You decide. Manny Rivera has been in Norwalk almost six months. What are your thoughts? Please be specific when discussing achievements or lack of achievements. Are you feeling positive, negative or other? Please remember to be specific. This is not about his resume, it is about what you see or hear he is doing in Norwalk.
Thank you for your input.
Dr. Rivera's letter on the NPS website should be updated at least once a month or just not have a date on it at all.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the K-5 LA curriculum?
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that there are new hires, one costing a lot of money.
ReplyDeletePositives: work on developing true "vision" statement shows good direction; calm professional approach much needed; seems to be able to listen to opposing views; good community outreach and his life story is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteNegatives: high salary means even higher expectation; refusal to implement K-5 ELA suggests he's playing politics; hasn't taken a stand against BOE political games and overall nonsense.
In a recent NoN article Chairmen Mike Lyons, indicates that the BOE will be taking the Teachers Union to arbitration next year. Doesn't this seem slightly early to give up on contract talks and a possibly even hostlie? Where does all the money for the lawyers come from for this?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on all counts. I wonder how Rivera feels about the BoE. Is he afraid of them or is he playing their politics so that he doesn't make waves?
DeleteHow he feels about them??? The dumb things I read on this blog....THEY (BOE)) HIRED HiM EINSTEiN!
DeleteEinstein replying. Just because a Board hires you, doesn't mean you have to like the way they play political games. Many a superintendent can't get along with the BoE that hired them. Nothing unusual about that. A new superintendent has a choice: (1) play politics with the Board or (2) fight them and stand up for your own beliefs. Naturally it would be more ideal if the Superintendent and the Board agreed on most issues.
DeleteAs for you, learn to be more tolerant of others. Their thinking may in fact, be superior to yours.
Life for a superintendent can't be easy navigating the politics of the BOE, unions and parents not to mention the city and taxpayers. They earn every penny!
DeleteI heard the winners of The Race to the Top grants were announced. did Rivera get this grant?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteJudging from the comments listed above and that Manny Rivera didn't get the Race To The Top Grant, I don't think he will be deserving of a bonus in his first year.
ReplyDeleteThe Department of Education website lists the winners. Norwalk was not given the grant. If you read the reasons listed in the comments section on finalists it appears that the data given, reasons for the need, what the money would be used for and how it would be spread throughout the district were not well articulated.
ReplyDeleteYou can also view the reverse comments on Norwalk's application. Kind of enlightening to see what was thought.
DeleteIf it wasn't for this blog, I would not have known that Norwalk did not get the grant. I haven't seen the results posted anywhere in all the print or online media. It is news that Norwalkers want to know. Why doesn't it get reported? Bad test scores make headline news. Don't we have the same set of standards for the superintendent, or are teachers the only ones held accountable. Not getting this grant affects students too!
ReplyDeleteHere is the link that an earlier poster had referenced regarding Norwalk's application review.
ReplyDeletehttp://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district/2013/norwalkpublicschoolsct.pdf
I am tired of hearing about "the Norwalk Way" as if it was so horrible. Norwalk has been steadily improving over the years with the Norwalk Way. The Marching Bears are the Norwalk Way. Bill Jassey and his forward thinking created the original Japanese Center. The Four Town Summer School, and so many innovative programs was the Norwalk Way. So many good things took place because of the Norwalk Way. Norwalk staff kept moving forward despite bad superintendents because of the Norwalk Way. I don't see any unprecedented, forward thinking changes with the " Rivera Way", so don't knock the past!
ReplyDeleteDid anyone read Mike Lyon's comment on Nancy on Norwalk regarding the loss of the Race to the Top grant? Someone needs to tell Mike that the grant really really did not win. Mike wants everyone to excuse the superintendent because he (Manny) really really didn't have enough time to put a good grant together. Really, Mike? There were enough flaws in the articulation of this grant that it probably won't ever get funded. Sorry to burst your bubble.
ReplyDeleteNancy on Norwalk should be called Mike Lyons on Norwalk. He has taken the education section on as his own mouthpiece. He has all the answers!
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