>Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools: Current Condition, Future Prospect< >>>>> Chapter Fifty-Nine (Part Two, Analysis) >>>>> Bloated Salaries for Inept MPS Academic Decision-Makers at the Davis Center >>>>> Particularly True for Cecilia Saddler, Shawn Harris-Berry, LaShawn Ray, Carla Steinbach-Huther, Ron Wagner, Brian Zambreno, Aimee Fearing, Michael Walker, and Jennifer Rose Simon

With each passing academic year of ineptitude, key academic decision-makers at the Minneapolis Public Schools witness their salaries rise. 

 

This has been particularly true for Cecilia Saddler, who has had pay raises in moving from principal at South High School to associate superintendent to her current role as deputy chief of academics, leadership, and learning;  for current associate superintendents Carla Steinbach-Huther, Ron Wagner, Brian Zambreno, Shawn Harris-Berry, and LaShawn Ray---  the former three holdovers from academic year 2018-2019;  the latter two having moved from undistinguished performances as principals, with Shawn Harris-Berry having turned in a specifically wretched performance at North High School;  Aimee Fearing, who brings insubstantial academic credentials as she takes over direct supervision of the Department of Teaching and Learning;  Michael Walker (Director, Office of Black Male Achievement) and  Jennifer Simon Rose (Executive Director of the Department of Indian Education), the former having failed to raise African American male achievement in his five years on the job, the later plugging into a department whose ability to raise American Indian performance is nil.

 

Readers should pay careful attention to my detailed presentation of objective salary information in Chapter Thirty-Seven of Part One:  Facts.  There is much that the astute reader will learn, many conclusions that she or he will draw. 

 

Here is a reminder of the salary raises for key academic decision-makers from academic year 2018-2019 to this academic year of 2019-2020:

 

Davis Center                      Academic Year                  Academic Year

Academic                              2018-2019                            2019-2020

Decision-Maker    

 

Cecilia Saddler                     $151,980                               $158,896

Shawn Harris-Berry              ----------                                 $150,096

LaShawn Ray                           ----------                                $150,896

Carla Steinbach-Huther       $144,330                              $150,896

Ron Wagner                           $144,330                              $150,896

Brian Zambreno                    $144,330                              $150,896

Aimee Fearing                       ----------                                  $135,000

Michael Walker                     $128,169                              $133,137

Jennifer Rose Simon           ----------                                   $109,273

 

Total                      ­                                                        ___$1,296,513______

 

Key administrators Superintendent Ed Graff, Chief of Staff Suzanne Kelly, and Chief of Research, Evaluation, Assessment, and Accountability (REAA) Eric Moore also have roles in academic decision-making.  Graff has effectively assumed the role of Chief of Academics, Leadership, and Learning---  withdrawing a posting for the position, demoting Moore, and opting not to promote Saddler.  Moore held the top academic position briefly, soon was relegated to interim status, and now has returned officially to the sole position of REAA chief.  Kelly has taken a key role in formulating the concept and presentation of the MPS Comprehensive District Design.

 

Salary figures for these three officials are as follows:

 

Davis Center                      Academic Year                  Academic Year

Academic                              2018-2019                            2019-2020

Decision-Maker    

 

Ed Graff                                  $225,000                              $230,000

Suzanne Kelly                        $177,333                              $185,402

Eric Moore                             $162,600                              $154,630

 

Total                      ­                                                        ___   $570,032______

 

 

Thus Kelly received a five percent (5%) annual salary increase, Graff received a moderate increase, and with his relegation from a dual role to the single role of REAA chief Moore received a five percent (5%) reduction.  When the salaries of Graff, Kelly, and Moore are added to those of             the academic decision-makers given above,

 

the grant annual salary total for these key officials becomes  >>>>>     

 

>>>>>                            $1,865,513_____

 

Graff, Kelly, and Moore serve multiple, some valuable, functions at the Davis Center.

 

This is not true for the others.  Thus, the grand total of $1,865,513 is an onerous burden, and the $1,296,513 in annual salary going to Cecilia Saddler, Shawn Harris-Berry, La Shawn Ray, Carla S, Steinbach-Huther, Ron Wagner, Brian Zambreno, Aimee Fearing, Michael Walker, and Jennifer Rose Simon is a complete waste.

 

In view of the inability of these key academic decision-makers to plan and implement a program to raise student basic skills to grade level proficiency and to impart a knowledge-intensive, logically-sequenced curriculum throughout the preK-12 years;  and in view of the $1,296,513 that they are costing the Minneapolis Public Schools;  all should be terminated in their employment immediately and their functions reassigned, including the re-conception of the head of the legislatively mandated Department of Indian Education as having academically serious responsibilities.