Penny Nixon leaving district - temporarily
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
Penny Nixon leaving district - temporarily
Kristen Graham
Philadelphia School District chief academic officer Penny Nixon is taking an educational sabbatical effective Nov. 1.
The sabbatical was announced to principals in an email from Nixon and to other staffers in an email from William R. Hite Jr., the new superintendent.
Nixon, who has overseen academics during an incredibly tough and tumultuous time in the district, will finish her doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
District spokesman Fernando Gallard said the sabbatical was solely for the purpose of Nixon's studies and not related to investigations of state exam cheating. Nixon was formerly principal of Wagner Middle School, one of the 53 district schools still being probed for possible improprieties.
Hite said he made the announcement with "mixed feelings."
"I support her commitment to continue her education to further pursue her goals and career, but she will be sorely missed," Hite wrote. "Her leadership and commitment to our students, families, teachers, principals and schools have allowed the district to overcome a tumultous period and move forward. I am grateful for the tremendous work she has done on behalf of the children of Philadelphia."
Nixon, a Philadelphia native, worked her way up through the ranks of district leadership, serving as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and finally chief academic officer. She was promoted to her current job in January, when the School Reform Commission installed Thomas Knudsen as chief recovery officer.
"I am pleased that we had a successful school opening, and the new superintendent is transitioning well into the district," Nixon wrote to principals. "As always, I wish you a school year filled with great success."
Would somebody please get in here and tell us what actually happened?— TheodorePikul- You don't expect ANYONE from THE DISTRICT to actually tell the TRUTH. DO YOU? So Naive! Let me fill in the blanks for you. The dirty little secret is that the Standardized Test Cheating was NOT conducted by one rogue principal at Roosevelt like the district would like you to believe. They sure threw her under the bus didn't they? The cheating was massive and district wide and sanctioned by the higher-ups in Regional Offices and upward. Perhaps all the way to the top...JUST LIKE WATERGATE. I like to call it TESTGATE.
The District is ruthless once they turn on you. Now it's Penny's turn. Only difference is she knows where the bodies are buried and she has some leverage. Penny rode her career to the top as a principal on the LIE of TEST SCORE IMPROVEMENTS. She was just one of the many fraud rising star principals. That's the essence of the characters running this school district. The people who cheat and lie and break the rules are the ones who excel and are celebrated. Now, the lie has been exposed again. Looks like Dr. Hite just couldn't ignore it or embrace it like her predecessors did. He's walking in just as this boil is festering. This is HUGE. A National disgrace in the making.
- ...But unbelievably, as usual, The District avoids a public flogging and gives Penny her walking papers in the form of a Sabbatical. Sabbatical is a paid vacation. The taxpayers are going to pay CHEATING PENNY NIXON to sit and do nothing when this School District is broke. How many school aides could we bring on to help out at Penny's salary? I'd conservatively say about 8 or 10 noon time aides. But no, that is too practical. We'll just give it to her Ackerman style.
- ...Sabbatical is supposed to be a period of leave granted to acquire new skills or training. That is not what this is. This is a paid leave to go away and find something new. Instead, they should just throw her big badunkadunk out on Broad Street. It's HUSH MONEY. Instead of paying her Ackerman style, we should fire her outright and send her case to the District Attorney for ethics violations and breaking of laws. Penny Nixon is a fraud. Possibly a criminal. Fire her and take away her pension. Stop the absurd coddling. Didn't we learn anything from the Ackerman fiasco? This is basically the same deal. Sabatical?....Sabatical??
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!
FIRE PENNY NIXON! - I Love It!!!!!! Pierre- You are the best writer who is not employed by the Inquirer on the Inquirer. This comment should be printed on the front page. I would trade Three Jon Halls' and Two Stu Bykofsky's for just one of you. You are the best writer here. President Obama dubbed Bill Clinton as The secretary in charge of explaining things, but President Obama does not know you. You nailed it. I agree that Penny Nixon must be fired. That sabbatical nonsense is total bull. I urge Mr. Hite to have some cajones and fire Penny Nixon now.
She stinks. And that is something when I think that something stinks, if you know who I am.— Mr_Hankey - People are being naive if they think Hite is not part of the plan to discredit traditional public schools. Ackerman was on the Board of the Broad Foundation when she was Superintendent in Philadelphia. Hite attended the Superintendents Academy at Broad in 2008. Ackerman's reign of terror and bizarre administrative style are what the Broad Foundation calls "churn". It is part of a conscious plan to discredit traditional public schools.
http://parentsacrossamerica.org/how-to-tell-if-your-school-district-is-infected-by-the-broad-virus/
— tom-104 - Poor Penny. Nobody loves her but her Mama...and she might be jiving her too.
— D.C. Stinkley - Shown the door with requisite fanfare avoiding more negative press...— TomTheCork
- Do you smell that? Do you smell that? That's the stench of burned copper. It smells like victory!
— DarnelX - The district is so much better off with Penny Nixon gone. I'll bet she is gone way before November 1st., but I believe that we can all agree that that empty chair that sits in her office will make much better decisions and do better work than when Penny was sitting in it. I'm serious. Maybe we can get Clint Eastwood to come and talk to this empty chair. It will certainly be a more honest and interesting conversation. LOL
Getting rid of bad Penny is a victory. What is not yet a victory is the too easy way that she is leaving. For a normal executive, yes. However, Penny Nixon is likely very guilty of rules and ethics violations as well. She was hip deep in the test cheating. She may have even broken laws. This is why it is too easy for her to leave in such grand fashion. She deserves to be escorted out now and loaded in a Paddy Wagon. - Who takes a saabatical on Nov. 1st? Sept or Feb but NOT Nov...Who didn't know this was coming? Shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic folks.— Fillygirl250
- Who takes a saabatical on Nov. 1st?
A- Guilty People
B- Fired People
C- People Preparing For A Legal Defense
D- All OF THE ABOVE
Answer- D - Live by the scores - die by the scores,,,— CrotchetyOldMan
- so she'll get_____ percent of salary while on sabbatical for the next (critical) school year? and how long thereafter does the law require she be paid for continuing her studies or whatever she else she is not needed for full time just NOW?? Nice to meet you, Mr. Hite. I'm sure you're gonna feel very comfortable here..............— hmmm
- She is being fired: This is NOT TEMPORARY.
Here is what Hite said:
"I support her commitment to continue her education to further pursue her goals and career, but she will be sorely missed," Hite wrote. "Her leadership and commitment to our students, families, teachers, principals and schools have allowed the district to overcome a tumultous period and move forward. I am grateful for the tremendous work she has done on behalf of the children of Philadelphia."
This is not temporary. This is a goodbye. Penny You are fired.— DarnelX
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.
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