Get Schooled

By Jeff

December 8, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Most of the time, when a teacher goes outside the established orthodoxy they are severely reprimanded by parents and administration.

Because of this, innovation is RARE. Typically what you see is some College of Education coming up with a new idea and it filters to schools as that College graduates new teachers.

That said, I WAS able at one point to use a near-real time example with 8th grade kids. On the morning of the Weds after the 2004 election, there was still some thought that depending on the exact numbers in OH, Kerry could still win the Presidency. I was teaching a problem solving unit at the time as part of my pre-Student Teaching class, and instead of the problem I had lined up for that morning I got the numbers that the pundits were using and had my 8th graders do the analysis. They arrived at the same conclusion as the pundits - that it was possible, but highly unlikely - and I was able to point out to them that they were getting in 8th grade the same results to real world problems that PhD level mathematicians were getting.

Note that even THAT wasn’t real ‘innovation’ though. It was still the exact same format of class I had been giving for a week and a half at that point, and that my teacher had been using for years prior. It was simply the timely application of a relevant example from the ‘real’ world.

TRUE innovation - such as campus-less schools via various networking strategies - is the kind of stuff working teachers have neither the time, resources, or support for.

By TheBlogger

December 8, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

A few thoughts….

By SallyB

December 8, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Take it from an old, retired teacher….when I first began my career in teaching, planning HOW to teach material was a major part of my job.

We had textbooks and teachers were expected to teach the material in it……but no one told us HOW to do it, nor was the order of presentation dictated, nor was the selection of material within the text [there was always more than one could cover in a school year. ] Teachers on the same grade level would, of course, share strategies that worked for them and ideas, but there were none of these so-called CURES DU JOUR or CONSULTANTS from the central office dictating teaching methods, or anything else for that matter. My colleagues and I loved teaching and the creativity it involved.

By the time I retired two years ago, the craziness was unbearable. I was in front of a class, reading a scripted lesson and using a CLICKER to get a scripted response from the students. That year, over 500 teachers were at the informational meeting for retiring teachers. It has been a sad, sad experience to watch what has happened to our pubic schools.

By V for Vendetta

December 8, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I think The Blogger and SallyB hit the nail on the head: It isn’t a matter of time for most of us; it’s a matter of whether or not we are ALLOWED to be innovative. Most people want the same old thing ALL the time, but then parents complain that their students are nothing more than robots regurgitating what some lesson plan says. However, if you shake things up, you risk getting the opposite (and typically far more vocal) parents complaining that you’re doing something with which they do agree.

I had a prof. in college show us how to teach a really fascinating unit using nothing more than clips of videos. The clips were relevant, approved by the county, and covered the material in detail.

Do you know how many parents and admins would complain about such a lesson? Even if you tested the living daylights out of the class, you would still have ignorant people saying that you’re “just watching TV.” Innovation is dead in public schools, and, from what I’ve been told, it’s on life support in many private schools. You can thank NCLB, the educational product corporations, and just plain ignorance for the current state of affairs. Idealism and autonomy is not rewarded in this job.

By V for Vendetta

December 8, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Er, the end of the first paragraph should obviously read, ” … with which they do NOT agree.”

Oops.

By Tony

December 8, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

As long as the testing nazis are controlling the curriculum students will lose out on receiving rich learning opportunities. You see, I do not believe that our current one-size-fits-all, lock-step curriculum is for everyone.

Couple that with “research based” methods, as required by NCLB and you get exactly what SallyB mentioned: scripted lessons, dog clickers and scripted responses. Educators need to read and learn more about canned programs so they will be better equipped to toss them out the door when someone comes along to tell them “it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

Administrators and central office folk need to revisit the classroom before they decide one-size-fits-all strategies should be implemented in schools. Today’s “Standards Based Classrooms” is a good example of this approach. Checklists are made, walkthroughs are done, and teachers are whacked over the head because their standards aren’t posted in the prescribed manner. How can this promote innovation?

Principals and districts ought to be interested in getting results. This would allow teachers to implement curricula in a way that fits the needs of the children and the style of the teacher. The current pressure to meet AYP has caused many districts to implement bad policies and practices that are robbing our children and running off our teachers.

The previous writers are also correct that parents complain about innovation or the use of new methods. I hear this most often with mathematics. If a teacher allows students to use a variety of algorithms for solving problems, parents protest vehemently because they don’t understand.

Good principals support innovation by teachers because they understand that it promotes student learning. Good principals support teamwork among teachers in order to share the responsibilities of planning and assuring that all students have access to high quality lessons. Good principals support the teachers.

By MBW

December 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

You can actually be an effective teacher AND be innovative at the same time.

The best teachers are both.

By MBW

December 8, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

As teacher, I just want to grab some folks by the shirt and say:

It’s not about how MUCH you cover. It’s how well your students UNDERSTAND it.

Getting kids to pass the CRCT is not about making sure you check off all the boxes of things to cover.

It’s about making sure kids are actually learning what you’re teaching them.

By Old School

December 8, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

I’d be willing to bet that when no administrator is around and a “teachable moment” arises, there are many, many teachers who innovate right then and there. Many memorable lessons come from such moments.

Unfortunately, like Tony replied to me a few days back, too many administrators have adopted selected teaching methods (i.e. our good friend Max T.) because it is easy to create a checklist for use in evaluating teachers. (And yes, I now have the infamous “word wall” up because I got tired of being asked why I did not have one. Does it improve my instruction? Well, my students know how to point at it when asked by an admin.)

Do I innovate? You betcha! I just don’t innovate when an admin is around. They don’t seem to have that on their checklists.

By Old School

December 8, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

Tony at 12:00, could you use a really good 35 year veteran ED&D instructor at your school? Heck, I’ll para-pro for ya!

By Jeff

December 8, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

Tony:

Don’t forget about the parents complaining about not having textbooks!!

How can you have genuine innovation when you are tied to a #^#$%$ #@%#%@ $%@$@$#@$#@ #$^$@#^%&#$% $^%$^^$#$^%$% #%$##%^#$%^$ TEXTBOOK?????

I always point blank told anyone that asked ‘Where are your child’s notes? If they did their job of writing them down as well as I did, they don’t need a textbook.’ (Of course, I was EXTREMELY tempted to throw in a few choice words as well, but I never did. Had I known how it would turn out anyway, I probably would have.)

By Tony

December 8, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Jeff is absolutely correct about the textbooks. Too many people have become complacent to allow the textbook to drive the curriculum. While they can be a good tool, they are no match for teachers who know their stuff. When teaching chemistry and physics, the dialogue and notes from the classroom were far more valuable than the textbook.

Old school - the word wall and the graphic organizer are the two things I would adapt from the Max T stuff to use in my class. Because of the kind of subject you teach, these tools may not be as relevant to you and your students. I took over in a school where the Max T stuff was drilled into the teachers. I visited PE the other day and found the essential question dutifully posted for students, “How do you play dodgeball?” A good example of how we can take things to the absurd. Is this beneficial for students? I hardly think so.

By Where-there-is-Air

December 8, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

I too believe in the experience of lecture. I am just a parent but it seems no one takes notes anymore. My son gets a “Study Guide” before a test. Well my though is, I don’t remember getting any guides for test questions. That defeats the whole propose to me.

By Jeff

December 8, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Tony:

Guilty admission here: Primary reason I hate Math textbooks in particular is because I never could get anything from them. For all the math I now know, I can point to VERY few - if any - techniques that I learned as a result of reading a text. Particularly in the higher levels of the subject.

Indeed, my introduction to good note taking was in 6th grade, with the first male teacher I ever had. I had him for science and maybe something else, but his style was very straightforward: If he took the time to write it out on the board (overhead mostly), you were expected to copy every single letter onto your paper. His style was much more dry than my own - literally, he would have about 6 overheads full of notes that he would place one by one, read them, and move on after giving what he considered enough time to copy it.

But dang it, to this day I can take notes in any class you put me in!

My students, on the other hand, had no idea how to do this….

By jim d

December 8, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

here’s the thing Tony,

SOME teachers really aren’t gualified to develop innovative methods of teaching. And while I’m confident MANY are, it is the FEW that aren’t that have screwed things up. To be quite honest, sir, I’m not sure there is a cure for that short of weeding out the less than competent. And as you know, that will never be allowed to happen.

Please note the emphasis above and realize this is not a teacher bashing attempt.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

I’m afraid a few may be missing the real point of text books.

They are not for the students, they are for we parents that attempt to understand what is being taught in the classroom so we can work with our kids (a little parental involvement here) to help them grasp the concepts.

By Teacher, Too

December 8, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Tony- I agree with you about the essential question. How is this any different from stating the objective? SO, someone comes up with the idea of taking a declarative sentence and putting it into an interrogative sentence, and that’s supposed to cure the ails of education?

The peeps in charge are focusing on the small, insignificant stuff. Do you have the EQ on the board? Do you have the standard on the board? Do you have the word wall? If not, you’ll get written up.

Guess what- students don’t need an EQ- if you are doing your job (teaching), students should be able to clearly articulate what they have been learning.

Data teams— whatever (as the kids say). Fifteen years ago, we looked at our assessments, and if students didn’t get it, we retaught and retested. Now we need data teams to determine if we need to reteach? Just one more thing to document. What a waste of time.

Some days, I feel like I am drowning in all this minutiae.

I’ve been teaching for twenty years. I’ve seen lesson plan formats change from year to year, edu-speak recycle ideas and give them new names—-has that made the students learn more? No- excellent teaching and hard work on the part of the students makes for an educated populace.

By Jeff

December 8, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

jim:

Note that the following is not directed at you specifically but parents in general…

If you would make sure that little Johnny is writing every single thing the teacher does, you will have everything you need, at least in math class.

For the other subjects, there is always wikipedia…

By Teacher, Too

December 8, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

Don’t you know? We are no longer supposed to “lecture” anymore. We are to work with small groups, and students are supposed to teach each other.

No kidding- after our GAPSS visit, we were told that there was too much whole class instruction and too much direct instruction. We needed to have students work in small groups, almost to the exclusion of all else, and let students work out the problems together (how does this work for writing?). I guess we could have a very short “mini”lesson to expose the students to the concept— but forget any lecturing.

There is a time for small groups and cooperative/collaborative learning. But, it’s not all the time or even most of the time. It’s when it’s appropriate for the lesson.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Teacher too,

Yup, and in Gwinnett teachers don’t get the opportunity to re-teach since they have other data to cover. So if a kid don’t get it, he’s often doomed on the next concept if it relates to the first.

JMHO, but that type of teaching just sets kids up for failure. Furthermore, much of this could be remedied by going to a multi-track YRS calendar allowing more frequent remidiation. Of course proposing anything like that just rises the hair of teachers that don’t understand the YRS concept.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

LOL Jeff,

Problem with that my friend is that schools no longer teach penmanship and i gotta tell ya, I’ve got an 18 year old that even doctors world have trouble ciphering. :)

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

Ah yes Too,

That brings us to #5; : Being forced to mix with the less privileged sections of the community.

By HS Teacher, Too

December 8, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

If you would make sure that little Johnny is writing every single thing the teacher does, you will have everything you need, at least in math class.

Jeff, I have to disagree with you here. Many of the textbooks I’ve been fortunate to use will show steps in different colors, so that students (and parents) can see exactly how to get from line a to line c. Most students’ notes don’t include this level of detail, and many teachers, unfortunately, don’t provide adequate or appropriate notes. And before you say that students’ should include this much detail, I’ll pipe up and say while it’s not impossible, it is unreasonable and impractical to expect that much from every student. If nothing else, it’s too time-consuming. But we can get into all that another time.

I’ve always done a hybrid, which is to say that I use the textbook as a tool and a resource. I pull homework assignments from it and certainly make sure that parents and students alike know where we “are” in the book. But I also told my students to leave their books at home. They weigh 2 tons and we’ll be busy enough in class — I never, ever, said “turn to page 186 and let’s work problem 11” … when we needed the books in class, I either provided copies of the appropriate page(s) or prucured a class set.

Sorry for using the present tense when I’m not presently teaching, but you get the idea.

As for innovation, I don’t see why you can’t be innovative and accomplish the lessons you’re supposed to accomplish, with the exception of the administrations and parents who WANT lecture. (Though Teacher, Too, I agree. Small groups. Then parents raise Cain that the teacher doesn’t teach; she wants the kids to teach themselves. It’s a losing battle!)

jim d— when I say “the parents” I mean “some parents,” and specifically that means “just enough” — sometimes only 1 — to get the administration’s dander up!
I don’t mean to condemn all parents, by any means.

By Teacher, Too

December 8, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

Oh- I am all for YRS. When I taught in Gwinnett, I gave our rep to Mr. Wilbakns proposal after proposal for YRS. It does allow for more remediation and/or enrichment for those students who need it.

However, it would cost more to run programs during the intersession (although Title schools would have some funding in place). Paying teachers, running school busses— but what costs us more? Kids who can’t keep up and must be retained for summer school?

By Old School

December 8, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

On the subject of textbooks: I use them as references. Students don’t want to believe that textbooks are flawed so I trot out some older editions and compare the same information between old and new. Often the errors are printing flaws (color registration) that can be a huge problem for students who think copying EXACTLY the examples in the book is the way to go. I try my darndest to convince them to learn the rules and apply those rules regardless of what the examples look like. Works for a few (those who could actually become excellent drafters) and doesn’t even sink in for those who will still just copy everything.

Employers want workers who can think outside the textbook and apply the rules safely and efficiently. Copycats can’t think for themselves and need constant validation.

Tony, here’s an example of my EQs, which I embed in my assignment sheets. EQ for Multiview Drawing ACT-IED-11 and ADDA: Fundamental Drafting Skills: “What important role does multiview drawing play in manufacturing and other industries?” I use blanket questions that are broad enough to cover the skills area and make students think (I hope).

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Teacher too,

All is well. We are at peace today.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Too,

Indeed we both understand Napoalvin!

I actually pitched it to the BOE at a meeting, with only one frizzy redhead somewhat interested in what I was saying.

By Where-there-is-Air

December 8, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

With regard to the text books. I feel the book is written for the grade level being taught. Therefore , the material in the book should comply with the lecture and reading level of the child. Some children do better hearing the material some better by reading it themselves to gain their own understanding. Bottom line parent involvement is critical, and should be. No one should know better than the parent as to how that child learns( and retains) best.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Teacher too,

I would go so far as to say YRS would be a requirement for providing a FAPE for SOME students

By jim d

December 8, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

Where-there-is-Air,

Agreed and where there is air at home (lacking a text book) there is a stack of text books in the corner of a classroom.

I actually found myself going on line to learn concepts I had never been taught, in order to assist my child in some of his advanced math classes, due to the stack of text books in the corner.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

Allow me to point out that due to my age and attendance of a rural midwest high school we were not introduced to calculus until college. Today we have 15-16 year olds taking it in high school. In that case I will say the text books are indeed helpful to a parent.

By Teacher, Too

December 8, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

jim d I know that frizzy redhead— taught at the school named for her when I was in Gwinnett. Even had my students make a quilt in her honor.

By Where-there-is-Air

December 8, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

jim d

It is so important to be creative in the teaching process. I don’t know how you all do it with this hammer hanging over your head all day, I really don’t. Parents and Boards need to let professionals do their jobs. We need to allow for more creative freedom in our schools and embrace individuality. I went to catholic schools all my life (Ohio) and they did things you all would go straight to jail for. My point is, I got my eduction and I want my son to, too. I am willing to take my chances with the radicals.

By jim d

December 8, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this

Teacher, Too

While I tend to believe she is the only one on the Board with any intelligence and people skills I honestly feel they all need to go.

The average tenure of this BOE will be 19.8 years upon completion of their current terms. I find it difficult to believe they can be innovative or induce it in their teaching personel since they’ve failed to demonstrate that ability in the 11+ years I’ve been watching them.

By catlady

December 8, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this

Jim, teaching to cover material rather than to m astery is what my county does. And they think that why our kids keep doing poorly on the CRCT math is because the teacher is not doing their job. Disregard the fact that nothing is expected of our students: they don’t have to master facts, they don’t have to master concepts, they just have to “cover” the material.

By catlady

December 8, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this

BTW, we are not allowed to be innovative. We have to follow the script, live within the strict confines of Reading First, follow the “curriculum maps” for each subject, do Learning Focused schools, and a miriad of other crap that determines every breath we take. No room there for fun OR innovation. Just the dull plodding along.

By Rob Smith

December 9, 2008 6:08 AM | Link to this

To All:

The Gwinnett County School Board, is holding a hearing to allow themselves to not follow State Educational Mandates for 5 years, such as (ex:Teacher Pay and Class Sizes). I am enclosing the document with the plan below. Please review and forward this e-mail on to every Parent and Teacher you know who will be affected by this plan. The hearing is this Thursday at 6:30 PM, please plan on attending, and testifying !

The Gwinnett County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on its proposed “IE2 Partnership Contract for Improving Student Achievement” with the Georgia Board of Education. The IE2 (Investing in Educational Excellence) contract would allow the school system to receive flexibility for its schools from specified state statutes and/or rules in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement. The hearing will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA.

This is a hearing on the possible use of video so a HIGHLY QUALIFIED teacher can teach multiple rooms full of students, elementary teachers will lose lunch break and many other things. The link on the GCPS website makes it all sound GREAT. I seem to remember that the GC Waste Management Plan sounded pretty good at first glance too.

Draft of IE2 Partnership Contract Strategic Plan

By Rob Smith

December 9, 2008 6:16 AM | Link to this

To All:

* The Gwinnett County School Board, is holding a hearing to allow themselves to not follow State Educational Mandates for 5 years, such as (ex:Teacher Pay and Class Sizes). I am enclosing the document with the plan below. Please review and forward this article on to every Parent and Teacher you know who will be affected by this plan. The hearing is this Thursday at 6:30 PM, please plan on attending, and testifying !

The Gwinnett County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on its proposed “IE2 Partnership Contract for Improving Student Achievement” with the Georgia Board of Education. The IE2 (Investing in Educational Excellence) contract would allow the school system to receive flexibility for its schools from specified state statutes and/or rules in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement. The hearing will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA.

This is a hearing on the possible use of video so a HIGHLY QUALIFIED teacher can teach multiple rooms full of students, elementary teachers will lose lunch break and many other things. The link on the GCPS website makes it all sound GREAT. I seem to remember that the GC Waste Management Plan sounded pretty good at first glance too.

Link: [Draft of IE2 Partnership Contract Strategic Plan]

By Rob Smith

December 9, 2008 6:24 AM | Link to this

The Gwinnett County School Board, is holding a hearing to allow themselves to not follow State Educational Mandates for 5 years, such as (ex:Teacher Pay and Class Sizes). I am enclosing the document with the plan below. Please review and forward this article on to every Parent and Teacher you know who will be affected by this plan. The hearing is this Thursday at 6:30 PM, please plan on attending, and testifying !

The Gwinnett County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on its proposed “IE2 Partnership Contract for Improving Student Achievement” with the Georgia Board of Education. The IE2 (Investing in Educational Excellence) contract would allow the school system to receive flexibility for its schools from specified state statutes and/or rules in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement. The hearing will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA.

This is a hearing on the possible use of video so a HIGHLY QUALIFIED teacher can teach multiple rooms full of students, elementary teachers will lose lunch break and many other things. The link on the GCPS website makes it all sound GREAT. I seem to remember that the GC Waste Management Plan sounded pretty good at first glance too.

Link: (Draft of IE2 Partnership Contract Strategic Plan)

By jim d

December 9, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this

Thanks rob,

But I’m afraid it’s a waste of time.

1: It’s a done deal

2: Teachers in Gwinnett are discouraged from attending and speaking at Board meetings without an invitation.

3: Napoalvin will do as he pleases and damn the kids.

4: They will stack speakers with shills to say how wonderful this will be. So they can claim public approval.

The whole thing will be nothing short of a dog and pony show. I may however attend the meeting just for the entertainment value it might hold. Besides, I’ve not bothered them with my presence in some time and when I do it always seems to make a few less than happy. (should be good for some grins)

By jim d

December 9, 2008 6:52 AM | Link to this

Da plan, boss, da plan!

By Tony

December 9, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Interesting plan for Gwinnett. Goals based mainly on closing the achievement gap are pitiful. The list of requests for flexibility contain some of the onerous rules that have been imposed on all of us and should be repealed. However, a couple of their requests cause concern, especially since there is not detail for how they will use the flexibility if granted.

By jim d

December 9, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Tony,

” there is not detail for how they will use the flexibility if granted”

For those of us that deal with this particular gestapo on a regular basis this is no surprise. No accident either, it is purely of design and driven by $$

By jim d

December 9, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

What say we take a look at this 5 year plan.

Never-mind, we really don’t need to. GCPS has been known to cook the books on reporting violent incidents which is required by a federal mandate called NCLB. Whatever was I thinking that they wouldn’t cook them again to show improvement to the state? Silly me!

By Rob Smith

December 10, 2008 12:14 AM | Link to this

The Gwinnett County School Board, is holding a hearing to allow themselves to not follow State Educational Mandates or laws for 5 years, such as (ex:Teacher Pay and Class Sizes). Please go to the GCPS website to review the plan . Please review and forward this article on to every Parent and Teacher you know who will be affected by this plan. The hearing is this Thursday at 6:30 PM, please plan on attending, and testifying ! Let your opinion be heard.

The Gwinnett County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on its proposed “IE2 Partnership Contract for Improving Student Achievement” with the Georgia Board of Education. The IE2 (Investing in Educational Excellence) contract would allow the school system to receive flexibility for its schools from specified state statutes and/or rules in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement. The hearing will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee, GA.

This is a hearing on the possible use of video so a HIGHLY QUALIFIED teacher can teach multiple rooms full of students, elementary teachers will lose lunch breaks and many other things. The link on the GCPS website makes it all sound GREAT. I seem to remember that the GC Waste Management Plan sounded pretty good at first glance too.

“A prominent member of the School Board said they wanted to use this proposal to pay a Harvard Educated Teacher more then a GSU or a Georgia Educated Teacher. Establishing a two tier Teacher Pay System for doing the same job…… “ They also want to use non certified teachers in your classrooms.

Attend the one and only hearing this Thursday at 6:30 PM at Gwinnett County BOE Headquarters on Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee and try to make your voice heard by voice or signs. Several media outlets have been contacted.

This weeks US and News and World Report judged the 100 best High Schools in America. No Gwinnett Schools made the List. How about the BOE telling the Superintendent Wilbanks that one School makes the list or his $307,000 Contract will not be renewed ! What do you think ?

Give the BOE members a call ! See below….

Carole Boyce, District I, 2008 Chairman 3287 Bailey Road NE Dacula, GA 30019

Home (770) 995-6796 Fax (678) 376-8633

Daniel D. Seckinger, District II, 2008 Vice Chairman 2095 Wynfield Point Drive Buford, GA 30519

Home (770) 277-4490 Fax (770) 277-4490

Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, District III 4516 Ridgegate Drive NW Duluth, GA 30097

Home (770) 840-9752 Fax (770) 582-7507

Dr. Robert McClure, District IV 1446 Oleander Drive Lilburn, GA 30047

Board Business (770) 736-0001 Fax (770) 736-4591

Louise Radloff, District V 4439 Plantation Lane Norcross, GA 30093

Home (770) 923-4784 Fax (770) 931-5700