[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Power to the Principal!

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Power to the Principal!
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1226637999.shtml


   Finally, some good news for the Minneapolis Public Schools. The
   [1]Nellie Stone Johnson
   Community School has reportedly made huge gains in the past year. A
   year ago the school bottomed out at 89 percent of the students testing
   below grade level. The new numbers aren't shown but supposedly great
   progress has been made in all grades. Plus, one of its teachers
   received a prestigious $25,000 award from the Milken Foundation.
   How did this happen? Better you should who made this happen, principal
   Mark Bonine, but here's the how: he was allowed to run the show! Per
   WCCO.com's account by Sue Turner:

     One of his first decisions was to appoint Mark Bonine as principal.
     Bonine interviewed the teachers at the school; he kept four of
     them. He also hired the best 60 teachers he knew or could find as
     the 400 students in K-8 turned into 750 as other area schools
     closed.

   Did you see that? He kept just four of the existing teachers, which
   means he rejected several dozen others that the previous principal
   and/or power structure felt were adequate. After all, they all have
   degrees, certificates, licenses, and union cards.
   Bonine prefers to check results it seems, spending two hours a day in
   the classroom. He no doubt uses that observation time in evaluating
   his staff three times a year. Plus, there is a weekly 90 minute staff
   meeting to work on quality and preparation expertise.
   Score another one for accountability.

References

   1. http://wcco.com/education/nellie.stone.johnson.2.861577.html