The Critical Issues Committee has received multiple concerns regarding the paperwork mandates from the District. Time management is one of the most critical issues facing administrators and the amount of documentation required is a huge barrier to increasing student achievement because it limits the time we can spend in classrooms, provide meaningful feedback to teachers, and designing professional development. Because EPO is focused on instruction and professional development, we are reaching out to you to share our members’ concerns regarding the workload.
Consistently, the District has also increased the clerical requirements of the administrator. Some, albeit little,
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Will you finally listen to AALA’s frontline managers, LAUSD? Frontline managers by the very nature of the duties and responsibilities of their positions cannot participate in work stoppages. However, the frontlines can collectively conceptualize actions to send the District a clear message of the continuing untenable and unsustainable
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Will you finally listen to AALA’s frontline managers, LAUSD? Frontline managers by the very nature of the duties and responsibilities of their positions cannot participate in work stoppages. However, the frontlines can collectively conceptualize actions to send the District a clear message of the continuing untenable and
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Accolades go to Erick Mitchell, Principal of Sal Castro Middle School, and Elsa Mendoza, Principal, Belmont High School, for showing their muster and determination when the unthinkable occurred on their campuses. Interim Superintendent Vivian Ekchian acknowledged their heroism and preparedness, and how notably these two AALA frontline managers jumped into action.
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In last week’s first page article, “Language Matters,” we referred to The Little Blue Book by George Lakoff and Elisabeth Wehling, to emphasize the importance of delivering a clear message. This week, we will again refer to it as we delve into the critical subject of public education and how many in corporate America and elsewhere are trying to destroy it. The Little Blue
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A healthcare tentative agreement (TA) was reached between the District and all eight unions on Thursday, January 18, 2018. As labor partners, we stood united against any healthcare cuts. The TA must be approved by members of the unions; AALA active members in good standing will have the opportunity to ratify it early in February. The big picture TA includes:
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AALA supports the Board’s decision to name Vivian Ekchian as Interim Superintendent as they begin the search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Michelle King. If the past has been any indication, hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent on a search firm to
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Hope, healing, best wishes, love, prayers, missing you, get better, a full speedy recovery, positive energy, wholeness, comfort, are all mere words that do not begin to express our most sincere and earnest wishes for Superintendent Michelle King as she announces her retirement to focus on her health challenges.
AALA joins the chorus of articles and accolades highlighting her precedent-setting appointment; demonstrating the value and importance of lifelong learning by earning a doctoral degree; experiencing a true K-12 public education as a distinguished LAUSD alumna; and most importantly, serving a significant amount of her career as a proud member in good standing of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles.
What no article will ever capture is
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The #MeToo movement has taken center stage to highlight and encourage millions to speak out about sexual violence and harassment. AALA joins the call with its very own hashtag: #AALA too. Know AALA is a phone call away if any member needs assistance whatsoever in helping them confront and end an insidious incident of sexual violence and/or harassment. To this end, the Board of Education passed a resolution this week entitled “Strengthening Protections for Victims of Harassment.” (To see the resolution, click HERE.) The time has come to empower and embolden victims to come from out of the shadows, and report instances of sexual harassment without fear, intimidation, or retaliation.
AALA is committed to taking immediate and swift action if a member needs help. AALA walks the talk as evidenced
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AALA does not portend to know the awesome responsibility and decision-making process when determining if schools should be closed due to an imminent danger. However, AALA’s middle managers in the field certainly do know what is in the best interests of the students and staff they lead. This
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On Tuesday, November 28, 2017, the Superintendent and staff offered a theoretical presentation of various ways to approach funding for the schools and students in LAUSD. That is all well and good, and while AALA supports intellectual exercising, we are in the month of December and the Governor is finalizing his budget for a mid-January announcement to the state. Next month, he will propose how he plans to
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Thanksgiving Day and all that it represents for the country is approaching fast. With this in mind, it is important to be thankful of the many opportunities within our educational system. Granted, the past few years in LAUSD have not been easy. However, the District has continued to provide what some call Statue of Liberty schools, serving all students regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, disability, or economic
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The power grab to further erode oversight and accountability of for-profit and nonprofit charters was rebuked by former Board Member Bennett Kayser as he addressed the current Members of the Board of Education at the meeting on November 7, 2017:
Good Morning Honorable Board Members and hello Mr. Rodriguez. I am here today to share my thoughts
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The plight of Saturday School continues being an ongoing concern for many members. The serious concern has been raised with the District on numerous occasions. However, relief appears to be nowhere on the horizon. For this reason, the letter below was sent to the District on behalf of the membership:
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The Class of 2018 will be crossing the stage before we know it. AALA is proud to announce the awarding of twenty-five, two-thousand dollar scholarships to the Class of 2018. Last year, thanks to the generosity of AALA alumni, active members in good standing, and corporate sponsors, the association awarded thirty-five, two thousand dollar scholarships to the Class of 2017 in commemoration of AALA’s 35th anniversary.
By now, hopefully many of you know,
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Pete Fernandez, Retired Principal, ELA Skills Center, is without a doubt a great archivist. He recently sent AALA an article from June of 1999 along with the following note, “Thought you would enjoy this. Please share it with your colleagues. (Some things never change!).” Click HERE to peruse the tasks listed in the article “Just Some of the Administrative Tasks for Which We Are Responsible. Each One Is Considered PRIORITY #1 By The Issuing Division.”
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It began about this time last year when the District issued its fiscal stabilization plan that was prepared in response to a lawsuit that $450 million in special education funding was misallocated. Included in the plan was a 30% reduction in the central office staff, among other draconian cuts. While
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As educators across the country face students and try to explain that which has no explanation and reassure children that they are safe and protected, institutions and organizations have put together resources for use with students, staff, and parents. In addition to
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Every school year begins with new plans, new initiatives, new programs, new goals, and new roads to trod, resulting in initiative fatigue, which we have referenced in previous editions of Update. We have identified multiple times that the District has the wrong drivers at work and have offered voluminous times to collaborate with senior staff to establish a supportive environment and collectively work on building capacity. Below is an email from an AALA member who is already (justifiably) frustrated
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