Carlson, Colleen K ————— eS. From: Bennett, Erinn P [epbennett@seattleschools.org] | Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 12:14 PM t To: Apostle, Paul A Ce: Tsuboi, Frank L Subject: FW: 1112-51 TFA Qualifications Attachments: TFA Hires. pdf Paul, Can you please review the email below and determine what, if any, response can be provided to Ms. McCormick. Please c the Board Office on any response so that we can track it Thanks, Erinn Erinn Bennett | Manager. School Board Office | Seattle Public Schools ephennett@seattleschools.org 206.252.0041) From: P and C McCormick [mailto:cpvmac@hotmall.com] Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 12:11 PM To: SchoolBoard Ce: martinea@sao.wa.gov Subject: FW: 1112-51 TFA Qualifications Dear School Board Directors, T wrote to you sometime back regarding one of the district's TFA hires, Daniel Calderon. At that time I asked what, if anything, the district is doing regarding his non-HQ status at a Title 1 school. I have yet to receive a response from staff on this important matter. Please request that a response be provided, also requested specific hire and license dates for your TFA hires. The public records officer dutifully passed along information provided to her by staff. The information transmitted contained many factual errors that are very concerning. I have notified the State Auditor that the status of district TFA teachers should be investigated, given the SAO findings in consecutive federal accountability audits that the district failed to comply with Title 1 grant requrements. ‘The district risks loss of federal grant funds if it places individuals without permits or certificates in Title 1 schools. 1 will also be following up with the Office of Professional Practices. ‘You must exercise your duty to oversee district management on this issue. The questionable actions include: ‘+ Misrepresentation of information provided under a public records request; ‘+ Employment of individuals without required permits or certificates in place; ‘+ Placement of a non-HQ teacher in a core academic subject area in a Title 1 school, | For what it’s worth, T will provide the clear language in the Washington Administrative Code that supports my statements, See the remarks, as well as scanned documents, in the email below. WAC 181-798-115Validity Date ‘The validity date of a certificate or permit shall be the actual date of issuance. ‘Thanks for your attention to this matter, Cecilia McCormick. 206-595-2366 Subje 1112-51 TFA Qualifications Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 16:48:14 -0800 From: ckcarlson@seattleschools.org To: cpvmac@hotmail.com Hello, Cecilia, {’ve received the following information regarding your request for TFA candidates: Kendra Abernathy Start Date—9/1/11 Worked without a permit for 27 calendar days, fifteen school days. Assignment ~ Aki Kurose Middle School ~ Language Arts, History Conditional Certificate issued 8/19/11 Conditional Certificate # 4845570, issued 9/28/11. Date shown is one day after receipt by PSESD. http://mww.scribd. com/doc/69744674/Kendra-Abernathy Endorsements ~ Language Arts, Social Studies Conditional certificates do no hold endorsements, only area assignments, [No Child Left Behind qualifications ~ Highly Qualified - Language Arts, History Daniel Calderon Start Date ~ 9/28/11 Worked without a permit for seven school days. Assignment = Rainier Beach High School ~ Spanish Emergency Substitute Certificate issued 9/27/11 Emergency Substitue Certificate #48455SH, issued 10/7/11. Date shown is one day after cleared by OPP investigator. Limited to 30 days of consecutive service in one assignment, therefore expired for RBHS on 11/7/11, http://www. seribd.com/doc/69744705/Daniel.Calderon Applied for Conditional Certificate 11/4/12 ~ Conditional Certificate with an English/Language endorsement issued 11/9/12 ‘No Child Left Behind qualifications ~ Highly Qualified - Elementary curriculum, passed Bilingual Education West ~E This validates my assertion that Mr. Calderon is not HQ.to teach a foreign language, let alone at a Title | school. Kenneth Maldonado Start Date~9/12/11 Worked without a permit far nine school days. Assignment ~ South Shore K-8 School — Grade 4 Emergency Substitute Certificate issued 9/11/11 Emergency Sub Certificate #484356A, issued 9/23/12. Date shown is two days before receipt by OSPI. Limited to 30 days of consecutive service in one assignment, therefore expired for South Shore ‘on 10/23/11. httos//www. scribd. com/doc/70272688/Kenneth. Maldonado Applied for Conditional Certificate 11/4/11 ~ Conditional Certificate issued 11/8/11, No Child Left Behind qualifications — Highly Qualified ~ Elementary curriculum, passed kilingual Education West- € Desiree Robinette Start Date ~9/1/11 Worked without a permit for 25 calendar days, thirteen school days. Assignment - Aki Kurose Middle School ~ Language Arts, Social Studies Emergency Substitute Certificate issued 9/6/11 Emergency Sub Certificate #484453F, issued 9/26/11, Date shown is? Limited to 30 days of consecutive service in one assignment, therefore expired for Aki on 10/26/11 http://www scribd.com/doc/63744699/Desiree-Robinette ‘Will apply for Conditional Certificate by 11/8/11 ~had not yet received University sign off on 11/4/11 ‘No Child Left Behiné qualifications ~ Highly Qualified ~ Language Arts, History Katie Schmidt Start Date 9/1/11 Worked without a permit for 27 calendar days, fifteen school days ‘Assignment ~ Aki Kurase Middle School ~ MathematicsBAwRE Conditional Certificate issued 8/19/11 Conditional Certificate # 4845591, issued 9/28/11. Date shown is when received by SPI. hnttp://www. scribd.com /doc/70272582/Katie-M-Schmidt Endorsements = Mathematics Conditional certificates do no hold endorsements, only area assignments. No Child Left Behind qualifications ~ Highly Qualified - Math, Language Arts, History ‘The notice from the various schools is attached. Regarding your request for emails — Do you have specific names you can give me of central office staff so | can concentrate the search? if not, we'll do a blanket search under TFA and listed principal names, Let me know. Colleen k. Carlson Legal Assistant/Public Records officer General Counsel's Office Seattle Public Schools 206-252-0122 206-252-0111 (FAX) ckcarlson@seattleschools.org From: Carison, Colleen « Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 3:19 PM. To: 'P and C McCormick’ Cc: Addae, Olga; Knapp, Jonathan; SchoolBoard; O'Neill, Kevin F; English, Ron; Tsuboi, Frank L; Treat, Noel R Subject: RE: Qualifications of recently hired TFA associate and improper hiring practices Hello, Cecilia, am confirming receipt of your request for: When did each Teach for America candidate start in district classrooms? When did they each receive permits and certificates to teach? Provide a copy of each notice from the various school's requesting the TFA hire. What subject does Mr. Calderon teach at RBHS? Provide all emails between and among the principals of South Shore, Aki, and RBHS and central office regarding TFA and the TFA candidates. Please prioritize items 1-4 first. Item 5 may follow. have begun the process of gathering information relevant to your request. | should have same answers for you right away-next Wednesday, November 2". Then anticipate having an installment of documents to you by Thursday, November 10, 2011, if not sooner. ‘Thank you, Colleen Colleen k. Carlson Legal Assistant/Public Records Officer General Counsel's Office Seattle Public Schools 206-252-0122206-252-0111 (FAX) ckearlson@seattleschools.org From: P and C McCormick [maitto:cpymac@hotmall.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 1:21 PM To: SchoolBoard; Carlson, Colleen K Cc: Addae, Olga; Knapp, Jonathan ‘Subject: Qualifications of recently hired TFA associate and improper hiring practices Dear School Board Directors, I would greatly appreciate your assistance with regards to the following inquiry ‘The October 5, 2011 School Board meeting considered a request for a conditional teaching certificate for the following individual: ‘Name: Daniel Calderon ‘School: Rainier Beach High School Grade/Classes to be taught: Blingual College: Macalester College West E areas: Bilingual Education, Elementary Education Subtest 1, Elementary Education Subtest 2, and English Language Learners Degree/Subject: International Studies/Hispanic Studies (2011) If Tam not mistaken, Mr. Calderon took the following West-E exams Bilingual Ed (050) Elementary Education Subtests (005 and 006) English Language Learners (051) Has Daniel Calderon been hired as a Spanish teacher at RBHS, as reported by Rita Green and Carlina Brown? If so, it would appear none of the tests cited would demonstrate Mr. Calderon's mastery for teaching Spanish. Just because someone majored in Hispanic Studies (history, literature, culture) or can speak Spanish, would not necessarily glve one the competencies to TEACH Spanish, particularly at the high schoo! level. From the PESB website, it would appear that Mr. Calderon should have taken the West-E for Designated World Languages (100), Furthermore, Mr. Calderon has less than stellar qualifications. His work experience amounts to four months coaching soccer and four months as an intern/translator. He was arrested for vandalism last year and paid restitution. How is it that this representative of the "best and brightest” even got into a Seattle Public Schools classroom? Has the board NO interest in the hiring practices of our district? Finally, so that the Board is better informed on district hiring methods I offer the following from the district's application (dated September 6, 2011) for Mr. Calderon's emergency substitute certificate: "Mr. Calderon has been selected to teach in Seattle School District and is a Teach for America candidate. His conditional certificate will be approved by the Seattle School Board (emphasis added) and he will receive his certificate once processed by OSPI. To ensure that he will be eligible to teach, the emergency substitute certificate is requested. This statement renders the Board's vote as predetermined and barely relevant. It is insufficient basis to request an emergency substitute certificate. Once again, the Washington Administrative Code spells out the conditions under which ‘an unqualified person may be granted an permit to teach our children, WAC 181-794-231 Limited Certificates (4) Emergency substitute certification.