Mixability
02-28-2007, 04:52 PM
Kinda long, didn't see it posted before. But basically a principal can't pass her certification test after 36 times, but SAISD doesn't see it as a problem. If the kids are required to pass the TAKS in 3 tries, then this dumbass doesn't need a 37th chance. :pctoss
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7e430cea-2469-4697-8985-c92d6af927ac
REACT: Educators Who Didn't Make the Grade
Last Update: Feb 28, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted By: Mandi Johnston
Still waiting to hear if your child passed the TAKS test? As every parent knows, if they don't pass it, they don't move on to the next grade. A News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters investigation uncovered that some teachers and principals are not making the grade, but still moving up the chain of command.
Why do educators get so many chances to pass their test compared to your kids? How do their failing grades affect your kids' education? Plus, what may change because of our Trouble Shooters investigation.
Leading up to the TAKS test, it's all about prepping, pep rallies and pressure. That's all because every child must pass the TAKS test, or get left behind.
At Smith Elementary in the San Antonio School District, Principal Elizabeth Rojas pumped up her kids to pass the state exam last week. It turns out Principal Rojas has not passed her own test. She's taken the state exam required to be a principal, and failed, 36 times. That's more than any other educator in the state.
Unlike a student who fails, principal Rojas didn't get left behind. The district promoted her to principal two years ago, even though she still had not passed the required test, failing it dozens of times while she was a Vice-Principal.
Trouble Shooter Brian Collister asked SAISD's spokeswoman, "Was the district aware she failed 36 times?"
Carmen Vasquez-Gonzalez said, "No, the district was not aware." SAISD said it was aware that Rojas only has a temporary certificate to be a principal. Educators are allowed to be in jobs while they attempt to pass their tests. Rojas's certificate runs out next month.
Collister asked, "Is the district okay that she has failed 36 times?"
Gonzalez replied, "Well, I don't think she's ok."
Collister added, "You hired her and put her there."
Gonzalez said, "Yes, we hired her, and put her there because you have to look specifically at that individual campus. That individual was bringing some leadership skills that the test doesn't really cover."
That test is made up of multiple choice questions and hypothetical scenarios a principal might face. The overwhelming majority of principals pass it on the first few attempts according to the state board for teacher certification.
"For me, it's tough," explained Rojas to the Trouble Shooters. She said even though she has both a Bachelors and Masters degree, and is enrolled in a program to help her pass that test, she just has not been able to tackle it.
Rojas told us, "I go into the testing situation feeling the anxiety of...throwing up, nervousness...knowing that the job that I have is on the line based on that one test."
That may sound familiar to parents of kids who have a hard time passing the TAKS test, but they only get three chances and must pass to move on to the next grade.
The school district is quick to point out that TAKS scores at Smith have improved under Rojas, which raises another question.
"If your students can pass the TAKS test and do so well, why can't you pass yours?" Collister asked Rojas.
"We're working on it," she said.
The fact that their kids only have three chances to pass the big test and their principal has taken 36 times to pass her big test doesn't seem to bother a small group of parents who were all hand picked by the principal to be at the school when we showed up for our sit-down interview.
Mary Johnson said, "To me, I don't care if it takes her a hundred times for her to pass the test because to me, she is the best we can have here at this school."
Stephanie Jones added, "I don't care if she has not passed 36 times. It doesn't prove that she is unable to do as she has done."
We showed Rojas's test scores to the head of the State Teachers' Union, Donna Hascke.
Hascke said, "I can't even imagine that, especially if you've had the experience of being a principal. You've been a teacher prior to that. I just can't even imagine that scenario, at all."
That scenario happens more often then you might think. Our investigation found dozens of area teachers and principals who have not passed their tests after dozens of tries. Yet, they're still in the classroom with your kids.
"I think teachers need to pass that test, and if they don't what's the problem if they can't pass it in 2 or 3 times. Why not?" said Hascke.
Collister asked Hascke, "So, they should get pulled out of those jobs?"
"Could be that they need to be re-directed to another area of education other than teaching. There are other things that they can do," explained Hascke.
Take Theresa Balderas, for example. She is the Assistant Principal at Gallardo Elementary in the Southside ISD. Balderas has taken the principal exam, and failed, 19 times.
To top that off, she has no certificate to be a principal because her temporary one expired a year ago. She declined our request for an interview and wouldn't comment when we caught up with her.
Southside officials declined to answer questions on camera. Instead a spokesman read a statement explaining why Balderas is still in her job.
Jorge Topete said, "Our district has experienced numerous changes in administration. This includes the need for a superintendent due to that fact an oversight has occurred in regard to Ms. Balderas' certification status."
Despite Balderas not having the certificate for the job, Southside said it will let her continue to be an assistant principal while asking the state to give her more time to take the test.
That shocked a few parents with kids who go to school at Gallardo.
Richard Santellan said, "I don't think that's fair, to tell you the truth, for the kids or for the school district itself."
Sandra Sanchez said, "If it is state required, then I agree she should have it."
So here is the lesson learned: Educators are held to a different standard than your child who is under so much pressure to make the grade.
Hascke with the Teachers' Union said, "We cannot lower our standards. We have to make sure that our teachers and our administrators are held to a very high standard. Our children deserve no less."
By the way, Principal Rojas is taking her test again next week for the thirty seventh time. She's also applying to the state to give her another year to pass it.
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7e430cea-2469-4697-8985-c92d6af927ac
REACT: Educators Who Didn't Make the Grade
Last Update: Feb 28, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted By: Mandi Johnston
Still waiting to hear if your child passed the TAKS test? As every parent knows, if they don't pass it, they don't move on to the next grade. A News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters investigation uncovered that some teachers and principals are not making the grade, but still moving up the chain of command.
Why do educators get so many chances to pass their test compared to your kids? How do their failing grades affect your kids' education? Plus, what may change because of our Trouble Shooters investigation.
Leading up to the TAKS test, it's all about prepping, pep rallies and pressure. That's all because every child must pass the TAKS test, or get left behind.
At Smith Elementary in the San Antonio School District, Principal Elizabeth Rojas pumped up her kids to pass the state exam last week. It turns out Principal Rojas has not passed her own test. She's taken the state exam required to be a principal, and failed, 36 times. That's more than any other educator in the state.
Unlike a student who fails, principal Rojas didn't get left behind. The district promoted her to principal two years ago, even though she still had not passed the required test, failing it dozens of times while she was a Vice-Principal.
Trouble Shooter Brian Collister asked SAISD's spokeswoman, "Was the district aware she failed 36 times?"
Carmen Vasquez-Gonzalez said, "No, the district was not aware." SAISD said it was aware that Rojas only has a temporary certificate to be a principal. Educators are allowed to be in jobs while they attempt to pass their tests. Rojas's certificate runs out next month.
Collister asked, "Is the district okay that she has failed 36 times?"
Gonzalez replied, "Well, I don't think she's ok."
Collister added, "You hired her and put her there."
Gonzalez said, "Yes, we hired her, and put her there because you have to look specifically at that individual campus. That individual was bringing some leadership skills that the test doesn't really cover."
That test is made up of multiple choice questions and hypothetical scenarios a principal might face. The overwhelming majority of principals pass it on the first few attempts according to the state board for teacher certification.
"For me, it's tough," explained Rojas to the Trouble Shooters. She said even though she has both a Bachelors and Masters degree, and is enrolled in a program to help her pass that test, she just has not been able to tackle it.
Rojas told us, "I go into the testing situation feeling the anxiety of...throwing up, nervousness...knowing that the job that I have is on the line based on that one test."
That may sound familiar to parents of kids who have a hard time passing the TAKS test, but they only get three chances and must pass to move on to the next grade.
The school district is quick to point out that TAKS scores at Smith have improved under Rojas, which raises another question.
"If your students can pass the TAKS test and do so well, why can't you pass yours?" Collister asked Rojas.
"We're working on it," she said.
The fact that their kids only have three chances to pass the big test and their principal has taken 36 times to pass her big test doesn't seem to bother a small group of parents who were all hand picked by the principal to be at the school when we showed up for our sit-down interview.
Mary Johnson said, "To me, I don't care if it takes her a hundred times for her to pass the test because to me, she is the best we can have here at this school."
Stephanie Jones added, "I don't care if she has not passed 36 times. It doesn't prove that she is unable to do as she has done."
We showed Rojas's test scores to the head of the State Teachers' Union, Donna Hascke.
Hascke said, "I can't even imagine that, especially if you've had the experience of being a principal. You've been a teacher prior to that. I just can't even imagine that scenario, at all."
That scenario happens more often then you might think. Our investigation found dozens of area teachers and principals who have not passed their tests after dozens of tries. Yet, they're still in the classroom with your kids.
"I think teachers need to pass that test, and if they don't what's the problem if they can't pass it in 2 or 3 times. Why not?" said Hascke.
Collister asked Hascke, "So, they should get pulled out of those jobs?"
"Could be that they need to be re-directed to another area of education other than teaching. There are other things that they can do," explained Hascke.
Take Theresa Balderas, for example. She is the Assistant Principal at Gallardo Elementary in the Southside ISD. Balderas has taken the principal exam, and failed, 19 times.
To top that off, she has no certificate to be a principal because her temporary one expired a year ago. She declined our request for an interview and wouldn't comment when we caught up with her.
Southside officials declined to answer questions on camera. Instead a spokesman read a statement explaining why Balderas is still in her job.
Jorge Topete said, "Our district has experienced numerous changes in administration. This includes the need for a superintendent due to that fact an oversight has occurred in regard to Ms. Balderas' certification status."
Despite Balderas not having the certificate for the job, Southside said it will let her continue to be an assistant principal while asking the state to give her more time to take the test.
That shocked a few parents with kids who go to school at Gallardo.
Richard Santellan said, "I don't think that's fair, to tell you the truth, for the kids or for the school district itself."
Sandra Sanchez said, "If it is state required, then I agree she should have it."
So here is the lesson learned: Educators are held to a different standard than your child who is under so much pressure to make the grade.
Hascke with the Teachers' Union said, "We cannot lower our standards. We have to make sure that our teachers and our administrators are held to a very high standard. Our children deserve no less."
By the way, Principal Rojas is taking her test again next week for the thirty seventh time. She's also applying to the state to give her another year to pass it.