Did Arlene Ackerman just make a goodbye speech?
UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.
Did Arlene Ackerman just make a goodbye speech?
Kristen A. Graham
UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.
District spokeswoman Jamilah Fraser just called me to clarify a point. Arlene Ackerman's speech at the 2011 Superintendent's Leadership Conference today was NOT a farewell, Fraser said.
"It was not in any way, shape or form a goodbye speech," Fraser said. "She's not leaving."
Point taken. It was not a goodbye speech. But the superintendent certainly said things one would say when one is departing - reflecting on her years of service, summing up her accomplishments, etc.
After the conference was over, Ackerman told reporters that "I'm superintendent today and I hope to be superintendent tomorrow. We'll just have to see what happens. This is something that's not just my decision."
As I tweeted earlier, it was announced at the meeting that 110 schools made adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the federal No Child Left Behind law - a huge accomplishment for each of them.
That was down from 158 schools last year.
Pennsylvania changed its standards this year, requiring schools to score higher in reading and math in order to make AYP. Ackerman said she expected the number of schools making AYP to go down.
"I was happy with 110," Ackerman said.
EARLIER:
At the Principals' Convocation at Lincoln High, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has made what sounds an awful lot like a goodbye speech. Follow along with my live tweets for more.
On a mobile device? Click here to participate.
Comments (61)
Nah nah nah nah, Nah nah nah nah, hey hey....— Another_1- Dr. Ackerman is and has been great for all the children in the district. If you are so right and Dr. Ackerman is so wrong then may I suggest you get into to Harvard, graduate, rise to the top of your profession and apply for her job.
This is about controlling the billions of dollars floating around the district. Its absolutely about the contracts and the money for the others (black and white). Dr. Ackerman is an absolute HERO (oh no here comes the childish name calling). Never in the history of the PSD has any black contractor recieved anywhere near a million dollar contract. In a city this size with this much diveristy how was that so. How is that not until this woman came to town did a black company get the largest contract (times 12) in the PSD's history.
The facts are the facts, even when the evidence shows you are not speaking based on facts you still hate. Amazing!
Emmanuel Bussie— e_bussie - bye bye do not not let the door hit you— psdarkside
- Dr. Ackerman did not commit a crime. She just can balance a check book. The over $600 million dollar deficit indicates she doesn't have a clue concerning how to deal with finances and that is reason enough to terminate her services.— mindstorms
- Does anyone at philly.com really beleive that this online twitter discussion is informative or entertaining? I'll watch the news tonight, nothing to see here.— jimmymack
- This is Kristen's blog, not a news article. If it develops it will become a news article. Her twitter feed is for those interested in promptly hearing items which may or may not become 'real news'. — gren
Comment removed.- CleanupPhilly, you should get your own twitter account....it's like lightning speed. A friend texted me today about certain things that happened at the meeting & I was like, "uh, yeah I heard it an hour ago on twitter." love it.
- Comment removed.
- they should gave her a "get lost" speech— hardball
- Comment removed.
- From Kristen Graham's tweet, to God's ears...please let this be true.— The Monk
- that would be amazing. odd how she has a million dollar severance in her contract, really dont get that.— raynesrock
- While the few Republicans that remain still try to convince their Republican representatives that this 40 years of democratic sabotage must be challenged, Brian ONeill and the Mehans and the Fennertys et al all get richer by doing nothing to represent the people who have put them there. Unfortunately, to dismantle the democratic party - the republican party will have to see its demise by voter flight - there simply will not be any republican folks living is this city in five years. Then what will Meehan and the republican politicians that nothing to show for the past 20 years do? After the fall of the republican "blinders" party, the dems willhave to get better - there will be no one else to blame.— Taranis
- Hey tara, you miss the other alternative...Phila gets even more corrupt and the state takes over even more of it's operations eliminating the incompetent D's entirely. Look out baby, 2012 is coming and the R's are taking over everywhere. — cb54
- Thank you jimmymack. This online stuff is worthless and beyond my meager comprehension. It certainly doesn't support the headline.— alak0926
- haha, I don't think you guys understand how tweeting live coverage works -- it's not supposed to be "a news story" -- it's a series of incredibly fast COMMENTS and posts. It's no more useful than reading what people's thoughts are below news stories. If you want to read "philly education" opinions from the people, go to twitter. It just happens that most of the commenters on twitter (unlike the anonymous posters we get here) are Kristen Graham, Helen Gym, philly principals, mayor Nutter & other politicians talking in real time.
It's only useful when you read it live. Example: you got the story tonight. People that read twitter got Kristen's tweets WHILE Ackerman was speaking & commented on the individual quotes. It's SENSATIONAL during SRC meetings. You can literally just...not be there and still get posted about commenters & policies like you were actually there....you should try it during an SRC meeting & see what you think. But no, it's not supposed to compensate for an article -- it's a MUCH quicker commenting forum. - It may not be a crime, but it is a shame that the inefficiency, corruption, lack of clear decision making, and cheating are overshadowed by the Superintendent playing the victim. Where is the outrage from parents about cheating scandals being swept under the rug until the Notebook uncovered the proof? Where are the programs and policy changes to allow more minority businesses to gain contracts in the wake of Ackerman inappropriately handling the security camera bidding? Supporters burning newspapers would be better served to fight for children who are cheated out of an education, rather than a woman who will enter retirement with an additional million dollar nest egg. Shameful.— northeastnaysayer
- hey psdarkside you mean dont let those double doors hit you where the sun dont shine!!LOL— chesterfield
- Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Handel's Messiah— TomTheCork - If the city pays this fraud a cent more shame on them for not firing her for cause. Do I need to list the problems under her watch.— joepir
- Kensington CAPA principal says it was by "building relationships." Check what they did for test prep. The SBIS bragged that they were going over the test before the PSSA - and during the PSSA. She did the same at Shaw MS. There are many ways to cheat/game the test. I wouldn't put it past the principal to do "whatever it takes..." What were KCAPA's scores? They were very low the year before so what did it take to make AYP? Are 30% of students proficient in reading? 20% in math? Flip the numbers....— teacherma
- Roosevelt made AYP? Hmmm, I wonder how that happened...— hey buddy
- Congrats Dr. Ackerman! You will finish your tenure or they will pay you....1.5 Milli! This city owes you more.— DrDaGreen
- Good job Kristen. Just by your continued reporting, you're acting as a high powered searchlight, making all the roaches easier to identify.— axxell
- Ackerman apparently has a very low social consciousness. She thinks it is all about her. As a result, she cannot see the damage she has done to the SDP. Her racial politics alone have created a very ugly situation. So her much vaunted concern for "the children" was all about how many awards she could have her friends give her.
Hopefully, this and what is going on in Washington spells the end of identity politics. We must get back to judging people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin (or gender) as MLK said.— tom-104 - If there is a God, yes, this was a good-bye speech. And good riddance.— SaraMajewski
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Ackerman may have her problems but people act like the entire system isn't jacked up. The last how many superintendents have left here on bad terms and with financial messes? I'm sure the next superintendent will do the same because poor institutional practices can't be fixed by one person.— khase
- It can be fixed by one person, especially the chief who can do whatever the chief want. Like she gave card of minority business, was that the system error? or one person error?
— SouthPhillyMan - Archie and the rest of the SDR will be getting 75% of that severance. That was the agreement when the contract was signed.— DoomsdayCritic
- Kristen's Twitter feed: "Dr Ackerman says principals' warm reception for her was heartening, & her peers' opinion is what really matters."
This was an approval as reliable as the old Soviet Politburo where people dutifully applauded so they wouldn't get sent off to the gulug!— tom-104 - shes a cash cow that isnt good at her job. Let her go, we can only do better. all these supports want her here to baby sit their kids during the day. Be parents and get a job. STOP crying about her!!!!— UGHROLF
- I wish that I had a severance that paid me 100s of thousands of dollars when I did a bad job. You can ruin a company or a school district and get paid a ton of money to leave. Sign me up.— bugsyhawk
- She'll probably go to some other school district and get hired to a big contract based on skin color alone. Atlanta or somewhere in Mississippi. Good luck, let her mess up your school district. People should be hired based on brains, not skin color.— neddyflanders
- Buh-Bye— herbie
- Dear Baby Jesus,
Please make the incompetent and corrupt Arlene C. Ackerman go away forever!
Amen,
Mike Nutter— Yankees For Life - "Did Arlene Ackerman just amke a goodbye speech?" We can only hope.— mike 1717
- Please please let it be true!— a mom
This Writer Graham just won't let a Black women get ahead... end of Story! and fairytale— Kevinmac- Comment removed.
- We could only be so lucky. She'll milk this publicity till the end. Loves the face time and controversy. Philadelphia's coffers have served her well and she still tries to squeeze out more. One lecherous woman.— dogman5
- Dr Ackerman, Penny Nixon ,Darienne Driver and Leroy should be fired!!! These 4 people make all the decisions in the district.
They are responsible for:
a. 600+million dollar deficit
b. programs that do not work and a lack of training for teachers
c. creation of a climate that lead to all the cheating- bullyiing and threatening principal
d. unfair use of human resources- some schools have lots and lots of money ( Promise Academies)
some schools have 3 to 5 assistant principals while others have
no one at all to help and support .
e. The Associate Superintendent has a team of retired principals to help her do her job, while me and other principals have no
one at all.
f. they put their friends in positions where they demean and harass people ( linda wayman)
g. they hire and pay 6 figures to many incompetent people who do nothing at all.
h. swept the cheating scandal under the rug so they would not be exposed as principals who cheated themselves.(NIXON)
I. gave Kenny Gamble new buildings ( Bluford and Audenreid High School)
j. pays for SDP administrators to support the Universal Schools (Frangipani, Brady, Darden, and many more)
k..faked a reduction in central administration to the media . All they did was to give a new title to these people and increase
their salaries.
l. laid off 1500 teachers
m.will open schools without teachers in the buildings
n. will open schools without adminstrative support in the building
o. i could go on , but this is enough -- Let the whole team go-— ashmead - Could we be so lucky?— crystalrainbowspirit1
- set her free? Can't she just leave?— liesaplenty
Our Philly citizens can only hope and pray she is leaving. She has been a DISGRACE to our educational system. As well as an overpaid incompetant!— Ben Fan- She looks like a gorilla— jfrancus
- Does anyone think they will hire another person who will waste money and treat teachers like garbage? I have a feeling the next one in line will join the party in blaming teachers instead of finding ways to address the situation.
Can schools make AYP when there are students who are beating up adults for fun? I heard republicans complain it was the teacher's fault and the unions.— teacher and parent - Amen! In case you hear thunder tonight, don't be mistaken...it's Saccaree doing her "Ackaman for the children" war dance.— aliveandwell
- Comment removed.
- Thank you ED— jfrancus
- Thank you ED— jfrancus
if ackerman really 'loves the children' she should publicly announce that she will forgo her salary and work for ONE DOLLAR for the next year.
otherwise, let's call her out for what she is.
do you love the children that much arlene? will you work for them for ONE DOLLAR for the next year?
i think we all know the answer to the question.
- Please stick a fork in my eye. She makes me want to vomit. I retired in June after 39.2 years, wanted to do 40 but she, Dwight, Archie and Foundations caused by school to become a Promise Academy.— sendme.rs
- 48 FEWER schools make AYP compared to last year and she is "happy" with that?
that's a 30% DECLINE !!!
can't that be considered "cause" for firing her?
wait, now i remember--must be part of the racist, sexist attempt to oust her.
- Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion HOWEVER these below the belt jabs aimed at Dr. Ackerman's weight, appearance, intelligence are childish!! You may not like what she's done, how she's led, or how much she makes, but clearly she is an intelligent woman....or is Harvard just handing out doctorate's these days?— reality-check
- Keep voting for a Democratic mayor....it gets worse(er)— STEVE5444
- http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/solong.htm
Better song choices should be: "Go your own way" (Fleetwood Mac), "It's Over" (Roy Orbison) and "So Long-Farewell" (Sound of Music). Let's hear these notes playing as the Queen leaves 440 for the LAST time.— sendme.rs - Goodbye song? One can only hope.— djdekok
1
Popular Posts
About this blog
Inquirer reporter Kristen Graham writes the Philly School Files blog, where she covers education in Philadelphia, both in and out of the classroom.
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
Search this blog:
Blog Roll
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners: