Facilitator Missing in Action, Teachers Forge Ahead
Austin, May 2, 2008
StandardsWork, the organization awarded a $147,000 contract to facilitate the completion of the state’s English curriculum, walked out on teachers during the first day of revisions.
That morning StandardsWork facilitator Sue Pimentel abdicated her responsibility and asked a teacher from the work group to lead the day’s discussion, telling the whole group that it was important for teachers to have ownership of the document. Pimentel praised the work completed to date.
Under the supervision of Commissioner Robert Scott and Deputy Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds, teachers forged ahead, considering suggestions for revisions to the document posted in the Texas Register. The revisions were an extension of those presented to the board during testimony on March 26 and included suggestions from educators participating in ten review sessions across the state.
Approval to introduce the teacher suggestions was granted after SBOE members Bob Craig and Mavis Knight, authors of the March 28 motion to reconvene work groups, contacted chair Don McLeroy to insist that teachers be allowed to present their corrections to the proposed Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
Work on the document proceeded with few snags until the StandardsWork team left mid-afternoon. Several teachers objected and questioned the purpose of continuing to work without the facilitator. After a heated exchange, Associate Commissioner Sharon Jackson beseeched the teachers to continue working while she contacted StandardsWork to request their return.
Teachers worked until 5 p.m., leaving with documents to review before the next day’s session, but the facilitator did not return.
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