MPS Department of Teaching and Learning: Expensive, Intellectual Wasteland

Microcosmically representing the most vexing dilemmas at the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is the staff at the district’s Department of Teaching and Learning.

 

This intellectual wasteland costs the district over $2,000,000 in salary, an enormous misuse of funds in a budget that is projected to become ever more challenging as the Minneapolis Public Schools lose an ascending number of students for the next half-decade.

 

As you peruse the following list, understand that no degree in education is an academically substantive degree, that an Education Specialist degree is obtained to avoid writing a dissertation while rising in the administrative hierarchy, but that this is just as well since any doctorate in education is so meaningless.

 

The Department of Teaching and Learning is farcical in its existence: 

This inept staff should be jettisoned as teachers are retrained to become masters of knowledge-intensive curriculum, so that they will as in the case of college and university professors carry curriculum in their brains, with little patience for the pretensions and the ineptitude of Department of Teaching and Learning staff.

 

Perpend:

      

Department of Teaching and Learning, 9 December 2020

 

Abdi Ogle, Cultural Facilitator

 

B.A., General Studies

 

Licensure:

 

ACTFL---  Somali

 

Ashley Krohn, Library and Media

                           District Program Facilitator

  

M.A., Education  (Hamline University)

B.S., Film and Television  (Boston University)

Licensures:

Communication Arts/Literature

Christen Lish                     

M.A., Science Education  (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)

B.S., Education  (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)

Licensures:

Life Sciences

Earth and Space Science

Science 5-8

Christina Ramsey, K-8 Talent Development and Advanced Academics                  

Education Specialist  (University of St. Thomas)

M.A., Education   (Hamline University)

B.S., Education   (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)

Licensures:

Pre-Kindergarten

Elementary Education

Principal K-12

Christopher Wernimont                              

M.A., Mathematics         University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

B.A., Economics                                                Grinnell College

Licensures:                                                               

Mathematics

 

Diane Brenny, Account Specialist

 

 

Erin Clarke, K-8 STEM DPF

B.A., Geology (College of William & Mary)

M.A., Geology (University of Wisconsin)

M.A. Education (Univeristy of Minnesota

 

 

Jeanne Lacey, Administrative Assistant

 

Jenn Ross, K-12 Science DPF                      

M.A., Science Education                                               University of Iowa

B.S., Biology                                                                       Drake University

Licensures:

Life Sciences

Science 5-8

 

Jennifer Hanzak, K-5 Math DPF

 

B. A. , Child Psychology (university of Minnesota)

M.A., Education (University of Minnesota)

 

Licensure:

Elementary Education

 

Julie Tangemann, K-5 Literacy DPF

    K-5 Science DPF

 

M.A., Education  (St. Mary’s University of Minnesota)

B.A., Education   (University of St. Thomas)

Licensures:

Elementary Education

Kelly McQuillan, 9-12 Advanced Academics

                  K-12 International Baccalaureate

                               

M.A., Education                                               University of St. Thomas

Licensures:

Social Studies

Lisa Purcell, K-12 Social Studies DPF                      

M.A., Education  (University of Utah)

M.A., Education  (Harvard University)

B.S., Social Sciences  (Hope College)

                and History

                                        

Licensures:

 Social Studies

English as a Second Language

Principal K-12

Lori Ledoux, K-12 Arts

                       Teacher on  Special Assignment (TOSA)

 

B.A., Dance   (University of Minnesota)

M.A., Education   (University of Minnesota)

Education Specialist   (Education, University of Minnesota, Mankato)

Licensure:

 

Dance, K-12

Principal, K-12

 

Marium Toure’, K-5 Math DPF                  

M.A., Education                                     St. Mary’s University of Minnesota          

B.S., Education                                        University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Licensures:

Elementary Education

Meghan Gasdick, K-5 Literacy DPF

 

B.A. Elementary Education (Florida State University)

M. A., Educational Leadership (University of Minnesota)

 

 

Melody Lockwood, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Coordinator

 

Molly Siebert, K-5 Social Studies DPF

 

B. A., General Studies (University of Wisconsin)

M.A., Education (St. Mary’s of Minnesota)

 

Licensures:

 

Social Studies (5-12)

Molly Vasich, 6-12 English Language Arts/Reading DPF

B.A., World Languages  (Macalester)

M.A., Education  (University of Minnesota)

 

Nora Schull, K-12 Arts DPF                          

B.S., Dance (Minnesota State University – Mankato)

            and Theater Arts

 

Licensures:

Dance and Theatre

Paula Killian, AVID Middle School Coordinator                 

B.S., Education     (St. Cloud State University)

B.A., Psychology   (University of St. Thomas)

Licensures:

Elementary Education

Paulina Jacobsson, Cultural Facilitator

 

B.A., Fine Arts  (Peaason’s School of Design

 

Licensures:

ACTFL---  Spanish

Sarah Loch, K-12 Health and Physical Education DPF                      

M.A., Education  (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)

B.A., Physical Education  (Concordia University, St. Paul)

          and Coaching

 

Licensures:

 

Physical Education

 

Health Education

 

Tara Finne, Fine Arts TOSA

 

B.A., Music   (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)

M.A., Education (St. Thomas University)

 

 Licensures:

 

Vocal Music (K-12)

Instrumental Music (K-12)

 

Tommie Casey, AVID Program Manager                               

Education Specialist    (University of St. Thomas)

M.A., Education    (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)

B.A., English   (Missouri Valley College)

Licensures:

English/Language Arts