Oct 14, 2020

Incompetence is Rife Among Minneapolis Public Schools Academic Program Decision-Makers, Making Staffing Overhaul and Dismissals at the Davis Center Imperative

Be reminded that these are the academic proficiency results for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) students for academic years ending in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 as measured by Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Results (MCAs were not administered in spring 2020 due to COVID-19 conditions):

 

MPS Academic Proficiency Rates for Academic Years Ending in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 as Measured by Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA)


>>>>>  

Math                     2014       2015       2016      2017      2018         2019    

 

African                  23%       19%         19%      16%          17%          18%

American

 

American             23%        19%           19%       16%        17%         18%

Indian

 

Hispanic               31%         32%          31%       29%        26%         25%

 

Asian                     48%         50%          50%       44%        46%        47%

 

White                   77%         78%          78%       77%        77%         75%

 

Free/                     26%         26%          25%       24%        22%        20%

Reduced

 

All                          44%         44%           44%     42%        42%          42%

 

Reading               2014       2015       2016      2017      2018       2019

 

African                  22%       21%         21%      21%       21%           23%

American

 

American             21%        20%         21%      22%        23%               25%

Indian

 

Hispanic               23%         25%          26%       26%        27%      29%

3

Asian                     41%         40%          45%       38%        44%      50% 

 

White                   78%         77%          77%       78%        80%       78%

 

Free/                     23%         23%          23%       25%        25%      25%

Reduced

 

All                          42%         42%           43%     43%        45%       47%

 

Science               2014       2015       2016      2017      2018        2019

 

African                 11%       15%         13%      11%       10%                  11%

American

 

American             14%        16%        13%      16%       13%           17%

Indian

 

Hispanic               17%         18%        21%      19%       17%          16%

 

Asian                     31%         35%       42%       31%       34%          40%

 

White                   71%         75%        71%       70%       71%               70%

 

Free/                     14%         15%        17%       16%      15%          14%

Reduced

 

All                          33%        36%        35%        34%      34%                 36%

Also hold firm to the incompetence demonstrated by graduation rates:

>>>>> 

Percentage of Students Graduating

 

                                2013     2014       2015      2016       2017       2018

 

Student

Category

 

African                             44.8%     47.8%    52.8%    59.5%     56.9%      61.7%  

American

4

American         38.1%     25.6%    36.3%    37.4%     29.8%      37.8.%  

Indian

 

Asian                  69.7%    78.8%    83.3%    85.6%      82.5%     87.1%  

 

Hispanic            42.8%    44.5%    57.6%    50.6%      56.7%     57.1%  

 

White                75.8%    77.4%    82.5%     85.1%     86.0%     86.7%  

 

Free/                  47.4%    49.7%    56.8%     56.9%     56.7%     61.4%  

Reduced

Lunch

                                                                                               

Homeless          26.1%    26.1%    37.3%     35.7%     40.1%     37.8%  

Highly

Mobile

 

Advanced           85.6%   86.7%    90.4%     89.3%     83.3%     90.8%  

Learner

 

Female                60.3%   62.1%    69.0%     71.7%     69.3%     71.8%  

 

Male                    51.9%   55.6%    61.3%     63.0%     63.1%     66.6%  

 

All                          56.1%  58.8%    65.1%     67.3%     66.0%     69.2%  

Students


 

Note that results for African American and American Indian students fall well below 30% proficiency in all categories and below 20% for many skill areas.

 

As of October 2020, Superintendent Ed Graff continues to shake up staff in departments and offices that have, or should have, responsibility for academic decision-making or implementation.  But among academic decision-makers and staff at the Minneapolis Public Schools, not a single person has an advanced degree in any of the key subject areas of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history, government, economics, or literature.

 

In my book, Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect (entered in its entirety on this blog in March 2020 and now circulating in hard copy), I focus relentlessly on the insubstantial academic training of Davis Center (MPS offices, 1250 West Broadway) staff.

 

I also detail the curriculum and teacher training that will bring knowledge-intensive education to the Minneapolis Public Schools as most of these Davis staff members are dismissed.

 

The following are the chief culprits responsible for the knowledge-deficient, skill-deplete nature of curriculum at the Minneapolis Public Schools.  Among these decision-makers and staff responsible for the academic program, Aimee Fearing should be dismissed;  the associate superintendent position, the Department of Teaching and Learning, and the Office of Black Male Student Achievement should be abolished;  and the legislatively mandated Department of Indian Education should be overhauled to manifest staff with genuine academic credentials.  And if these changes are not met, Graff himself should be dismissed by a revamped MPS Board of Education that I strongly recommend include new members Sharon El-Amin, Adriana Cerrillos, and Michaels Duenes in the aftermath of the 3 November elections.

 

Consider this list of academic incompetents and the need for staff overhaul at the Davis Center:

 

Superintendent Ed Graff

Interim Senior Academic Officer Aimee Fearing

Associate Superintendents

Shawn Harris-Berry

LaShawn Ray

Ron Wagner

Brian Zambreno

 

Teaching and Learning Staff

 

Abdi Ogle, Cultural FacilitatorAshley Kohn, K-12 Library Media Information DPF

Christen Lish, K-8 AVID Coordinator

Christina Ramsey, K-8 Talent Development and Advanced Academics

Chris Wernimont, 6-12 Math DPF

Dina Brenny, Accounting Specialist

Erin Clarke, K-8 STEM District Program Facilitator (DPF)

Jeanne Lacy, Executive Assistant

Jenn Ross, K-12 Science DPF

Jennifer Hanzak, K-5 Literature DPF

Julie Tangeman, K-5 Literacy, Science DPF, Davis Center

Kelley McQuillan, 9-12 Talent Development and Advanced Academics

Lisa Purcell, K-12 Social Studies DPF

Lori Ledoux, K-12 Arts Specialist, Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA)

Marium Toure, K-5 Math DPF, Davis Center

Meghan Gasdick, K-5 Literacy DPF

Molly Siebert, K-5 Social Studies DPF

Molly Vasich, 6-12 English/Language Arts DPF

Nora Schull, K-12 Arts DPF

Paula Kilian, 6-12 AVID Coordinator

Paulina Jacobsson, Cultural Facilitator

Sara Loch, K-12 Health/Physical Education DPF

Tara Finn, Fine Arts TOSA

Tommie Casey, AVID Program Manager

 

Office of Black Male Student Achievement Staff

 

Michael Walker, Director

 

Qiana Sorrel, Program Coordinator

Nneka N. Abdullah, Queens Program

Umar Rashid, MPA, Kings Program

Marjaan Sirdar, Social Studies Teacher

Richard Magembe, Social Studies

 

Department of Indian Education Staff

 

Jennifer Simon, (Cheyenne River Lake), Director

 

Diana Leaskas (Lakota), Account Specialist

Shane Thompson (Seneca), School Success Program Assistant

Christine Wilson (White Earth), Family Engagement Specialist

Jodi Burke, Counselor on Special Assignment

Tracy Burke, Counselor on Special Assignment                                                                                                                 

Alicia Garcia (Taos Pueblo), Social Worker

Braden Canfield, Social Worker

Jennifer Weber (Oklahoma Choctaw), District Program Facilitator

Anjanetter Parisien, District Program Facilitator

Tasheena LaChapelle (Red Lake), District Program Facilitator

Mathew Lafune (White Earth), District Program Facilitator

 


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