classroom teachers (although the latter, too, get bumped up the
step and lane system by pursuing pointless degrees in education--- rather than specific subject area
discipline--- programs).
Harris-Berry joins a Davis Center staff on
which of 456 employees not one is an academician, a true scholar:
Shawn Harris-Berry should not have been
appointed associate superintendent:
Her record was abysmal at North High School.
The position of associate superintendent is
not effective.
Such an appointment adds bureaucratic
financial burden.
Harris-Berry’s credentials are academically
flimsy.
Thus, Harris-Berry fits the profile of
academic decision-makers in the central offices of the Davis Center of the
Minneapolis Public Schools.
She is another non-academician making academic
decisions.
What is that you say, Malcolm?
And have you added a chorus drawn from my
readers?
Uh-huh
>>>>>
“As you can see, there’s a contradiction here.”
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