Re: “Turnaround in DPS; More issues raised on plan,” Nov. 14 news story.
This article was on the dismantling of Montbello High School and the neighboring feeder schools.
There is no silver bullet for turning around schools, but we need to stop pretending that we have no idea about what works.
We do know that schools with principals who have a focused vision based on the data from their schools have success because they channel hard work into the right work.
We do know that there are research-based strategies that increase student learning when implemented with fidelity.
We know that successful districts commit to prioritizing their resources as a result of collaborative goal-setting.
In the past few years, Denver Public Schools has tripled the size of the department of human resources. In addition, the district has created an office of innovation and reform, which focuses on compliance issues and supports a clear agenda to push for non-unionized schools. Clearly the district budget suggests that the values of the district are to expedite the dismissal of teachers and push a political agenda. The only solution that the district has adopted is that of replacement — every employee will have to reapply for his/her job.
It’s time to listen to educators, and it’s time for the district to play a more supportive role for struggling schools. Denver Public Schools has engaged in a shell game of shifting student populations, school design and administrators without changing the core structures of the organization. The district needs to stop playing games and focus on research-based solutions.
We know what works — but district leadership continues to ignore the solutions that will work for all schools and all students. If this does not stop, we all lose.
We can do better; we owe it to our kids.
Henry Roman is president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.
