Chang, Mrs. Chang, Mrs Chang, was the chorus that greeted fifth-grade teacher Vivian Chang as she walked outside her classroom, her mouth open in shock, to take in the sight of about 440 students lined up around the school quad to cheer for her. nR$}%+& E? Colin named the two fellow teachers as witnesses, saying he discussed the incident with them the next day. Dr. Ramon Miramontes, Deputy Superintendent with the Orange County Department of Education, surprises teacher Francisco Sandoval at Orangethorpe Elementary School in Fullerton, CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). In an emailed statement, DOE spokesperson Will Mantell said, "We thank Dr. Mars for her leadership, and were collaborating closely with LaGuardias community to find the next principal for the school and continue its proud history of excellence.". And the family might soon be headed to Italy with the money Smith was awarded Thursday. I want to thank Vivian and her team for . We've received your submission. But those who helped push Mars out say theres more to the story than what some have portrayed as a mutiny by entitled kids with an allergy to algebra. Blackie was one of six named Orange County Teacher or the Year. C9:YU^s0 GP'8A$WS m>;^+|^Zx$iC>-zj|>ZcFrQHg)c}Dis t\Qjd}2B^Qw.=H,OmP6q 2aZCL6aMvL]otcAjhd r`Nf\P_NLrYoY:=.s/~ LC8gEaRv0d4Us8:r~-::>k!P}P7'!S(O w. You cant put a number on art.. He didnt renew a contract in 2016, and let the Board of Education know they should start planning last year. The news triggered a deluge of complaints to Mayor Adams and Chancellor David Banks forcing Vasconcelos to call in DOE Superintendent Vivian Orlen, who oversees Manhattan high schools, for. She underwent chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer, returning to work a month early when news broke of a hazing incident with the basketball team. Opponents Of Former LaGuardia Principal Say Ouster Was Over Diversity, Not Just Arts, We rely on your support to make local news available to all, Mayor Adams says more migrant buses headed to NY courtesy of Texas. Over the weekend, rumors began floating over social media that Wenk, the schools founding principal, had been fired for pushing back against potential cuts to the programs, which included dance, acting, visual arts, drawing, music classes and art history as of last school year. Chang had just been surprised by Ramon Miramontes, deputy superintendent of the OC Department of Education, who burst into her classroom to inform her she is one of the countys six 2024 Teacher of the Year recipients. Thiah Hung Phan, a second-year student, first had Elliott as a teacher when classes were online during the pandemic. Natalie DeVito, who graduated from LaGuardia in 1992, recalls being friends with Alexis Cruz, a Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx who has acted professionally since age 9. New York, New York, United States Served as Deputy Superintendent for 38 high schools in Manhattan, sharing supervisory and professional development responsibilities with the Superintendent.. Lisa Mars, who oversaw LaGuardia for six years, will be taking a new position under Chief Academic Officer Linda Chen. Vivian Orlen, the former superintendent of Manhattan high schools for the Education Department who left the agency after not being selected in the superintendent rehiring process, said it's. Seven years ago, noticing all the neighborhood schools had a robotics program, Smith approached his principal about launching a dedicated middle school robotics program. Elementary and middle school superintendent: Alexandra Estrella, (212) 348-2873 High school superintendent: Vivian Orlen, (212) 356-3880 For individual parent concerns, contact: Elementary and middle school family support coordinator: Elio Valdez, (212) 348-2873 High school family support coordinator: William Mark, (212) 356-3880 The board and superintendent are both elected in the primary, meaning there wont be a runoff election in November. "They didnt even move on this school without media attention.. Chang was one of six named Orange County Teacher or the Year by the Orange County Department of Education. All rights reserved (About Us). Recognizing that a large number of students in California are now multilingual learners, Blackie said, she incorporates her personal experience as a language learner in the classroom. Here are the top educators in Orange County this year. I continually tell them, You can do it, she wrote in her Teacher of the Year application. I have to say, I totally understand from a parents perspective that you heard it through your child, Orlen said. Resumes are also being collected for all vacant teaching positions and one assistant principal position. Vivian Orlen has been working as a High School Superintendent at New York City Department of Education for 3 years. In the nearly 30 years since I graduated, New York City kids did not become less talented," she says. New York City public schools announced more than a dozen new superintendents in the systems 45 districts Monday a major shake-up of the upper ranks that was met with mixed reactions from parents, teachers and advocates. Chalkbeat obtained documents with a heading from the state education departments teacher tenure hearing unit, which list the charges against Wenk. On February 10, in a Town Hall for Parent Leaders in the Manhattan High Schools District, Superintendent Vivian Orlen invited Director of Family Engagement, Dina Ingram to present on "The Work of Family Engagement Liasons and Parent Coordinators in Manhattan High Schools". The New York native will begin a position as an achievement coach for beginning principals with the New York City public school system, where she had worked before moving to Portland. Looking internally was the right, and easy move, according to Paul Ryan, the school boards president. After informing Superintendent Carole Smith of her decision on Wednesday, she sent out a lengthy e-mail to the school community Friday morning, calling the move an "extremely difficult decision." It was easy to see that internally we have a perfect candidate, he told The Citizen. The superintendent appoints principals, evaluates schools and approves budgets: Elementary and middle school superintendent: Alexandra Estrella,(212) 348-2873, High school superintendent: Vivian Orlen,(212) 356-3880, Elementary and middle school family support coordinator: Elio Valdez, (212) 348-2873, High school family support coordinator:William Mark, (212) 356-3880, Elementary and middle school family leadership coordinator: Nancy Periera, (212) 348-2873 ext. I dont think [DOE] would have moved on a less prestigious school without this kind of media attention," he says. John Wenk is one of the most supportive educators Ive ever known, one supporter wrote on the petition. The board handles the approval of charter schools, inter district transfer requests and approves the department of educations annual budget, but the countys 28 individual district boards handle most of the day-to-day curriculum and other management. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG). Obviously the metrics we are using to assess worthiness for this school are broken., Under Mars, recent students say, the admissions changes were technological as well as ideological. Today, it is around 46 percent white, 18 percent Hispanic, 19 percent Asian, 7 percent multiracialand only 10 percent black, in a city that is 24 percent black. The school's parents association called an emergency meeting Monday night, where approximately 40 parents, students and alumni crowded into a small art-class room and, at many points, became heated. Its just between me and them.. Academic performance varies widely here but there are a few strong neighborhood elementary schools, among them PS 83 and PS 171which also has a middle school with a few spots for high-performing children from outside the zone. hbbd```b``@$GfI?`,&E^I.3 Z/ 5 v^$0}g`bd`v#30_0 So much for one of the famous four pillars of the Chancellor, said Ellen McHugh, who co-heads the parent-led Citywide Council on Special Education. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG), Teacher Laura Blackie takes a photo with her students at San Joaquin Elementary School in Laguna Hills, CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. In some instances, students individualized education plans commonly known as IEPs were not fulfilled as required, and the document says Wenk programmed students and staff in a way that prioritized the arts over fulfilling mandates laid out in the IEPs. After a Lower East Side high school principal was accused of sexually pressing his groin against a teachers leg at a staff holiday party, a Department of Education lawyerasked witnesses for help to prepare a defense, records show. Thats what we want to see; we want to see them take things to another level and to start thinking critically., Dr. Ramon Miramontes, Deputy Superintendent with the Orange County Department of Education, surprises teacher Matthew Smith at Red Hill Lutheran School in Tustin, CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. @%)VZA4C0N$0+%LN~& The teachers were awarded an apple trophy, a $25,000 check from the Orange County Teachers of the Year Award Foundation and an invitation to a reception at the Disneyland Hotel in November. A sudden reshuffling at a small Manhattan high school a new principal and advanced classes has ignited concerns that the city Education Department is trying to appease parents whose . As a child, she moved with her mother to South Korea but had to move back to the U.S. two years later. A lot of news sources are turning this into, We dont want to learn or take advanced classes, says Cali Greenbaum, who served as tech theater rep in LaGuardias student government before graduating last month. 260 0 obj <> endobj Colin, 56, retired this summer, saying in his complaint that he fearedretaliation by Premo and Superintendent Vivian Orlen. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. But she said she did not want to create a distraction during budget discussions and graduation. After meeting with a parent group yesterday, she said she was told they appreciated having a principal with vision who was transparent with the reasoning behind tough changes. He divides students into multiple groups focused on the break system, the engine and the safety and interior workings of a car. I am really tired of this, she added. Manhattan HS superintendent Vivien Orlen sent an email to families on Wednesday, saying Premo, who earned $183,854 last year, had resigned. Camacho arranged a rally for 4:30 p.m. Monday outside of the school, where about a dozen people showed up. Meanwhile, some advocates were frustrated with the DOE scheduling the announcement on the last school day of the year, at a time when many parents were picking up their children. During this time, she works with students one-on-one or in small groups to develop their reading or math skills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG), Red Hill Elementary School teacher Vivian Chang gets high-fives from students after she was named one of the Orange County Teachers of the Year in Santa Ana, CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. She took a lap of honor, stopping to hug some students and high-fiving others at Red Hill Elementary School in Santa Ana. Joseph Cassidy, then the principal of a middle school that sent many students to LaGuardia, lamented such changes in a 2000 New York Times article. Initial results show Orange County Board of Educations conservative majority was defending their seats against challengers that could break their hold over the panel. I would also like to acknowledge the leadership of Vivian Orlen and her commitment to our Manhattan High Schools. endstream endobj startxref On Monday, Department of Education spokesman Doug Cohen said in emailed statements that Dr. Wenk was not terminated but rather had agreed to resign by December 31 prior to an arbitrators hearing based on performance and misconduct as principal. Cohen added,There are no plans to cut any arts programming at the school., Cohen did not elaborate on what the misconduct was but said that Wenk has been reassigned to the central office. By the end of 2021, the superintendent who has led the Port Byron Central School District since 2004 will retire. Last month, students staged an hours-long sit-in at the school to protest Mars and LaGuardia High School Change, a student group that organized the protests, was vocal online about wanting the embattled principal out. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. At the same time, LaGuardias black population dropped and its Asian population increased dramatically. Wenk also allegedly did not follow instructions or directives from district Executive Superintendent Marisol C. Rosales, though no further description of this alleged insubordination is provided. We have lost that now.. Orlen said no principal has yet been named to take over but she hopes the district will realize the community will have high expectations for their next leader. I want to thank Vivian and her team for their many efforts in support of your schools. hb```B@(1E/n00L J-N 2yEXd Dr. Ramon Miramontes, Deputy Superintendent with the Orange County Department of Education, surprises teacher Vivian Chang at Red Hill Elementary School in Santa Ana, CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Join the conversation:In lieu of comments, we encourage readers to engage with us across a variety of mediums. For Cruz, LaGuardia was also a place to escape from the Bronx, and the first time in his life when he regularly interacted with people who werent black or Hispanic. Grant High School principal Vivian Orlen, who has led Portland Public Schools' largest high school for three years, is leaving the district to return to the New York City Department of. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated at the DOE, and we are thoroughly investigating this disturbing allegation, while fully cooperating with the states investigation, she said. In the last five to ten years, they're also taking into account grades and attendance.. In 2017, the music teachers had revolted against cutbacks imposed by Mars, issuing a blistering joint statement that read, in part, If your intention is to further erode morale, accelerate faculty turnover, and sabotage our dual mission by phasing out music, then your actions make sense., Neither Mars nor LaGuardia assistant principal Justin Mackey responded to requests for comment. The schools parents association called an emergency meeting Monday night, where approximately 40 parents, students and alumni crowded into a small art-class room and, at many points, became heated while talking to District 2 Superintendent Vivian Orlen, who emphasized that the school is not losing its arts program. John Colin, a special-ed teacher at the Lower Manhattan Arts Academy, filed a sex-discrimination complaint with the state Division of Human Rights against his boss, Principal Derek Premo. The petition garnered 500 signatures in one day, according to the website. She teaches at Esencia K-8 in Mission Viejo, CA. Her father later suffered a stroke, resulting in Chang and her brother becoming his caretakers. It appears theyre inappropriately using their supervisory authority over the witnesses to suppress evidence in the state investigation, he said. Theyre apparently using their leverage over the teachers to protect themselves.. It wasnt clear if petition-signers were aware of the official reason Wenk was reassigned, but Camacho said his own attempts at asking school officials for answers were unsuccessful. District 4 extends from East 96th Street and Second Avenue to East 125th Street and the Harlem River. MARISOL C. ROSALES Superintendent, VIVIAN ORLEN, Principal Leadership Facilitator . But Monday night, parents remained upset at news of Wenks reassignment and how it had been handled. Students and teachers from the school were asked this question: Does this school do enough to help people with mental health issues? )f)1DDQT]qyNxtXagSzJ>`iheR#1"*2j/_Dx&$szj%b@-m]T~f7k8.X.9-P]qcq:lky|,/vvY'nB.4O g Strongly agree 60% 337 Agree 34% 193 Disagree 1% 8 Strongly disagree 4% 23 Favorable:90% Q.2: My child's school clearly communicates to me about any changes to my child's schedule. Essential education reporting in New York. %%EOF On Monday night, Doug Cohen, an education department spokesperson, said that in collaboration with DOE leadership, Dr. Mars decided to forgo attending graduation., The statement continued: We thank Dr. Mars for her leadership, and will collaborate closely with LaGuardias community to find the next principal for the school and continue its proud history of excellence..
