Forced My Hand- open letter from an MPS Assistant Principal
I know this is a long read. And from someone who rarely posts. I hope you see that as not only a sign of my passion for the work I do, but my belief in the impact of the work we do and the support I’m asking from you for our students and families.
Consider this an open letter to the schoolboard, district administration, and every student, staff member and family affected by the most recent rushed decision of the schoolboard.
I was a teacher in one of your middle school classrooms for more than 20 years. I loved what I did. I didn’t love every minute of every day, but I loved every day. Well, most days, lol. I was good at what I did, by most metrics. Great in fact. As I grew in knowledge and experience with my craft, I would regularly take on leadership roles within my building as a team leader, and, eventually, underfilling roles at my school to help keep it running smoothly for our district, for our families, for your district. Eventually you told me that, in service to the district, it was right that I step out of the classroom and guide others to be great teachers; to help guide whole buildings to be the best for our students. It was incredibly hard for me to close that chapter of my life and knowing I could have a greater impact for our students and families was the only way I talked myself into it. At the urging of the leadership of our district, I went through your ‘grow your own’ programs, MPSU and Aspiring Leaders. I was taught by and mentored by the people that you said were the best our district has to offer. Then I was asked to leave my homeschool of 20 years to underfill at many of your schools that were struggling to maintain successful leadership. You moved me around to where it best benefitted your district, and I moved without complaint and jumped in wholeheartedly, with both feet, in every building/placement assigned. I learned the skills necessary to perform well in all of those places. Eventually, demonstrating my success in various settings, you let me have a place to call home again, and appointed me to an earned position. I have absolutely come to call it home, but more than that I have treated it like a home, putting in long hours and doing the hard work as you do for family without complaint, getting the additional training for the specifics of this home, building deep relationships with students, staff and families and having measurable positive impact.
Now you tell me that the budget will be in large part balanced on the backs of the people who have given their all for so many years, in so many capacities, to keep our buildings safe and productive places for our students and their families, for your district. When previous cuts were being determined at the highest levels, you made everyone reapply and ‘prove’ that ‘they were the best for the job’. At the school level, apparently, it’s just whoever’s been in an administrative seat the longest, with zero regard for performance. Those being cut are, by a large majority, those that you’ve just grown and invested in through your mentoring programs, and are the ones currently doing the more impactful work in their buildings. More than that, you double down on the disregard and disrespect by then telling us that we can attempt to go back into the noble position of classroom teacher, but at year zero for seniority, effectively erasing my 20+ years serving students and families in your district, and hope that I can find, let alone keep, another job, in which I will likely be excessed and continue to be shuffled without regard for my time, training, or talent. If I fail to secure and hold onto a position, I lose my insurance, retirement, my passion. Lastly, you tell me on Thursday 3-18 that this cut applies to me, but the only hope of administrative opportunities you’ve afforded me close Monday 3-23, and priority preference for these positions will go to non-excessed APs.
If teachers are the bodies and principals are the brains, APs are the heart. To rip out those who are bridges between students and the district, between families and school, the heart of building culture and climate, front-line responsible for maintaining safe and orderly buildings so the focus can remain on learning, is a move that hurts students, families, schools and the district will suffer.
The rationale to the board was that this was the ‘least disruptive option’ with the ‘least impact on the classroom’ which is patently untrue. The rationale to those cut, without regard, referenced seniority for administration (while simultaneously disregarding the seniority of my years of service) which was a choice, not a requirement. You gave this option as a nondisclosed proposal at the last minute to the board, pressuring them to believe it was the only option, which is not true. You did not offer options such as revisiting closing severely underenrolled schools, administrative-only wage freeze, and more. You also blatantly disrespected your Principals, the highest level of leaders at the schools, by removing their autonomy to interview and hire those who are best fits for their individualized needs and to be able to have autonomy to maintain the climate and culture in their buildings. Lastly, you showed zero regard for families with students in buildings that are working well by shifting people in positions with zero regard for specialty, licensing, training, or unique situations like bilingualism or multi building structures. It was clear that this decision was not made with safety or care for the quality of education, students and families in mind. Again, this decision will result in chaotic disruption, without regard for thoughtful intent or beneficial outcomes. The board can be made to see the the error of this decision and vote to amend (overturn) this hasty, dangerous decision.
I implore you. If you agree that the impact of this set of cuts was misrepresented to the board, is not the only choice, and will grossly negatively affect the majority of our district… call your school board. Write your school board. Tell them WE are not ok with this for OUR schools.
If you are not inclined to write your board, I ask you to share this to anyone who might be concerned about this impact. Or, if you know my work personally, write me a letter of recommendation.
Board Contact Information: Phone: (414) 475-8284
Office of Board Governance: governance@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
President: Missy Zombor zomborm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Vice President: Marva Herndon gillhemj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 2: Erika Siemsen siemsee@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 3: Darryl Jackson jacksond@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 4: James Ferguson fergj2@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 5: Christopher Fons fonscx@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 6: Mimi Reza rezam@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 7: Kate Vannoy vannoyke@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
District 8: Megan O’Halloran ohallomm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us