Category Archives: Hardvard Bound

Prince George’s schools’ test scores drop.

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Source: Washington Post analysis of Maryland School Assessment scores for 2013. Scores reflect combined results for reading and math.. The Washington Post. Published on July 23, 2013, 12:20 p.m.

As the New Board of Education for Prince George’s County reorganizes itself and is determined to bring the necessary changes, we must realize that there is no silver bullet. However, as we articulated before, real improvements in a school system like PGCPS take time and hard work.  As we said before, miraculous sudden improvements in student achievement was likely the result of outright fraud or a rigged evaluation system designed to produce desired results. This notion has been proved right today by news articles in Gazette and Washington Post.

Prince George’s County elementary school mathematics and reading scores are down compared to last year, ending a suspicious “positive four-year streak” driven by what appears to be fraud on state tests, and officials say next year may not be much better. (Read more)

On this note, we must demand changes starting with PGCPS HQ (Sasscer) and not cosmetics changes. We ask our new Board and our CEO to go boldly for administrative reforms that relate to the nuts and bolts of our school system and how it is run. Buses must be made to run on time and we must get rid of administrative waste, and sort through questionable contracts beginning with Thatcher Law firm which is the epicenter of corruption and the legal department. We must change contracting procedures and demand more for our kids instead of high suspension rate we have seen in the past. Above all, we must use appropriate technologies to gain efficiencies as well as, demand effective and timely school-to-parent communications. This is the first and most necessary element for enabling parental involvement as articulated by our sister Blogs in the past.

Finally, we must treat teachers and other staff members as professionals. Listen to them and provide them opportunities to influence how schools are run. We must refrain from arbitrary compensation schemes that will make teachers accountable for conditions they have no control over.  On this note, we must revisit how budget is controlled by Principals without much oversight which is like “Christmas in April.” This does not mean you don’t demand accountability and high performance. However, transparency and accountability initiatives passed into law must be implemented fully. We expect County Executive Rushern Baker, Board Chairman Dr. Segun C. Eubanks and our New Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin Maxwell to be a partner, not a punitive leader who are out to get teachers and other staff members. Let us make PGCPS a place that values innovation and professionalism—an attractive place for good teachers and other professionals to work for the good of the county.

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Faith Jackson – (Harvard Bound) shows leadership.

Student Board Member Faith Jackson (Pictured above)

A very interesting BOE meeting took place on June 28, 2012 in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). The day began with Student Board member Faith Jackson expressing her frustration with education in PGCPS District and the corruption within the system. Faith Jackson’s speech is within the first half hour of this video. So please take a closer look. ~~> BOE Video.

For those who do not know Faith Jackson, She is a Charles H. Flowers High School (Mecca of Excellence) graduate who is Harvard-bound. Before choosing Harvard, Faith Jackson worked very hard under difficult circumstances while balancing many things such as, being the voice of thousands of students in BOE,extra curricular activities and the academics. At the end of the academic year, She had to choose between Harvard,Yale & Princeton universities among others. Finally,she choose Harvard University. In addition, Faith who was Charles H. Flowers High School Valedictorian for 2012 graduation class also participated in Soccer and swim teams in PGCPS. She will be remembered for many things among them, showing great courage while under pressure from some of her colleagues in the board. By the time of going to the press, she was under threat of retaliation for making the above speech. The BOE has been undergoing transformation under a watchful active citizenry both from within PG county and around the world. See top priority list here ~~> PGCPS priority for incoming BOE

We have a real serious problem in this county because we have intelligent, involved students such as Ms. Jackson who want to do more to solve some of the issues within this system but they are often shuned off because of bad leadership within the school District, but then you have ignorant individuals who don’t do the research, who do not care about the students or the staff, who are basically ignoring everything, and too ignorant to know that the individuals they have elected some are too incompetent to ever make this school system as good as it could be. The Board Chairperson, Dr. William Hite Jr and chief legal counsel are the epicenter of the corruption in PGCPS. They are in turn supported by close collaborators whose mission is to cover up. Read more. We honestly wouldn’t be surprised if years from now, Ms. Jackson is one of those individuals who refuses to affiliate herself with this sorry excuse for a school system. Corruption is very bad cancer and we must say “No” to it at the first sight. Just look at what happened to former county executive Mr. Jack Johnson and his wife Leslie Johnson. Another example is former superintendent Andre J. Hornsby

What was so interesting about the majority of the meeting is that you see the video profiling Jackson, including her description about how she had to learn to work with the system after coming in expecting to change so much. Then you see the comment from the principal speaking to Jackson’s need to “temper her passion.” Following the profile, you hear Jackson, and young lady is ticked! LOL. We don’t blame her. Damn, we could relate, in dealing with the system many of us in the movement. At the end, when you hear the public comments, you can see the story unfolding, and know why Ms.Jackson finally had enough. She has had enough with them and now it was time to fight the corruption heads on. Dr. Hite who was sitting nearby did not acknowledge her after her speech.

Many people in PG County are not involved with the school system the way they should be doing. It’s sad, but what’s even more sad is that, most parents don’t even show up to PTA meetings to hold these individuals accountable. Not just because we got a bunch of minorities working in the schools, many of these parents assume these people really care about their kids. We applaud Ms. Faith Jackson for her courage to speak up about these issues. It took real temerity to go up in front of the Board and the Superintendent of schools to say what she said. She is already off to a great start because she has already figured things out at the age of 18 what grown adults have not figured out in decades of living here. Reform Sasscer movement is very proud of her achievements and wishes her success in every way possible and in her future endeavors. She is a great leader!

“We must always remember that, leadership can show up anywhere and at anytime.” said one parent recently after watching the above video. Faith is very honest and shown great candor in dealing with the current Board. She clearly demonstrated all is possible and set high standards too. The fact is that, this young lady is very brave beyond her years. History will judge her well and she has made a permanent mark in the PGCPS history books as we move forward. In the meantime, corrupt leadership starting with Dr. William Hite and others are starting to jump off ship one by one…. It’s time!