Ackerman says no more interviews - unless she likes you
Ackerman says no more interviews - unless she likes you
Ackerman says no more interviews - unless she likes you
Dafney Tales
Former superintendent Arlene Ackerman is done taking questions.
At least from reporters from the Daily News, or any other media outlet that she felt "maligned and disrespected" her during her three-year tenure as Philly's schools chief, she wrote to me on Monday in an email responding to a request for a sit-down.
After stepping down as superintendent last week, Ackerman said she made a "deliberate decision" to give interviews to just three media outlets that presented coverage of her that she considered "fair and balanced."
With each interview, the first with Education Week, then with FOX 29 and on 900AM WURD, Ackerman's comments - which targeted Mayor Nutter, the School Reform Commission, PSD Chief Financial Officer Michael Masch and teachers’ union president Jerry Jordan - grew more scorching.
In her conversation with the education news journal last Wednesday, Ackerman said Nutter used politics to force her out. Then in an interview with Fox 29’s Thomas Drayton that same day, she challenged the public to question the SRC about the origins of the $405,000 in private contributions used in part to buy her out.
But it was during her explosive interview with the radio station on Thursday that she pulled out the big guns, pushing parents to pull their kids out of failing schools.
District spokesman Fernando Gallard has said that the School Reform Commission and Ackerman have a "different view of facts and events," during her tenure and refused to respond to any specific allegations. Her other targets have also stopped responding to allegations made by her.
Intrigued by what else she could or would say, I sent her the note to her personal email on Monday afternoon asking if she would agree to an interview. I figured I had this in the bag, considering one of her most vocal supporters and closest confidantes, activist Emmanuel Bussie, informed me that she agreed to a one-on-one with me.
But about an hour and a half later, Ackerman dashed any hopes I had of having a heart-to-heart with her. At least she replied, but in so many words told me that the People's Paper won’t get to take part in her post-resignation media campaign.
"I made a deliberate decision to talk through only specific three media outlets," she said in an email. "I selected reporters and journalists who I felt had always presented a fair and balanced story when interviewing me. Unfortunately, I have been unfairly maligned and disrespected by the Daily News and Inquirer for my entire three-year tenure as superintendent in Philadelphia."
She went on to say that she will be "watching to see how all of the journalists in this city report on my tenure and my departure moving forward."
"Only then, will I decide if, when or to whom, I will ever grant additional interviews. In the meantime, I am moving on with my life."
That’s easy to do when you're given a $905,000 severance package.
I suppose I could appreciate her frustrations. Some of the DN's not-too-flattering front cover illustrations of Ackerman could probably have driven anybody up a wall.
As could the critical opinion pieces by our editorial staff and columnists. But as a high-profile public figure, who was in charge of a district with a $2.7 billion budget and with about 155,000 students, it’s not a news outlet's position to cosset an individual in that position.
But not one to give up easily, I responded with another email asking if I could tag along on one of the workshops she said she plans to conduct for parents.
I haven't heard back from her yet.
So, my question to you is this: Should Ackerman grant the People's Paper an interview? Or do you think her media blitz should come to an end?
I'm still waiting for her to explain away her blatant lies to her own supporters. Telling them she was not leaving when she was already in negotiations to do just that. She won't give you an interview because you might ask tough questions her arrogant mouth won't be able to answer without proving what a liar she is.— Kempoteach
Comment removed.- Kristen, figure it out.— bearsfriend
- We need her like we need the plague. If you cannot deal effectively with adults, how can you possibly be an advocate "for the children." Notice how everyone else is at fault.— Filly5
- Grant her interviews if she offers up her $900,000 ludicrous severance package to the School District, given their shortfall. The children she so prizes would have their art, music, and library programs restored, along with clubs and other programs that they so deserve (which in turn will lessen the violence and dropout rate).— Filly5
- Ms Ackerman, Don't go away mad. Just go away. You wore away your welcome and took the payout. It's time to find another bunch of foo...er... school district to hire you.— DonQ
- I love her...She took y'all tax money and didn't go away. I hope she advocates for the kids and they shut down so many schools they will have no other choice but to assess school taxes to fix a problem that existed before she got here. It takes years to turnaround an organization that has decades of trouble.
I wouldn't give the DN an interview either. I never heard them once say SHE NEEDS HELP NOT ATTACKS. Big Ups to the outlets that she is speaking too.
I hope philly moves to a Charter School System and the unions are busted up and then see how the rest of the non-protected workers live.
She gone but she is better positioned than when she came. You all don't see the issues with the SRC...they did extend her contract right...That means RESULTS were demonstrated.
Politics in Education...What a shame too because those kids in promise academies were doing well. That formula had she gotten it through would have righted that sinking ship.
Dr. Ackerman was an Educator that true didn't get the politics but she got the kids. I feel sorry for Philly. Parent University was a resounding success. People who never came out for their kids did come out for that benefit an guess what..The numbers went up every year not to mention kids going to voluntary summer school.— PreacherTeacher - Ms. Ackerman,
See Ya, Good-bye, Adios, Aloha, Ciao, Sayonara, Arrevidirci - however you wish to say it - just go away. You have what you wanted ($) so let those of us left behind try to begin to clean up the mess you left. I'd say it's been nice, but I'd be lying and I don't lie.— terrym120 - Check her track record of disgrace.— mmds
- I'm sorry, for a while I was happy to read articles about education and the school district that actually focused on children and their education. I see that now, it's all about the fat cats and their fat pockets. What about these stories; how can education address violence and crime in the city, how can the education system prepare students to fill and create jobs for the city, what are the results of Ackerman's program to train, identify, and qualify minority vendors for the district on a long term basis (she was committed to that right), how is her plan to deal with racism at S. Philly high going, and what were her plans to address the cheating scandal? WURD, Fox, & Education Week - We're waiting.— northeastnaysayer
- $900,000.00 is a HEXX of a last pay check, she didn't do her job , fireing was the right thing . Heres the door DON"T LET HIT YOU IN THE A__ ON THE WAY OUT !!!!— october9
- Ackerman GO AWAY, NOW!!! Let's move on and take care of the school children. Ackerman is out of the picture so why won't she shut up? she's not helping anyone especially with all of her negative energy.— Tyrone Biggums
- Comment removed.
What a thin-skinned crybaby.
and if schools were so great under her tenure, why is she telling parents to pull them out? surely the dramatic "improvements" she created didn't just disappear in the last 2 weeks. (unless, of course, there were no improvements.)
now she reveals herself as how she truly is: spiteful, megalomaniacal and willing to lie and use parents and students as pawns in her stupid little games.
what is she trying to do? make a comeback?
YOU LOST LADY!
- This job was too big for her. She was probably chosen because of some political connection. Just look at her immature whining since leaving office, she just looks more and more ridiculous.— jasper729
