This is the second year our county has hired a person to give professional development to us in writing. Most of us felt we learned alot the first year. We found Ms. Curran to be rather political with a tendency to be rude but we were learning about writing so we kept our focus on writing since we care about our students and want to learn. This year we saw the consultant teach writing mini lessons again just like she did the first year. There was nothing new. Exactly the same I guess one difference was at one point she wanted us to teach the mini lessons for her instead of her teaching them for us. I am not personally intimidated in teaching in front of my peers but I know many teachers were. We did feel that we were already doing this with our reading coaches during the coach cycles. Doctor Hall told us it would be good for us to get out of our comfort zones which I think we all agree is good but we do wonder what Ms. Curran is being paid to come watch us teach for her. She even came and watched many of us teach for what they called walk throughs. Is this the best use of funds to pay her to come into our classrooms for ten minutes then move to other classrooms? Is she our supervisor? Again we are doing this with our coaches and we are observed by our administration. Those that had walk throughs have said they received no feedback. We are trying to understand the point.
Teachers talk. We talk across schools and across counties. Many of us are concerned but we can't complete evaluations honestly because we are usually in small groups during sessions so we feel obligated to give positive feedback. I have tried to complete them honestly but many fear they will be looked down on if they do. We have heard complaints that this particular consultant makes sexist comments in front of students against men. Personally, I have taken offense to these comments. I found them to be unprofessional. Admittedly, I have not heard all the comments that teachers have shared, but even if some are accurate, this is a concern. Teachers at my school and other schools have shared that she has been aggressive with them with her remarks and tone. She has even been heard talking about sex in front of teachers at different schools. Many do not feel comfortable with her or feel they can grow professionally with her since she is unpredictable. It seems she has a pattern of this in nearby counties or at least that is what we have heard. Should we reach out to the counties she has been to and ask? Are our students safe with Ms. Curran? Are we? Are our funds? Many of us have wondered what to do about our concerns but since our county supervisor seems to be close friends with her we do not know how to best approach Doctor Hall. It seems like it could be a conflict of interests for the reading supervisor to be close friends with the person who is getting paid alot of money from our county since it is probably the supervisor who decides who will be the consultant for our county. Now we are hearing that the consultant is doing more professional development virtually. More money to this one consultant who repeats the same presentations.I do not speak for all teachers in the county. Just for many teachers who talked to me about their concerns and I have my own. Like I said i think most of us learned alot the first year. But is this necessary or actually good for our county to continue with one person who comes and spends full days sometimes doing nothing but watching us teach? I wondered if anyone else is feeling like this? Or if anyone knows how we as teachers can express concerns without fear of our principal or supervisors being upset with us. Should we contact the union with our concerns? Are administrators at all concerned too? Are the reading coaches? Are the Board members? Parents? Or just us? I am just asking.
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59 comments:
Teachers are making 100k a year full pensions, medical and 401k with summers off. Covid 19 gave them bonuses.
Please stop complaining
How bout you just be thankful you still have a job.
These issues are not avoidable.
Education is no longer about education... This is pole vaulting over tooth picks.... All these procedures to find inadequate t.you can't get rid of
Alot is a common misspelling of a lot. A lot should always be spelled as two words.
OK-so I looked at her Twitter account. It doesn't surprise me that she would be the way you say she is.
https://twitter.com/christy_curran?lang=en
Wow! Lots of questions that will not be answered. IF you rock the boat, you are humiliated in front of your peers at this PD sessions! I have personally seen this and heard from a male co-worker how she jumped all over him at a PD when he said something she didn't agree with. The supervisor should not be out drinking and partying with the "consultant".
We have another year of her!
Heard Worcester gave her the boot after her 3 year contract was up!
I miss PB!
Commenter 11:10
Stop commenting on articles you care nothing about. Allow the rest of us to openly communicate without your orders or jealousy about how much a person is paid.
Thank you
bob pinto - Correct. Add the grammatical errors, it's easy to see there is a need for these writing lessons.
The person that wrote this teaches ? That is scary.
If the creator of the post actually reviewed her writing and felt as if everything was correctly spelled and punctuated, then apparently the entire course was worthless.
Are these comments really what you all have come to?
This teacher is asking some questions that are legitimate questions regarding how school funds are being spent on someone who doesn't seem to be worth it.
I would recommend for you to speak to your union with your concerns.
Thank you for being brave enough to be truthful with this and for letting us be aware of the waste that is going on.
I can attest to this as a teacher. She is rude and condescending. It’s an insult to teachers everywhere. That we have to recite like a robot straight from the book and then get PD on it. This is what all of our money is going to is this stupid Pd that no one needs and the writing isn’t even effective for the kids. They’re bored to tears because we talk at them like robots and they can’t participate. Everything about the above is true
Nobody cares .... you spent money on a worthless degree
HOME SCHOOL for excellence; for a great education...
I suspect that this instructor is under contract to deliver a package, a complete package. If being assessed by the instructor makes you uneasy, one would have to ask why? Every teacher needs continuing education, and an effective part perhaps not earlier bothered with might be assessing the student's incorporation of the lessons in the classroom. This might be doubly important in the internet distance learning we've been seeing of late.
Every instructor should be performance rated by students as a part of the responsibility of the school's administration. If this instructor isn't being evaluated using your post-instruction written feedback, there is a piece of the process missing.
Is this really the forum to get resolution of your concerns? I think not.
Talk to Dee Shorts. Curran kicked out of Worcester. Not allowed back.
PB would have never allowed teachers to be treated like this by a consultant! Who is the supervisor anyway? Hall or Curran? Everything out of Hall’s mouth is “Christy says...”
This person is raising a concern, a valid one at that. He or she is not complaining about pay. Do not comment on things that you know nothing about!!
2 words...HOME SCHOOL! Ever since the Dept of Ed was established, our system has been slowly eroding. Our country has gone from 4th in the WORLD to 24th 15% of 8th graders know almost NOTHING about US history, and almost half of all schools are way below the world average....Teaching is an honorable profession..... Brain washing, and indoctrinating is NOT! EVERY job I've ever had required ME to meet a certain standard. Simple....if I met said standard, I stayed employed. If I didnt, I was let go! Why aren't our educators held to a standard?
The Chain of command - regardless if its broken or corrupt, still is required for concerns. Don't use it then well......
Just checked our her twitter. Total left wing liberal. She retweet’s all of the liars. I’m sure she’s pretty useless in her job. Would never make it in the private sector.
Dear readers,
I was disheartened to read this post, and sadly, it is all too credible. If you take the time to review this individual's social media, it is, at times, alarming. Now, we are all protected under the first amendment certainly, and have a right to assembly and speech, but frankly, this was an exceedingly poor decision by Dr. Hall. Teachers should be provided professional development that is free of any and all commentary beyond the subject matter being conveyed. To that end, how this woman is a National Consultant is beyond me. If you look at other school systems and the folks they bring in to consult, they are all well regarded and experienced.
Renee, I know that you read this post, so this is just for you. You did not do your homework on this one, and while there are always things to be learned from others, this firebrand is going to cause you grave concerns. She is a poor consultant choice at best, has significant opinions that color her offerings, and if it is true that she is a personal friend, you have made many greivous misakes. Considering the liberal food chain above you I can see why you have done this. You were always the 'get ahead girl'. This was a poor way to go about it.
For those interested, the contact information of this individual is as follows:
Christy Curran
Email: Christyc7@aol.com or Christy.J.Curran@gmail.com
Twitter: @christy_curran
Kind Regards,
Paladin
I am completely disheartened and disgusted to read this post and even more alarmed by all the ignorant comments added to the discussion. The person writing the post has added no real information to the discussion of ongoing professional development other than their personal feelings and gossip. You have not given any facts or information other than real proof that you need the educational time based on your spelling alone.
The lowest form of communication is gossip and slander. Having read the post and subsequent comments leads me to think that everyone here is a disgruntled educator who does not like to take the time for ongoing education and professional development, and to be taught be anyone especially someone who does not talk like you or vote like you.
I have a student in Wicomico County public schools and am proud of all the work being done to continue the learning process for the students as well as the teachers. I know that my child is taught by conservatives and liberals alike. This does not matter to me because I have always found that those individuals set aside their personal beliefs to share and teach my child. I would hope that you would be willing to offer others the same consideration.
To share this person's personal email account is crossing a line. I noticed "Paladin" that you failed to provide your email address for further comment. The fact that you know her email address adds more information that you are another educator who is angry at having to learn from someone other than yourself.
I am thankful for Dr. Hall who has dedicated herself to the task of ongoing development with the county. I know that my student has benefited from the reading and writing instruction offered through her and all the teachers and coaches in Wicomico County.
Wicomico County Parent
11 56 shes getting big bucks staying home and beaching it while you are flipping burgers
I don't believe many teachers are paid $100,000 per year but I suspect a few overpaid administrators are.TOO MANY GENERALS AND TOO FEW SOLDIERS.!!!!
Today I spoke with a friend living in China - and he informed me that all of the schools in China are now open and operating.
Thanks for your input KP.
What teacher is making 100k? You're as uninformed as can be, so you should probably continue to only make posts to your gaming friends on Call of Duty.
3:21 - the contact info for the consultant is on her web page - it’s publicly available
Anonymous said...
Teachers are making 100k a year full pensions, medical and 401k with summers off. Covid 19 gave them bonuses.
Please stop complaining
May 13, 2020 at 11:10 AM
Most of our teachers are not making that kind of money, IDIOT!
Thank you to the parent who took time to share a response on this topic. As a teacher in the county, who has attended several writing trainings from Christy Curran, I found her to be very professional and kind. I asked a lot of questions during the first few trainings, and she was very patient and respectful. I learned a great deal about teaching writing that helped my students writing skills grow throughout the year from her demonstration lessons.
3:21 - go read Paladin's comments again...and consider the possibility he may have been a peer....or superior to Hall
Most of you are totally missing the point. This teacher is concerned that the same lessons are taught by the consultant every year, she apparently makes sexist remarks and talks about sex when students can hear her conversations, as well as being nasty at times to those she is supposed to be "teaching". She is not teaching lessons to the students, rather making the teachers do it while she does "drop ins" to the classes for a mere 10 minutes. These things ARE concerning to me, as a parent, and should be to all parents and BOE staff members. I personally feel that the friendship between Dr. Hall and Ms. Curran is a conflict of interest. Drop the salary comments and the remarks about complaining teachers! This teacher has a very real concern and is looking for guidance. I don't blame her for not wanting to go "up the ladder" with her concerns because retribution is VERY real at the BOE.
Whoever said teachers make a 100,000 a year is an idiot. Teachers that make that amount have been teaching for 30+ years and I would venture to say they do not even make that. I am so tired of people throwing summers off in our face as well. We only get summers off so we don't go insane dealing with 25 kids all year long.
I applaud this teacher for standing up and being bold. As citizens, that is what we are called to do. The citizens are tired of the school system using our infrastructure as a means of political indoctrination and control. Our students are being exploited, our teachers are neglected and being made to push forth propaganda of the biased left-wing socialistic agenda. They are misappropriating our tax dollars to finance all of this with the support of their partner in crime called the Maryland State Department of Education. Anyone who disputes this is deceived to believe otherwise. I would not say this if there wasn't absolute evidence to support it. We need more teachers like this to stand up and speak out, and we the people support anyone who does. Parents and taxpaying citizens are watching and are learning what really goes on.
And for those that want to say that we get paid for not working in the summer is totally false. We get paid for 10 months or 20 pay checks and then have money taken out of each check to be used in the summer. So please understand the facts before spouting off.
I think teachers earn every penny they get. The liberals have taken over the system. No thug left behind oh I mean child. This lady is just another self promoting Libtard that Donna thought would help. There is a reason she is no longer welcome in Worcester County. She fits more in the Baltimore crowd.
I teach in Worcester. Don’t be too hard on your supervisor. Ours fell into same trap with this consultant. Ours thought Christy Curran was a friend, too. But a friend would never put a supervisor in these positions. Ultimately it makes the supervisor look bad when teachers are being bullied, and consultant is so unprofessional and untrustworthy. A friend does not do that to someone they care about. Hopefully your county can get out before too much damage is done.
We don't make 100k. We didn't get Covid 19 bonuses. We can't even teach our own children during this pandemic. The Reading and Math Coaches are setting up "lesdins" for "continuity of learning" and their paycheck justification. Dr. Hanlin herself had said she was not sure why the County needed Coaches, those Coaches are to help teachers through teaching curriculum not create curriculum and teach kids. They're jobs are not necessary and as 1 on 1 assistants were laid off, should said Coaches have been? On to Curran and Hall...it is a scarey relationship. Curran is manipulative, rude, and ignorant to our students. She doesn't understand our student dynamics. She has made children cry, embarrassed them and will only work with ones who can actually do the work. Her "lessons" are on the same topic and her children conferences are never on what the students need, it's what she wants to talk about. She's condescending and is a company woman trying to sell her products. Now she and Hall have teachers doing Grand Conversation work which goes against our current reading curriculum of F&P. Meanwhile, F&P, is an excellent curriculum and appropriate for our students. All Hall talks about is her "best friend" and it seems some of the Coaches are divided. Some follow blindly and others don't care for her but have to do what is said to keep their jobs. Teacher input is not considered and very few agree with her or what she's trying to "teach" us. It's not appropriate for all students, especially young ones. Curran needs to go. Some of the Coaches, probably as well. Hall needs to realize what she's doing to these students. Spend that PD money more appropriately. So mind your business kind sir or madam, this has nothing to do with teacher pay and was not even mentioned.
How would you feel to be forced to do something and follow people you knew were being detrimental to kids education? We are thankful to have our job and most of us are more than willing to go back. But because of sheeple like you, we can't. Read the article, it's not a complaint on us maki g money or working g. It's about spending our PD money on good PD and not filling a bitch's pockets.
Lol...you're funny. Not all kids have families who can because they're not educated or literate. This is a legit6concern for teachers for their students. Jesus. If a teacher cam on here and said she was great and wanted more of her, you all would be complaining.
We heard she was coming back to Worcester this current year!
Thank you.
It won't. At all.
100 K? Really??? LMAO!
Legislation needs to be passed for voters to elect school board members. Our kids deserve a better education with the funding already appropriated. Not to be used for biased union reps and administrators.
Board of ed members are elected in Wicomico.
Board of ed members are elected in Wicomico.
I teach math at WCBOE, so I am not familiar with this particular English professional development program or person. But the BOE in general, wastes money on stuff like this, and worse. All the time. Period!
And to the comments on our salary... Yes, I am super thankful to be working online from home and getting paid through this crisis. But even a teacher with 30 years and a doctorate degree makes only 85K. No teachers make 100K in this county.
https://www.wcboe.org/cms/lib/MD50000151/Centricity/Domain/84/Unit%201%20-%20Teacher.pdf
Now at the BOE level, there is wasteful salary structure there I am sure. I cannot attest to knowing all of their salaries, but let's just say I can think of at least 5 completely unnecessary BOE positions that make 6 figures. Cut them tomorrow, and nobody would miss them. Business as usual.
The public education system is simply awful all over the country. Plenty of blame to go around. Cares more about being a surrogate parent than educating kids. The system was never designed or supposed to be the parent to kids with negligent parents. Years ago, parents were made to be more accountable. Now, the spineless boards of education and administrators are too afraid of being falsely accused of being insensitive or even racist. Most know what the problems are but, do not have the guts to say what they truly are, much less do anything about it. Wicomico, Somerset and Dorchester counties are the absolute worst locally.
12:10...Really? You’re a teacher and wrote “they’re jobs”? It’s “their jobs”. It’s also “scary” not “scarey”. Maybe that’s why you need a consultant!!! Proof read your posts. Especially if you are an educator. Isn’t that something that you require of your students?
Actually, it shows why the course is needed. Because the teachers cannot write effectively.
This teacher didn’t “stand up and be bold”. Signing their name would have been “standing up and being bold”. Blasting anonymously is “cowardly”. Before you say “posting their name would make them a target”, I understand that. That’s why it would have been “standing up and being bold”. Lastly, you can blast me all you want for posting anonymously. I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m just simply pointing out that, if you think the original poster is “standing up and being bold”, you are sadly mistaken.
Why is a county implementing a Calkins program but not using a Calkins consultant? Why is any county using a consultant who left Calkins? Curran no longer works with Calkins from what I can see. Independent consultant now. If a county wants to implement a writing program by an author like Calkins, wouldn't it make sense to use consultants from Calkins Teacher College?
“We heard” is another way of saying “let me throw this out there and try to get a rise out of everyone when, actually, I just made this up”.
Christy Curran is a horrible excuse for someone in a leadership role. I have been in a classroom as she humiliated a teacher in front of her colleagues and students for asking a legitimate question. Dr. Hall found it funny. I agree that we may have learned from the first few workshops but enough is enough. She does the same thing every time and I’ve actually gotten to the point of feeling I execute my lessons better than her. I’m sick of hearing about the two “friends“ enjoying vacation and drinks. It’s not happy hour...it’s our children’s education! This writing program doesn’t even teach the children anything. It’s more of a scripted Broadway show for the teachers to perform. Get rid of the Writing workshop and Christy Curran to save that money for useful professional development.
At our grade level pd with Mrs. Curran, we listened to her talk about how she stays at Dr. Hall's house, how Dr Hall's own children call Mrs. Curran, Aunt Christy. Wonder if her payment included hotel costs? If so, seems like being friends with the supervisor who hires her is working in her favor in more than one way.
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