Comments on: City bolstering ATR evaluation process, but challenges remain

By: Dhedges

Dhedges — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:52:00 +0000

The job of an ATR is very different from that of a regular teacher. Most of us in the ATR pool are very experienced with having our own classrooms and in being a part of the school community. Nothing prepares us for the experience of being an ATR. There are no courses, either in-house through the DOE or the UFT to help prepare us. Often, we have to deal with the worst behavior in the school. There is no accountability when a sub is in charge of the class. NYC has a tradition of abusing teachers who cover another’s absence. The administrators ignore any Dean Referrals we send. The current edition of the Chancellor’s Regs on Student Discipline presume that a teacher will have parent conferences prior to administrative intervention. The students know they will not be held accountable so when they find out that Teacher Z is absent, they all party in his or her classroom and they invite their friends to cut their classes and do the same. We are rarely even provided with a class list. Since we have a disproportionate number of problem students, we should all be given S ratings, just for showing up. And all this is after years of happy service! The deck is stacked against us! We are being bullied and it’s time we stood up to the bully like they did in Chicago!

By: Eastsider2

Eastsider2 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:56:00 +0000

I Was surprised process wasnt another doe tragedy.. The supervisor assigned to me only saw me three times and formally observed me twice. the supervisor met with the prinicpal to make sure I was teaching in my liscence area before he observed me both times. The process isn’t supportive at all but I’d rather have him rate me than someone I didn’t meet.

By: ATR

ATR — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:06:00 +0000

ATRS cant find jobs because they have too many years in ad principals do not want to hire someone who actually has EXPERIENCE. They would rather hire a brand new teacher straight out of college than a tenured experienced teacher because of $$$$$$$…and thats that this all comes down to.

By: zeno

zeno — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:38:00 +0000

There are so many things wrong with this ATR creature that it could only have been devised by lawyers.

By: bob schwartz

bob schwartz — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:40:00 +0000

How is this system fair? I was observed as an ATR, received an S rating, but I am sure it was only b/c I insisted on the teacher of the class being in the room and my supervisor reluctantly gave an S. Shame on the UFT and Arundell. Shame on them!

By: Jjman36

Jjman36 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:50:00 +0000

It is sad that the UFT backs a observation system for ATRs when the entire idea of ATRs is a sad Joel Klein joke. Shame on you all!!!! Jack

By: Former Turnaround Teacher

Former Turnaround Teacher — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:43:00 +0000

It is clearly not right to formally observe a teacher who may be in a class (out of license) and for the very first time. Heck, it could even be their first or second day in a building. Everyone knows it is much harder to teach students when you have not had any time to get to know them.