Wednesday, July 25, 2012

DISTRICT APPOINTS TWO NEW PRINCIPALS

DISTRICT APPOINTS TWO NEW PRINCIPALS
Caroline Dipping
Union-Tribune
July 5, 2012

The Chula Vista Elementary School District has appointed two new principals.

Erika Taylor is the new principal at Palomar Elementary. Chris E. Vickers was appointed to serve as principal of Rosebank Elementary.

Taylor, a lifelong Chula Vista resident, began teaching more than 10 years ago in the Sweetwater Union High School District. There, she taught math and health and coached a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, and swimming. She was hired by the Chula Vista Elementary School District two years ago as an associate principal at Olympic View Elementary.

Palomar Elementary is a 2012 California Distinguished School. In 2010-11, the most recent year available, it had an API, or Academic Performance Index, of 856, representing a 50-point increase in one year.

Vickers began his career in education with the Dallas Independent School District. In 2000, he and his family moved to Chula Vista where he has since worked for the elementary school district as a teacher and an associate principal. His most recent assignment was associate principal at Harborside Elementary.

“They are well acquainted with the district’s vision and values, and well acquainted with their respective school communities,” said Superintendent Francisco Escobedo. “I am confident they are the collaborative, skillful leaders that our community expects of principals in our district.”

New CVE president Jennefer Porch is as secretive as Peg Myers

The annual CTA Presidents' Conference is taking place at Asilomar State Beach (see photo) near Monterey.

New Chula Vista Educators president Jennefer Porch is up at Asilomar this week at the annual CTA Presidents' Conference, but she left instructions with her staff not to release the names of new CVE officers.

Perhaps CTA President Dean Vogel can give Jennefer some tips about how to run CVE. I myself had a nice chat with Mr. Vogel at the conference a few years ago. (I was a lowly CTA member, not a chapter president, but Mr. Vogel was very nice.)

Jennefer may have replaced Peg Myers as president of CVE, but she doesn't seem to have replaced Peg's policies regarding secrecy. Furtiveness has been in force since 2001 when former presidents Gina Boyd and Jim Groth and executive director Tim O'Neill decided to cover up crimes by Gina's friend Robin Donlan at Castle Park Elementary.

Jennefer held her first meeting as president on July 10, 2012. It was advertised as the meeting when a decision would be made as to who the new vice-president would be. Elections don't seem to be the method of choice for choosing either CVESD board members of CVE officers. Three years ago vice president-elect Barbara Dunwoodie chose to resign right after winning election. What kind of politics is going on behind closed doors on Landis Avenue in Chula Vista?

CTA advertises itself as a democratic institution, but it is actually hierarchical, and the power structure is decided through back room politics, not elections.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Jim Groth and Imperial Valley locals on California State of Emergency rallies

Imperial Valley locals to attend California State of Emergency rallies
By ROMAN FLORES
Imperial Valley Press
May 10, 2011

...“(Monday) was the kickoff of the state of emergency and there were more than 300 current teachers and retired teachers, counselors and librarians to kick off the week,” said Jim Groth, CTA board member, Imperial County representative and Chula Vista teacher, on Monday on his way out of Sacramento.

Groth said CTA representatives met at the state Capitol for interfaith prayer services and a march around to the Capitol building.

“We broke off and had teams of teachers go to the legislative offices and talk to them about passing the next fiscal budget for our students,” he said.

“The Legislature has the authority to extend the taxes that are going to expire June 30,” Groth said.

“It’s going to take two Republicans in the Assembly and two Republicans in the Senate to meet the two-thirds requirement to pass a budget that would include the tax extensions,” he said.

“The issues remain very separated by party lines,” he said. “We’re asking Republicans to do the right thing for the students of California and pass a budget including the tax extensions.”

“What we hope to do is bring awareness of this issue (of budget cuts),” said local CTA chapter president Gaylla Finnell. “During this week, CTA’s hope is that people will contact their representatives and let them know to not cut education.

“We need to take action and put pressure on our representatives,” Finnell said.

Though Imperial County Teachers’ UniServ staff couldn’t comment on exactly who will be attending, UniServ did say two busloads are expected to attend a state of emergency rally Friday in San Diego with others traveling on their own. About 125 to 150 teachers, students and others from Imperial County expect to be in attendance.

Groth also said some school board members from Imperial County will attend Friday’s rally in Sacramento.