370 teachers in one Florida county have filed for early retirement this spring.

[madfloridian]

Maybe that is the "reform" that was intended, to get rid of teachers nearing retirement...but who did not really want to retire quite yet. They are retiring because of the threats to their tenure and job security. That has been one of the goals of the reformers, to get rid of those with experience and hire newer cheaper teachers.

I don't have the statistics for the state, but this county is one which turned itself over to Bill Gates in return for 100 million in funds. They have tightened evaluation requirements, and teachers can lose tenure easily now.

From the St. Pete Times:

Hillsborough sees rush of early teacher retirements

TAMPA — Hillsborough County school district officials are bracing for a wave of teachers retiring early this spring following changes to Florida's pension system, a tougher evaluation system and political attacks on their profession.

"We're just concerned about a groundswell of people all heading out at once that we have to get the paperwork signed for," said benefits manager Deborah Henry.

Already, nearly 370 Hillsborough teachers have filed papers to leave the classroom, 76 more than the number for all of last school year, she said. And they're expecting more as the academic year winds down.

A late March retirement seminar that normally draws 300 people filled an 800-seat auditorium beyond its capacity. Bus drivers, custodians and other staffers are also filing their papers in larger numbers. Some may be retiring even though they really can't afford to, Henry said. They say the push to overhaul teacher tenure has taken a toll and changed the job.

It's as though teachers who were considered capable, good teachers, may not be considered that way anymore. It's amazing how quickly all this happened.

In the article the Deputy Superintendent said it might save money, but it would result in a "harmful brain drain."

Not just a brain drain, but it will prove to be a drain on the state pension coffers if other counties follow.

More on the Bill Gates donation..it bought him control. From 2009

Consider the 100 million Gates gave to schools in a FL county for merit pay for teachers. He will have influence on those teachers for that price. It's bound to happen.

"Now the Hillsborough County school system stands on the verge of getting a $100 million boost from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to emulate that model. The district — already a finalist in the foundation's latest, $500 million effort to remake U.S. public education by improving teacher effectiveness — was asked this week to submit a contract to carry out its proposal.

Officials say districts in Memphis, Omaha, and Pittsburgh received similar requests, along with a group of Los Angeles charter schools.

The county officials seem to realize that teachers will be upset, but they don't seem to care at all. Sounds like they are very proud of all those "hard conversations" they will be having with teachers.

Hillsborough prepares for big shift on teacher evaluations

Be prepared for some hard conversations. That was the advice Tuesday from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation officials, as the Hillsborough County School District finishes its first year of rating teachers under a tough new evaluation system.

Teachers might call to complain about big drops in their final scores, program officer Ky Vu told School Board members. Some might be fearing for their jobs.

"And they start saying, 'Okay, I don't agree with this, I don't think that the district is justified in either letting me go or putting me on a performance development plan,' " he said at an update meeting. "It's imperative for the district and you to think about how to manage that well."

....Board member Candy Olson voiced worries about the long hours principals are spending observing teachers. Some have less time for the things that make schools run smoothly, such as connecting with kids in the cafeteria or chatting with parents before school, she said.

"I hope we're not burning people out," added board member Jack Lamb.

I say to Jack Lamb, of course you are burning them out. That is why a huge number of them are retiring. They are simply fed up with the blame and the anti-teacher rhetoric.

You are indeed burning them out.

[bluestateguy]

1. The bean counters are probably happy to have their salaries off the books

and they will be replaced by inexperienced, underpaid young whippersnappers, most of whom will also leave the profession in a few years too.

[madfloridian]

15. And many districts will pay private companies to "recruit" those young teachers...

They never had to pay to hire teachers locally. It's obscene how they have gotten away with it....all the while making teachers who really care sound less than capable.

They have attacked a whole public sector, and it was done in a bipartisan manner.

[russspeakeasy]

24. Exactly...right on all points. Thanks for your posts.

[madfloridian]

2. "And the Gates Foundation has high hopes to replicate its model across the nation."

So look out the Gates model is coming your way, mixed with all the other models of all the other reformers.

Apparently Hillsborough thinks it is a big success.

Teachers might call to complain about big drops in their final scores, program officer Ky Vu told School Board members. Some might be fearing for their jobs.

"And they start saying, 'Okay, I don't agree with this, I don't think that the district is justified in either letting me go or putting me on a performance development plan,' " he said at an update meeting. "It's imperative for the district and you to think about how to manage that well.

..."Vu said Hillsborough's success at working through problems with its teachers' union has set it apart from other reform efforts. And the Gates Foundation has high hopes to replicate its model across the nation."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/hillsborough-prepares-for-big-shift-on-teacher-uations/1164804

If it is so successful that 370 teachers are retiring early....then the rest of the country needs to be on guard.

[DrDan]

3. add my wife to this - leaving Seminole county early

Tired of leaving the house at 5:30, home at 5:00, up until 10:30 or so each night grading papers, calling parents, lesson plans, etc. Working every weekend on planning, etc.

Just not worth it.

180 students per day.

Just insane these days.

[madfloridian]

5. Many of us retired earlier than desired once Jeb hit Florida.

I would have liked to teach longer, but the stress was too much. And those 5:30 mornings got earlier, and the days got longer all the time.

Tell your wife she's better off getting out the way things are here now.

Good luck to her. :)

[DrDan]

7. I didn't think it could get any worse than under jeb

then scott and rhee enter the picture.

You know things are going bad when History classes become electives simply to beat the class size targets.

Florida education can only spiral downward.

[madfloridian]

8. About the only difference in Scott and Jeb and the Democrats....

is vouchers. Our Democratic leaders mostly prefer charter schools. Scott wants vouchers...which is worse in my mind. Both degrade public schools.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. And it will make a big difference in 3-12 years when the seniors in public schools

are rejected by nearly all big-name colleges and universities due to their academic weakness.

[csziggy]

13. By then the colleges and universities will be "dumbed" down

To be ready for the under-prepared high school graduates. Just look at the way the Kochs are already screwing around with the curriculum in Florida universities:

Billionaire's role in hiring decisions at Florida State University raises questions
By Kris Hundley, Times staff writer
In Print: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A conservative billionaire who opposes government meddling in business has bought a rare commodity: the right to interfere in faculty hiring at a publicly funded university.

A foundation bankrolled by Libertarian businessman Charles G. Koch has pledged $1.5 million for positions in Florida State University's economics department. In return, his representatives get to screen and sign off on any hires for a new program promoting "political economy and free enterprise."

Traditionally, university donors have little official input into choosing the person who fills a chair they've funded. The power of university faculty and officials to choose professors without outside interference is considered a hallmark of academic freedom.

Under the agreement with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, however, faculty only retain the illusion of control. The contract specifies that an advisory committee appointed by Koch decides which candidates should be considered. The foundation can also withdraw its funding if it's not happy with the faculty's choice or if the hires don't meet "objectives" set by Koch during annual evaluations.

more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/billionaires-role-in-hiring-decisions-at-florida-state-university-raises/1168680

Part of the "new" requirements is that Ayn Rand's insanity will be taught whether or not her ideas are relevant to the courses.

[n2doc]

6. Next step- bringing in foreign nationals because they can't find anyone "to teach" n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. Don't worry. Corporations will step in and make sure everything is just the way they want it.

[TBF]

20. That is what I see happening -

they don't need as many workers in this post-Industrial nation. So, they are dumbing down the populace to make them good military recruits. School is going to be year-round (I've already seen some stories about this in the financial press) - and the model is private schools for elites (bourgeoisie), charter schools for brighter kids (who become the petit bourgeoisie), public school for everyone else. Teachers will be recent college grads ala "Teach for America" model. Unions? Heh, right.

[Dappleganger]

10. Three of my teaching friends in St. Johns county are retiring...

they are sick of all the changes and don't want to stick around to wait and be kicked again by Lord Governor Voldemort. They know quite a few other seasoned teachers who will be doing the same.

[madfloridian]

11. I can't blame any of them....the lack of respect toward teachers is stunning.

I always took pride in my teaching. Most teachers I knew did the same. Now it doesn't matter.

I kept hoping some of our Democrats would step up and point out the madness, but they are not doing it.

[WinkyDink]

12. Our new National Deciders: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation officials.

[madfloridian]

14. Exactly right. Add Eli Broad and Walmart to the mix...

and what have you got? Educational chaos.

[Plucketeer]

19. What you get is one more cog

in the corporatization of the USA - with schools trimmed and shaped to provide automatons bearing JUST enough knowledge to serve their benefactors! AND - parents going along on the BS they're being fed. After all...... ANYTHING that'll get little Johnny or Janey out of the "nest" by age 30.

[YvonneCa]

16. This is exactly what happened in my district....

...in California. I wish I had known it was a planned strategy at the time...it might not have felt so stressful.

[madfloridian]

17. That stress has been felt by longtime teachers for years.

It's just lately that we really realized what was happening. I have seen good teachers feel inadequate from all the attacks on them by both parties.

I keep hoping some Democratic leaders will speak out and say enough.

[madfloridian]

18. Just noticed I forgot a link to the Gates, Hillsborough donation.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5312

[madfloridian]

21. It has been easy to damage public education and denigrate teachers.

Why? Because it is a bipartisan effort, and because even Democratic forums which usually stand for what is best for the people...and against corporations....have not spoken out.

They have not spoken out because it would mean being critical of a Democratic president.

I believe someday when we look back at these last 2 or 3 years, some will find it hard to explain that those who spoke in defense of public education were overall basically ignored...and sometimes attacked for it.

It's a win win deal for those who want education to be profit-making and care nothing about real in depth learning.

[chervilant]

23. In the rural area

where I 'came up,' we had a saying that "if you lay down with the dogs, you'll wake up with fleas." That remains true, even if you hang a placard around said dog's neck that labels him/her a democrat.

I am even MORE disgusted by the silence of my fellow democrats than I am about the republicans who are supporting this corporatist usurpation of our system of public education. I EXPECT the republicans to do such vile deeds. I certainly didn't expect the democrats to go so quietly into this night.

[chervilant]

22. Rachel Maddow

had a relevant segment on her show Tuesday night. She noted that Florida has an 11.1% unemployment rate at present, and ranks 47th in the nation with regards to unemployment benefits--both in terms of amount paid per week and total number of weeks of benefits paid.

Sounds like the corporatists are hellbent on destroying all but the uber wealthy in Florida.

[madfloridian]

26. Thanks, I missed that.

And they voted to cut the benefits even further recently.

[Fire1]

25. Kudos to them. n/t

[cachukis]

27. Just got my performance pay rubric on the Charlotte Danielson

criteria. (Gates' Empowering Effective Teachers) Have to say, in order to be rated outstanding this year, I'd have to give up my sleep hours. Sort of No Child Left Behind where all students would be "adequate" by 2014. Funny how 82% of schools, nationally, have failed this criteria.

I teach at an inner city school (FLA) where I have to get the lowest level seniors to pass the FCAT or ACT or SAT to graduate. Last year 82% of them did. When my evaluator, not my peer by the way, pooh poohed some of my methods. She reminded me about the other twenty percent.

There is an inherent antagonism built into the system. The evaluators are overworked and limited to specific criteria for evaluation, very cookie cutter by the way. They are required to present an explanation of that evaluation and offer recommendations based on that rubric. That's it.

Read Danielson's book, look at her tapes. Copy. I'll be back to see how well you mimic. Your students better be able to pass the test based on your mimicry. If they don't you are not a good mimic and must go.

My principal gave me good marks, but reminded me that I had to be more Danielson. That was what was expected.

The evaluators are human and have personal judgement experiences. They all want to do a good job, but have moved into a totalitarian system. Rebel, you're out. Once you've made that move you are defending that paycheck.(Sinclair anyone?)

Nonetheless, the system is set to offer opportunity. Hence, high ratings on the front end leave little room for growth.

Do I give myself a high rating when my evaluators must rate me developing or accomplished? How do I respond when they find me inadequate on a specific practice in a fifty minute period.

What happens if I devote my entire day to implementing Danielson mechanics and overlook the student whose early traumas keep her from having a good relationship with her boyfriend and leans ..... dare I continue? Happened on Tuesday this week.

I will continue the fight for my students until they find someone better I guess.

[madfloridian]

29. "There is an inherent antagonism built into the system" Very true words.

It's a punitive type of evaluation...almost gotcha stuff.

Even if they mention the good, they emphasize the negative.

[thanks_imjustlurking]

28. Screw Bill and Melinda Gates.

The only thing they know about public education is that they have money and think that means they know it all.