San Francisco Unified School District

Elite '08

914

1924

Kristina R.

San Francisco, CA

I'm giving SFUSD four stars because it's tough being a Public School District nowadays.  People are constantly criticizing them because of their inability to make ends meet, when that's really not their fault (the terminator did it!)  But the stars I'm giving is mainly for the amazing, unnoticed public schools that are the unsung heroes in education today (see SUTRO ELEMENTARY...)

I find that working in this district is frustrating and depressing.  It's not that I don't love teaching, because I do.  It's how teachers are treated and perceived in San Francisco that makes me feel so bad.  SFUSD does little to promote how great our public schools really are, and so all of the poorly performing schools get the front page.  

They also do not give credit where credit is due.  Ackerman and Newsom have both taken full credit for the rising test scores in our schools when it is really the STUDENTS and TEACHERS who did all the work.  

The hierarchy goes a little something like this:  The Superintendent of SFUSD takes all the credit when things go well.  Teachers get the blame when things go sour.  So teachers don't get the credit when their students do well, Ackerman does?!  That is so wrong.  

But SFUSD, through all the garbage it spews out to the press, does manage to do a so-so job.  I hope they stop the B.S. someday and own up to how poorly they treat their staff and teachers.  Despite what they've led the public to believe, they are not broke and they are not going to be taken over by the State.  Second to last in pay for teachers in the nation?  Shameful.

HOWEVER...and this is a big however, y'all.  

Public school ROCKS THE HOUSE.  People are not leaving SF because of the public schools.  They're leaving because a crappy studio apartment in the tenderloin costs $700.  

Yes, I am passionate about public schools.  And frankly, I'm getting a bit frustrated with the baffling and unduly harsh criticism some detractors have decided to kick in the way of teachers and their schools.  

Public education in this nation is FREE, y'all...(and for the most part, outrageously under-funded.)  Sometimes, you have to put into it as much as you expect out of it.  And that should go for everything you attempt to do in this life.

Who are these people to make such an unfair blanket statement that the ENTIRE school district is lacking?  People who haven't seen the classrooms in my fabulous school, I guess.

FYI:  San Francisco Unified students posted the highest score of any urban district in California on the Academic Performance Index (API), a compilation of test results. The state has set 800 as excellent. San Francisco scored 745.  

We are the number one urban school district in the entire State of Californ-i-yay, dudes...that is not merely acceptable...that is OUTSTANDING.

http://www.sfgate.com/...

If you don't have kids, aren't a teacher, or do not attend public school in SF presently, you shouldn't make a judgment call about all public schools in the district based on the administration that tries to rule them.  In fact, I'm asking you...PLEASE don't do it.  

Consider your intent when being so harsh on us...not only are you putting off OTHER people from going to public schools, (which will just hinder our growth even further, and help no one,)  you are missing out on a great education...FREE...

...did I forget to add the word FREE?  

We don't follow the rules to the letter, and we take our responsibilities as educators to heart.  Everything we do (fund raising, out of our own pocket expenses) to keep our special programs and extra-curricular classes running goes woefully unappreciated by people who have absolutely no idea what it takes to be an amazing public school...like MINE.

If you have kids, you have the right to pick the best school for your child...but please, don't think that you know for a fact that all the schools in SFUSD suck just BECAUSE you have kids and you feel slighted by the administration's short-comings...  

Give teachers and their schools a chance to give your child the gift of an exceptional (and did I mention FREE?) education.  We do it every day...gladly and willingly, and for an extremely modest salary...all for the love of children and learning.  (cue Whitney Houston song)

Oh f%#k it...FIVE WELL-EDUCATED STARS.

GO PUBLIC.

(Stepping off high-horse)

My blog...check it.  http://sutrofifthgrade...

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12

1

irene h.

San Francisco, CA

Our daughter Isabella has been attending the Montessori House of
Children for the last 2 years and this Friday December 14, 2007 will be her last day.

In August 2007 I spoke with Diane Gray who is the parent involvement
coordinator for the San Francisco Unified School District. I explained
that Isabella had been going to the Montessori school for pre school,
and that in September 2007, she would be starting in the schools
kindergarten program. The purpose of this conversation was to find out how soon we would be able to put Isabella into the SF public school
system.

When I spoke with Ms. Gray I was assured  that if Isabella had been
attending the Montessori kindergarten program from Sept 2007 to Dec 2007 She would be able to transfer to public kindergarten in Dec 2008. I informed Ms.Gray that Isabella would turn 5 on January 8th, 2008 knowing full well That the cutoff is one month prior.  Again, I was reassured it would not be a problem, since she would have already began in a kindergarten program. We were told to come in the beginning of December with our application, proof of vaccinations, Tb test, etc. and everything would be fine.

Unfortunately, that did not turn out to be the reality of the
situation, we sub sequentially gave our notice to Isabella's school,
Going on the information we had been given that Isabella would be starting Public Kindergarten in January.  Isabella's spot at the Montessori House of Children was immediately filled from their long waiting list.

On Dec 5, 2007 we went to enroll Isabella in public kindergarten and we spoke to Julio Robles who immediately questioned the information we were given, due to Isabella's age/birthday. He also informed me that he had to check that the school Isabella had been previously attending was recognized as a credited school by the state of California,
As I am sure you are well aware the Montessori education system doesnot have specific grades. When we went to apply for public school, IBrought along a shinning letter of recommendation from the school stating that Isabella had been in pre-kindergarten/kindergarten classes, and that she was more than capable of beginning her formal public school education. The letter states that Isabella is more than ready to start in the public school system, academically, socially and emotionally, and has already been studying at a kindergarten level since September 2007.

On Friday Dec 7, 2007 I got a VOICEMAIL from executive director Darlene Lindy that Isabella would not be transferred, but if she finished the Montessori school kindergarten program, by June 2008, we could apply for 1st grade in August 2008. This does not make any sense to me, nor does it solve the issue of where my child will be educated staring after the Christmas holiday. If we apply for 1st grade for the Fall 2008 school year , we are in exactly the same position we would be in if she finished kindergarten this year in the public school system. That day I went back to speak with Mr. Robles, and asked if Ms. Lindy would please call us so we could discuss her decision, but she never called . I have also left her several messages, to which no return phone call has been received either. I am sure she is a busy woman, but, due to the situation, I feel I am owed a better resolution than what has been offered by Ms. Lindy.

On Dec 11 Mr. Frank Gong told me to get a progress report and he would show it to his supervisor and see what they can do. On Dec 12  I returned  with her progress report, her workbook and a letter from her teacher. That morning I spoke with Diana Gray and Archie Fokin, the manager of the educational placement center and he told me that he did not care what anyone told me, that the law is the law and I should of done more research... I truly thought that if I spoke with a parent involvement coordinator for the San Francisco Unified School District was best thing I could do and they would give me the correct information.

He chose not to look at any documentation that proves that Isabella has been in kindergarten. I was told that the information I was given by Diana Grey  is not his problem. All he cared was to make his point. In my life I never had a person talk to me the way he did. I have not felt this sad and bad in a very long time.

I did all the research when I spoke with Ms. Gray months ago, and
followed her instructions perfectly, and now my child and her
education will be left to pay the price, for someone else's mistake.
This is unacceptable to me. Isabella's world will be turned
upside down, not only academically, but socially
To them we are just a number.

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72

235

Pistol Packin' M.

San Francisco, CA

So here's a metaphor for my job. Follow with me here folks.

So you're going on a camping trip.  It's the longest one you've ever done, but you're confident because you've got the best pack ever. This pack has been through it all, and you know it can handle any kind of hike. All those other hikes you've taken, it carried everything and through all sorts of weather. You are so stoked.

So you go shopping for all your supplies, but you forgot what the weight limit is on your pack...you think well, it's been this great so far, I'll just grab everything I think I might need.

So you get home and you realize, looking at your pack  you bought WAY too much stuff. But you already bragged to all your friends about this huuuge trip you were taking so you think ,

"Well let's just see...."

so you start jamming in every imaginable item you think you may need, no matter how unreasonable. Small stove? Yea, I might need that...two months extra rations? Yea, that too. Big Screen T.V.? Ok, what the hell.

Meanwhile your pack it just getting fuller and fuller. It's seams are starting to show. There isn't even room any more in there for the packs social life. The pack can't even walk her dog after work she's so stressed. The pack hasn't been on a date in three years because all she does is talk about hiking, because well, that's all she DOES....aaaand, we've lost the metaphor.

A long metaphor short? These guys need to start supporting teachers.  

We're not a dumping ground for every educational theory whim the government has. We're people who love children, and want nothing more than a chance to help them on their journey into adulthood. Being able to afford rent WHILE doing that would be great. We bust our buts everyday for a city we can barely afford to live in.

This pack is sure as hell a little tired of getting stuffed with all their garbage.

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114

274

Emma K.

Oakland, CA

SFUSD has a long way to go, as does Oakland Unified.  Even in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, our schools here are often a disgrace (this is a systemic problem, not a teacher problem, although they do hire some bad teachers occasionally).  After working in a public middle school for the last year, my opinion is that the fault lies with the people who make the big decisions but don't spend that much time in the actual, physical schools.

The morale is low---working in a school is one of the least glamorous job you can imagine.  My hat is off to all the teachers and janitors and people who work IN THE SCHOOLS EVERYDAY for the long term (I get to leave in a couple months and take whatever cushy corporate job I can get my hands on). It's hard, hard work that often goes unrecognized (no bonuses, no raises, no perks).  Bravo to Bay Area teachers, and may they get more of what they deserve.

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0

11

G. B.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has this public school lottery system/no neighborhood schools- I support the idea, getting kids from  lower socioeconomic regions to get some good/great educational opportunities they otherwise would not have.  I'm all for it and love the diversity of the schools here!!!  And we ended up getting the school we wanted.  We as parents have to tour the schools to see what we like.  I was fortunately on maternity leave when I toured the schools- so it was like doing a cross cultural study for me- it was fascinating, especially the language immersion schools.  Seeing blonde haired blue eyed boys like my son speaking fluent Spanish in first grade almost brought me to tears.  Or an African American 2nd grader from Bayview/Hunter's Point rattling off perfect Cantonese was just too much.  When I would call to schedule the tour-when asked if I could bring my kids-  all except 2 of the schools said "No, they're too distracting".  I would never expect a fucking public school to be kid friendly- Jesus!!!  I then would say, okay I won't bring my 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 yr. old, I'll just bring my newborn baby then.  They replied "No, you can't bring her".  You better believe I did anyway- fuckers!!!  Needless to say, the school that we loved and wanted was like "why wouldn't you bring your kids on the tour!  Of course you should!" And they provide free childcare of course for any meetings...  I think I have to write Gavin Newsom about this one as he has some committee to find out why families are leaving the city.  Is it even legal for a public school to tell you you can't let your kids inside?  Does this make any sense?

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46

290

Prima D.

San Francisco, CA

why don't they rename it San Francisco Diversified School District

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