Always speculations and exaggerations from Willamette week. There own twist which usually goes against the person of color. PPS Board is inexperienced

Portland Public Schools' explanation for why a superintendent candidate the district anointed in March 3 won't be coming to Portland after all is a head-scratcher.

After WW broke the news that Donyall Dickey won't in fact be PPS' new superintendent, PPS issued a statement saying the decision not to move forward was "mutual. "

That's puzzling. Taking the Portland job would represent a major promotion for Dickey, whose moves from administrative positions in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Atlanta within the past five years speak to his ambition.

At a press conference this afternoon, PPS Board Chair Tom Koehler said he received a final due diligence report on Dickey on Monday, May 1. Koehler repeatedly declined to say what new information the report contained.

News that could be fake?

The lone finalist to become superintendent of Oregon's largest school district, Atlanta's Donyall Dickey, will not assume the job, putting the district in the difficult position of potentially lacking a leader for next school year.

Portland Public Schools chairman Tom Koehler said Thursday that the search fell apart because the board and Dickey reached "a mutual understanding that our expectations for the job were not in complete alignment."

"Our job as a board is to make the right call for the kids and the district," Koehler said. "And this clearly is the right call."

PPS HAS LOST THEIR MINDS

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Usual Gatekeeping with a Superintendent Who does Not do Cultural Responsive Practices.

The answer to the question "What's wrong with Portland Public Schools?" often comes back the same: It's a system without systems.

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In the administrative hub for Oregon's largest school district, employees don't know what they're responsible for and subsequently aren't held accountable. Multiple departments can unknowingly work on the same task. Employees who know what they're doing frequently end up quitting and are hard to replace.

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Into that mess walked Bob McKean, 70, a veteran school administrator and former superintendent, lured out of retirement by a professional challenge bigger than any he'd faced before.

SCHOOL BOARD SLOW DOWN (the ironical thing is that we put this on FB page Parent Voices and they deleted it. This ia a group who claim they are for all parents?

STOP THE CHAOTIC PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD

Portland Parent Union

It’s hard to find agreement on much that ails the Portland Public Schools, but few would disagree that the district is deeply troubled. Saddled with the poor governance of a chronically discordant board, lagging achievement, deteriorating internal systems, discipline issues, and waning public confidence, it’s hard to see how we will ever return to schools that Portland can be proud of supporting. http://www.wweek.com/news/2016/11/01/portland-school-board-meets-in-group-therapy-wrestles-with-distrust/

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One thing is for sure, there is no hope of turning the district around without strong leadership, and that makes recent reports about the inexperienced processes of  the PPS school board pretty disturbing. They are all over the place, new and don't get along!

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The national search firm hired to assist the school board find a new leader is problematic. Again big money for an outside consultant who talks down to people and reminds us of their strict and short timelined procedure. This kind of protocol always leaves the most important voices out. Thus Portland Parent Union must push back by expressing the distrust of this process. We have witnessed and been a part of an interview that felt unsafe, discriminatory and exclusive. We gave advice as to how they can have more voices that was rejected! 

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We strongly expressed how the interviews and the listening session are not going to have the voices of the families of color, families in poverty and other marginalized groups. http://www.pps.net/Page/9866 (look at survey)

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If PPS is serious about recovering its school system, its search for a leader must slow down and be inclusive of communities and families. We grow tired of PPS's status quo positions. The board needs other stakeholders beside themselves to help choose a superintendent. Teachers, parents, students, and community leaders must be part of this process. We ask not to do business as usual?

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Now PPS is home to a divided community and a weak board wading in rough political waters. Some activists are asking for a slowdown and to rethink this process, some of us feel the process is discriminatory.

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The argument for a new process says the search has not got off to a good start it was poorly done.  Portland deserves better. PLEASE SIGN THIS AND GIVE YOUR EXPERIENCE OR OPINION ABOUT THIS PROCESS. PLEASE FILE A COMPLAINT IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE? .   http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/know.html

PPU SENT A PETIION ASKING THE BOARD TO SLOW DOWN AND GET THOSE WHO WON'T SHOW UP REGARDLESS

Months before they hire a superintendent while trying to pass the most expensive school bond in Oregon history, Portland Public Schools board members heard some tough talk about the job at hand.

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A search firm helping the board replace Superintendent Carole Smith after a lead scandal this year presented a report Tuesday on morale issues and other challenges still bedeviling the district.

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Beyond ousting Smith and revealing struggles with drinking water, the controversy spotlighted years of poor management, strained relations with parents and years of neglected maintenance worth millions of dollars.

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Those problems all land on board members who've struggled to get along and disagree about how actively they should work with district employees.

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Portland School Board Meets in Group Therapy, Wrestles With Distrust "Obviously there are trust issues," says the interim superintendent. "I get all that."

The Portland School Board elections of May 2015 served as a districtwide referendum on the state of Portland Public Schools, with the election of two new members who signaled interest in ousting then-Superintendent Carole Smith.

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Eighteen months later, Smith is gone.

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But Tuesday, in a board retreat at PPS headquarters, the seven members of the board revealed lingering fissures over its role in school governance. The retreat, scheduled for four hours, often resembled a group-therapy session, with board member Pam Knowles singling out board member Steve Buel for, in her view, meddling in staff issues and eroding morale and Buel, in return, defending himself by telling Knowles not to put words in his mouth.

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"Obviously there are trust issues," interim Superintendent Bob McKean told the group. "I get all that."

SOME MEMBERS ON THE BOARD ARE TO BUSY PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THOSE GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHO WERE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL IN GETTING THAT BOARD MEMEBER ELECTED. RATHER THAN TRYING TO GET ALONG!

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Board faces uphill battle to regain trust

Portland Public Schools’ interim superintendent on Tuesday firmly asked board members to work together during a lengthy meeting that laid bare just how hard that task will be. Tuesday’s meeting functioned as a therapy session for officials tasked with ending turmoil in Oregon’s largest school district. The district was upended over the summer by a lead scandal that ousted Superintendent Carole Smith and spotlighted years of maintenance neglect, revelations expected to saddle the district with years of expensive repairs. The four-hour meeting was labeled a “retreat” but was held in a poorly lit conference room at district headquarters. It marked the first time Bob McKean, who stepped in as interim superintendent Aug. 29, and the full board talked at length about how to tackle a host of challenges in a time when scrutiny is high, morale is low and managerial staff is dwindling. The gathering was dominated by a topic that is typically unacknowledged during regular meetings: Board members are not getting along. 

walk in her shoes

An excerpt of Esparza Brown's remarks from Tuesday evening are below as well as a video of her statement.  "I want to make a public statement that I will no longer tolerate being personally and professionally attacked when my opinion differs from those of  some of my colleagues. And unfortunately this pattern of behavior has been allowed to continue unabated since I have taken seat as a board member, so therefore this behavior has led to my marginalization, the silencing of my voice, ideas and my ability to represent my constituencies, given that I don’t feel like I have a safe space in which to share my views. I’m tired of having to stand up not only for myself but for the communities I serve — and in particular the marginalized students I have made promises to to make a difference here. So I feel the board has been complicit in different ways in allowing this behavior to continue. And this behavior sends a disturbing message to all of our audiences….Not one of you can question my experiences as a woman of color and my marginalization and the discrimination I have faced my whole life, so don’t even say that you can walk in my shoes."

We asked many of these men to come and support us with our issues. Some had promised they would come and help. Some of these gentlemen represent groups or organizaioins that were never inclusive of the folks they claim they represent. The ones we represent!

THERE ARE PLENTY OF WOMEN DOING THIS WORK ON THE GROUND advocating for the young black boys. THESE BROTHERS WON'T SUPPORT US! I have been in school alone showing up to represent a family who is being marginalized and these gentlemen walk in to do their own thing. I am proud when I see them but sad at the same time

because they said they can't help us.  

We are confused

What is it? suddenly the equity department and the Director of color are being scrutinized. Being accused of nepotism/cronyism and other? I the founding director of PPU  am an elder now and I have seen first hand, constantly, other groups of  folks taking care of their own. (friends and family and friends and family of friends and families. Not sure that is wrong?  OOps, that's right, some folks better not do this!?

How many times this institution has hired folks who are unqualified FRIENDS AND FAMILY  on a no bid contract. Folks learn from the masters. Carol Smith was hired this way. She does it all the time! I think she gave the message this was ok! Blame the institution!  

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WE CHALLENGE ANYONE TO DO A SURVEY WITH ALL OF PPS AND SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE HIRED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OR FRIENDS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. TOP DOWN. 

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http://www.diversityinc.com/diversity-management/if-diversity-inclusion-is-working-why-are-white-men-still-getting-the-best-jobs/

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We see statements of  folks asking "why is there an equity department as well as blame this department for the hike in equity complaints. Push back always happens when you start talking about equity, equality, and inclusion. Some folks just don't like that especially if headed by a person of color.   I believe this is why an equity strategy or department begans.  We do disagree with the way this equity strategy is implemented, because it opens the door for resistance from those who have the privilege to claim to be victims. We are not talking about folks who are most marginalized in the system either.

This is unbelievable, the equity department has hired people of color more than ever before in the history of PPS? Yes the Director has his critics including us but the way folks are going after him is very suspicious.

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PPU  holds everyone responsible for the failure of our kids. Again we grow weary of those who constantly want to em-battle the system and criticize anyone else that doesn't align with their beliefs. Sometimes without understanding the whole picture or being inclusive of those most marginalized.

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We despise PPS's/School board's ways and have our own issues against this CLUB.  Noted in this report school board page. 

ORGANIZATIONS ALWAYS SEEM TO GO AFTER FOLKS OF COLOR THINKING THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING? WHERE IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY?

The groups that are formed to fight PPS and their crap are made up of fine people. Parents who just want a good education for their children but often unintentionally marginalize those who are poor and those who are of color in the name of being good allies. We do love some of these folks but it makes us sad when it looks like they are going after leaders of color by any means necessary! Sometimes they go by hearsay instead of getting all sides. 

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Owen Richard Kindig, 

There's a difference between self-righteousness and being right about something, and knowing it.
I would say self-righteousness is a bias that prevents you from seeing your own failings and weaknesses in a situation, and your own limitations of vision and experience.

Antidotes to self-righteousness are empathy/sympathy, humility, and patience/forbearance.... 
 

• Empathy is the ability to imagine what another perspective, and sympathy, the ability to feel another's pain.

• Humility is the ability to be taught by anyone, whatever their status or talents.

• Patience and forbearance are the ability to be in the presence of weakness, delay, pride, error, etc. without being overcome by an urgent impulse to change or leave the situation fast.

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SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS CANNOT PAY OFF (but we are in love with the courage)

The most notorious requester of Portland Public Schools records isn't behind the district's most cumbersome pending public records request. She's the target.

Jason Wright, an attorney with Folawn Alterman & Richardson, filed a request July 28 for all of parent Kim Sordyl's emails and text messages with school board members. The request also asked for all communication between board members and district staff about Sordyl, including text messages.

WE HAD CRITICIZED THE BOARD LONG BEFORE THIS MESS + DUE TO SELF RIGHTEOUS MEMBERS

The bickering student council that governs Portland Public Schools: Editorial Agenda 2016

Readers may have been momentarily confused reading The Oregonian/OregonLive's Bethany Barnes report about the Portland School Board's retreat last week. Surely, the people depicted in the account, who were trading barbs, expressing irritation and refusing to participate in the discussion, couldn't be the elected leaders of Oregon's largest school district?

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Unfortunately, there's no mistake. That dysfunctional group of seven was no fledgling student council trying to learn the ropes of compromise and cooperation. That was the governing body that oversees a district serving 49,000 students, a general-fund budget of nearly $600 million and whose decisions affect the future and fortunes of the city.

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comment Ttombdragon

The fact remains its that a majority of students - those earning "C's" and below are not being served. Neither are those that have no interest in academics, and aren't being challenged.  Those that aren't served are branded "Loser" by the education community, and are discarded early in the process.

We agree with Ed Equity's 

comment

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This article demonstrates the hypocrisy in our systems. School boards are the governing bodies of our public education systems. The superintendent reports to the school board. Thus, Paul Anthony is Carole Smith’s boss. Mr. Anthony shares accountability/responsibility for any civil rights issues. The irony is this official is also reporting himself. Whether I agree or disagree with Superintendent Smith’s leadership, she answers to the board. The current board has moved to spend more money on TAG programs serving predominately white students, and cut funding for programs serving African American males and addressing disproportionate discipline. They also moved to reduce spending of cultural competency training for educators. Further, they allow a few white parents to derail and bog down the system with unsubstantiated investigations and audits of predominately leaders of color. This article and comments truly demonstrate the underlying issues of racism in this community.

more about institutional racism

Published on May 30, 2014

May 27, 2014 - PPS Board Meeting - Substitute teacher Greg Burrill, a former MLC parent, observes that there are more reasons than simply race as to why the MLC principal is struggling. MLC is built on collaboration, a value which should hold no matter what a person's ethnicity.

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TEACHERS P.A.T.

Teachers, students in danger

Sullivan, president of the Portland Association of Teachers, said for all the talk of alternative strategies, administrators have so far only mandated a reduction in exclusions — with dire safety consequences.

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“It’s serious stuff,” Sullivan said, relating stories of teachers who endure threats of violence and death or break up physical fights, only to have the students show up back in class with no consequences.

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“We’ve heard in close to every single building that there are huge issues with them not following through on the PPS discipline handbook,” Sullivan said.

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In the last two years, she says she has received a dramatic increase in the number of complaints from her member teachers about discipline issues.

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“The district isn’t engaging us on what would be a better way,” Sullivan said. “The district doesn’t. They’re not providing any solutions. That’s putting all our kids in jeopardy.”

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Sullivan said she supports the work of Warren’s Portland Parents Union and agrees that a program like restorative justice could help.

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By the district setting a goal of reducing exclusions without first putting significant funding towards alternatives, such as counselors or behavioral programs, she says teachers and students are caught in a violent cycle.

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“You’re saying it’s OK,” she said. “You’re really reemphasizing that this behavior is acceptable. ... It shows the rest of the class that they can behave that way. ”

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We live with these concerns?! The personal bias of teachers can extend beyond derogatory thoughts and remarks about students. The fact that most teachers are middle class whites causes schools to be run according to the values and beliefs of this class. Sometimes, some of the values peculiar to this class are assumed to be general human values. When this happens, black students are made to feel that some of their behavior is wrong, when in fact it is only different. In this context, providing for individual differences means practicing discrimination. We should seriously consider calling a moratorium on "providing for individual differences" until and unless we can figure out a way to do it without discriminating against anyone.  http://www.publicschoolrenewal.org/teacherled/tchrled1.htm  

see disclaimer

Doug Saulter, a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Cesar Chavez School, claims in a Dec. 1 legal notice to Interim Superintendent Bob McKean and board chair Tom Koehler that the district and his school are 'reaching a crisis point.'Add some more info about this item...

A César Chávez School science teacher has filed a formal grievance and threatened to sue Portland Public Schools for creating unsafe working conditions for teachers and failing to meet its legal mandate to provide equal access to students of color and students with disabilities.

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Doug Saulter, a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at the K-8 North Portland school, claims in a Dec. 1 legal notice to Interim Superintendent Bob McKean and board chair Tom Koehler that the district and his school are "reaching a crisis point." According to the 24-year teaching veteran, the district knowingly fails to provide teachers adequate resources and time to plan for students on Individualized Education Programs and identified as Talented and Gifted, particularly in schools with a large share of racial minorities.

Sabin School's principal violated a federal anti-discrimination law when he pulled students out of class in groups sorted by race to question them about a teacher's missing purse, a U.S. Department of Education investigation found.

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Portland Public Schools leaders agreed to clarify policies and train administrators as part of a settlement agreement with the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, which found that the Sabin administrator behaved in a way that violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sabin receives federal financial assistance and thus must comply with the law banning discrimination based on race. 

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Cultural Judging in the school board education committee

http://www.ppureport2ndpage.com/#!is-ppu-actions-supportive-and-harmful/ncuws

We have witnessed the severe systemic bullying of  principals of color, families/students of color who are usually special ed., as well as admins./directors of color, teachers of color and employees of color. We watched the bullying come from white teachers, affluent/ middle class white families, white admins./principals, unions, groups who claim they have all of our best interests at heart but primarily go after the leaders of color, and folks of color moved into positions of power (but gate keep for the boss). What is this? see documentations

http://www.ppureportcard1stpage.com/obstacles

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We have challenged  PPS leaders by asking if they disagreed with Carol's position on some things would they challenge her?" This was in 2014. One of the leaders got so mad she has not spoken to us to this day! We have seen retaliation one to many times! Couldn't we have had conversations about our distrust of anyone from the district, who claim they will support us. It's was about honesty and relationship building for us?

Now we have a school board made up of some men who are continuing the trend. A powerful woman of color on the board has already reported being bullied.  VIDEO @13:07  

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Article:  It is overwhelmingly popular with white teachers who think they can do a better job than the black and brown principals they already have. 

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“We often times end up slipping into narratives about people, not because we’re bad people, but because we slip into perceptions based on our misunderstanding of ‘the other.’ And so to move forward we just have to question those things amongst ourselves.” from Think Progress

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Examples of the bullying:

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PPU has seen the undermining of the Restorative Justice work http://www.golocalpdx.com/news/how-portland-schools-dropped-the-ball-on-effective-racial-justice-practices   which harmed those who made a difference and believed in the work. Most of those first RJ coordinators, who were hopeful for change, have now moved on.

We watched a previous principal of color and her programs, that were focused on, especially, boys of color at Harvey Scott, ostracized. Whether she was right or wrong,  Folks sure did take sides. Where was the due process, protection and the dignity? Where is the boys group that received critical recognition by a top foundation? It was on it's way!   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/is-peanut-butter-and-jelly-racist_n_1874905.html

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Last but not least we watched the system try to inculturate a teacher who was hired because of her authentic distinct cultural background. We watched this teacher who was encouraged to bring her essence, "and that she tried to do", systematically "tarred and feathered and ran out of town". http://www.wweek.com/news/2015/10/07/the-recruit/

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Not one of the experts in the MRC discussions have addressed the question of PPS's entire system, another elephant in the room?  Education Systems to PPU are synonomous with institutional racism. We ask this question; How does one have successful programs if one has a broken system in the first place?

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An opinion piece "Instituional Racism The Root of The Problem!   

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I don’t know what a perfect education system looks like, and don’t think it even exists. But I believe that if we talk, try something different, fail forward, investigate and share what we do, not only locally but globally, we can get a lot closer. Ingvi Hrannar Ómarsson

The Oregon Department of Education has fined Portland Public Schools for over-disciplining African American special education students at a higher rate than other students. This punishment requires the district to use $1.5 million, which is 15% of its federal funding from Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) during the 2014-2015 school year and the 2015-2016 school year to resolve this issue.

Kelly House of The Oregonian reports that according to district spokesperson Christine Miles, the money is to be used to implement programs that will improve this pattern of disciplining special education students too severely and often.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE SPECIAL ED ARE BRILLIANT

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Complaints filed by parents have forced Portland Public Schools to admit that officials appeared to have wrongly relied on children's disabilities when denying them entry into the district's gifted program.

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The district also acknowledged the programs admissions process isn't transparent. As a result, the district is looking to overhaul it. And the three families who complained their children had been excluded have been granted entry to the district's Access Academy, an alternative program for high-aptitude students.

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One complaint, filed by three families, accused the district of discriminating against special education students. A second complaint, with five families signed on, accused the district of running an opaque application process.

SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS AN A SOLUTION FOR OUR BLACK CHILDREN TO CATCH UP!

SOFT SKILLS TRAINING? 

Everyone seems to think that a lack of soft skills is the reason students of color aren’t ready for college and careers. More schools and after-school programs are teaching students how to have “grit,” compassion and a “growth mindset.” Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (pdf) of 2015, states are encouraged to use “nonacademic” factors to hold schools accountable. From    http://ebonynewstoday.com/black-and-brown-boys-dont-need-to-learn-grit-they-need-schools-to-stop-being-racist/

Source: theroot

CULTURAL JUDGEMENTS

Dear Colleagues,

As you all know, our RJ Coordinator serving Boise-Eliot/Humboldt and Beaumont, Emanuel Price, has been unable to carry out his work in those buildings as a result of not passing a background check. This has been an incredibly challenging time for us as an organization, sticky, uncomfortable, and disheartening for the buildings in which we are supposed to be carrying out Restorative Justice, and has had ripple effects on the work as a whole, not to mention the profound personal impact this has had on Emanuel as an individual. We have been working hard to get PPS to clear him. At one point, we thought we were clear, but that didn’t last. And, while we are still hoping that PPS will clear the way for Emanuel to do this important work – because he is undoubtedly the right person for the job – nearly 4 weeks have passed and BEH and Beaumont need Plan B to kick in

Admin who did this is use to doing this in Baltimore schools

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE of PPS acting like they want to support us and we never hear from them again?!

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The Portland Parents Union, led by organizer Sheila Warren, emailed the Madison High School chokehold image to the Portland Public Schools Superintendent’s office last Wednesday protesting the lack of resolution in the case, which occurred on Dec. 8, 2014.

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On Friday evening, Portland Public Schools’ Ombudsman Judi Martin responded:

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Dear Ms. Warren,

 Thank you for sharing your concerns on behalf of a parent and student at Madison High School.  

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Your email was shared with me by the Office of the Superintendent to allow me to be a further resource.  PPS takes allegations of employee misconduct very seriously.  Because your concern regards alleged misconduct by specific employees, it will be addressed through the PPS Human Resources personnel process.  Your concern has been referred to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sean Murray, and these allegations will be investigated thoroughly.  Lisa McCall, the Senior Director for Madison High School will be contacting you directly.  

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 Please call me if you have any questions.  Thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention.  

A controversy-plagued principal who led Rieke Elementary School in Southwest Portland for less than two years will resign her post as of the end of the school year.

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Portland Public Schools officials announced the resignation Monday after WW made inquiries.

Rieke principal Rebecca Torres had her contract extension approved on Tuesday by the school board. Then on Friday, the district announced she would be on medical leave until April 4.

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But that wasn't the end of it. On Monday, PPS announced she would not return to the school next fall—just six days after the contract-renewal vote that Superintendent Carole Smith requested for district principals.

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PPS USING HIM AS A SCAPEGOAT PPS does not provide enough support for principals and often will throw them under the bus and wipe their hands as if they have nothing to do with a principal's shortcomings. Sometimes it is not shortcomings it is fragility.

Astor School principal on leave after heated meeting with parents

Bethany Barnes The Oregonian/OregonLive

The principal of North Portland’s Astor School has been put on leave following a police investigation that began last week after an incident in a classroom.

Karl Newsome’s leave follows a contentious meeting with parents on Wednesday.

The K-8 principal called the meeting to answer questions about a police investigation into a middle school teacher’s conduct, but parents were adamant that was simply the most extreme plot development in what they say has been a years-long drama at the school.

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THEY TAKE SHORTCOMINGS, AND NON SUPPORT OF PPS AND TURN IT INTO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

Among other things, the documents show why Diaz believes she is the victim of racial discrimination in the matter—and how she plans to sue PPS in federal court, if the School Board fires her.

Here's PPS's July 22 letter to Diaz explaining its grounds for firing her.

Here's Diaz's July 22 tort claim notice to PPS, alerting them to her potential lawsuit.

Here's Diaz's July 30 response to PPS's July 22 letter.

And, finally, here's PPS's Sept. 30 letter to Diaz announcing the Oct. 20 vote.

PPU pushed back on this principal. Carol Smith had her running all over the country to recruit others of color to come work for PPS. We blame Carol Smith and PPS for pulling her out of the building so much.  read this article http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/287257-163041-portland-public-schools-poised-to-change-citys-demographics

WHO DIDN'T FIT THE SCHOOL'S NEED?

They say MLC administrators have been making changes to the distinctive nature of their school without the community involvement the school has been known for.

After months of trying to work out the issue with PPS leaders, parents took their case to the school board on Wednesday night. It was the board’s first meeting with its three new members (two of them elected and one student representative). And this was the second parent petition drawn up by members of a school community this year. A segment of North Portland’s Beach School has been polarized by their leader and still others are brewing under the radar.

So what gives? Why so much angst about principal leadership lately?

PPS Regional Administrator Sascha Perrins, who has been in education for 18 years, points to the role of social media, as well as shrinking demands and increasing scheduling-related pressures by the district and state with the implementation of the Common Core Standards.

WHITE PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE SHORTCOMINGS DO THEY SHOW UP IN THE MEDIA?

Former Rigler Elementary Principal Sara Gandarilla went on leave just weeks before the end of the 2015 school year, after Rigler teachers brought a formal labor complaint against her; she was assigned to Markham Elementary as an assistant principal this school year. Her contract was renewed.

PPS HAS NO COMMENT

PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) — The Portland Public Schools district is facing a trio of lawsuits from its employees alleging racial discrimination.

Two African-American maintenance workers are the latest to file a civil suit. A Latina principal has a federal suit coming down the pike and an African-American paraeducator still has an open complaint.

Portland Public Schools does not comment on employment matters, nor pending litigation.

EXAGGERATIONS SPECULAATIONS AND HEARSAYS

A Portland jury on Thursday awarded $1 million to two Portland Public Schools maintenance workers who said they faced a barrage of racial harassment, including   being called the N-word and having a noose hung in the workplace.

Portland Public Schools workers Charles Morgan and Jason Williams also argued the district downplayed their experience by finding they had experienced "microaggressions," not discrimination.

They alleged that the district has no timetable for completing investigations and drags them out purposefully in hopes that a "cooling off" period will cause the matter to be forgotten.

Other human resources matters have plagued the school district as well, including botched personnel investigations and failures to demote or fire employees pegged as poor performers. Sean Murray, the district's human resources director of more than four years, resigned this week, effective June 4.

Portland Public Schools Fights Over a Manager Who Manages No One The district's personnel struggles linger on, months after Carole Smith's departure.

 THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE CLEARLY TRYING TO RUIN HIS REPUTATION! Exhibit A: the case of Richard Gilliam, a once highly regarded ( we still regard him highly) mid level employee who was relieved of all supervisory duties in late 2015 or early 2016. (The two sides don't agree on a date.) He continues to collect his manager's salary of $87,000 a year, despite managing no one.

A year later, resolution seems elusive. Gilliam, who is African-American, has hired prominent Portland civil rights lawyer Beth Creighton, who says she intends to pursue racial discrimination claims against the district.  

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PPU RESPONSE

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SOME of you have heard PPU say PPS hires the most unqualified people in the world including some teachers and principals and then misplaces in the most illogical places. They are put in these positions unqualified, UNTRAINED and left to the wolves! We are critical of the crazy dynamics that are being manifested, the critical indicators of this mess are cronyism, racism, gate keeping, implicit bias and privilege as well as ego and fear!

We know this is a witch hunt! One more time ? 

We support this person!

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PPS SETS  PEOPLE UP TO FAIL? 

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ONCE AGAIN THE WHITE MEDIA AND WHITE PARENTS GO AFTER THE PERSON OF COLOR.  DOUBLE STANDARDS.  GOD HELP US WHEN THEY COME AFTER THE FINGER POINTERS. THIS MAN DESERVES A DUE PROCESS!

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Here they are holding higher standards for those of Color when other folks have done the same things

Portland Public Schools' human resources director and an assistant superintendent were deeply involved in making the call not to fire, suspend or demote an $85,000-a-year manager who bullied his staff, made offensive remarks and gestures to colleagues, was called out for poor management and directly disobeyed his supervisor. (A Lie) Get the Real Truth!

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The case, documented in records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through public records requests, shows in vivid detail the way a culture of poor accountability and lack of performance standards hampered the state's largest school district from making inroads with students and gaining parents' trust.

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Human Resources Director Sean Murray and Assistant Superintendent Harriet Adair told school-family partnerships director Richard Gilliam he had to undergo training and would no longer be allowed to supervise anyone. But they kept him employed, with the same title and salary -- just less responsibility.

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Public assassination/Jim crow lynchings. Yes we have our own problems with (Shawn Murray) and (Harriet Adair)  They were the ones doing the bullying also,  but another public lynching doing the same things white folks get away with. Did anyone see how many white employees that have been home collecting Pay for 3 or four Years. Notice the difference they  allowed public assination for the black ones  but decided to sue the accusers when they were being exposed paying white folks that have been home collecting money! 

Can we get both sides before making him guilty. Ockley Green Middle School principal ‘on leave’ Principal Rene Canler on leave indefinitely

Before being hired in Portland, Canler spent 10 years in Chicago Public Schools, according to a 2013 statement by former Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith.

"Mr. Canler has been praised for developing confidence and voice among teachers, students and their families," the statement said. "He focused as a principal on professional development for his staff; monthly parent meetings that strengthened the home school connection, and monthly fairs where students could show their work, instilling confidence."

Karl Logan, a senior director who oversees Jefferson and Grant High area schools, will fill in as Ockley Green's interim principal. Logan was Lane Middle School's principal for six years and vice principal at Jefferson for three years, according to Lopez's email to families.

"I don't think that that school was set up from the opening with all the supports they needed for any principal to be successful," Cohen said. "But why would you have someone who didn't have middle school experience start a middle school?"

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Again the system and not the man. This position was way over his head. Again PPS Threw him to the wolves.

Witch hunters trying to go after her

A former charter school principal is running for school board in Portland in the 16 May election.

Jamila Singleton Munson, who led KIPP Spirit College Prep in Houston from 2008 through 2010, wants to join the Portland Public Schools' board.

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Her former employer is part of the national nonprofit KIPP Charter Schools, which has a reputation for successfully educating low-income minority students.

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But the press release announcing her candidacy and her website make no mention of those credentials, nor of her recent position as chief of staff for Teach for America, an organization that places previously untrained teachers from elite colleges in low-income public and charter schools

Institutional Collateral Damage

A handful of schools in Oregon's largest district have devolved into chaos as Portland Public Schools tries to embrace less punitive approaches toward discipline.

Vestal School, which serves nearly 400 students at its location on Northeast 82ndAvenue, is a vivid example of the district's failure to respond to those problems, teachers and some parents say.

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The Portland school board's longest-serving current member doesn't want to continue working on what's become a fractious board.  Pam Knowles announced late Thursday that she won't run for re-election and attributed her decision to board members creating "a divisive environment that preys on fear."