brenda cassellius parents

But its more than that. We could use more of that honesty and advocacy for school children. Zip codes are allocated spots at the schools based on the number of students living in the area and family income. All of this landed in her lap precisely when the district was trying to figure out how to reopen schools in the fall. . From the start, Walshs administration had hoped that Cassellius would restore stability to Bostons struggling school system. Kadzis: She would like the challenge and being head of school at Boston Latin School hasn't exactly been the bed of roses either. Boston schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius will step down at the end of the school year, following a turbulent tenure marked by major disruptions in learning caused by the pandemic as well. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. As she traveled the city on her listening tour, Cassellius issued a flurry of staffing directives that often went unannounced and unexplained. Then, throughout the day, the students would shuttle between buildings on a train. Woolhouse: Well, it actually made me think she already has someone in mind. This new official will be more senior than Casselliuss chief operations officer, the mayor said, and will have a broad scope of operations duties, including school facilities, transportation, and food. Walsh added he is confident in Cassellius and always has been. If Casselliuss critics are wrong about her, then this is how: She has arrived in an institutionally conservative city that has a well-documented skepticism of outsiders. She doesn't have heavy-duty system wide experience. If we heard this plan two or three months ago, we may have said, Lets all work toward this, said Shah Family Foundation executive director Ross Wilson, whose organization works closely with BPS, on a podcast the next day. Brenda ignored all of that, a former official says. But plans and strategies have to be tethered to reality, says one former BPS official, and that just doesnt include an imaginary train taking kids around a city to schools that dont exist.. Worked in the Bismarck, N.D., bureau as a reporter and desk editor. She fell afoul of the powers that be when she made it clear that she thought they had to close schools to make running the system more efficient. See all the student videos on the Dual High School/College Credit page. A new wave of trouble began with another of Casselliuss bold ideas, her so-called High School Redesign Plan. Current and former BPS officials came to believe that the root causes of Casselliuss scattershot ideas were her lack of attention to detail and short attention span. Working with educators, parents, business people, students, policy-makers and other concerned people throughout the United States. After two-and-a-half turbulent years as superintendent of Boston Public Schools, Brenda Cassellius will resign in June, city officials announced Monday. However, out of public view, their support was wavering. We're seeing staff come back! Brenda Cassellius was born in Minnesota on September 9, 1967, and she will turn 54 in 2022. Alexi is from Springfield, Massachusetts and attended college at Hofstra University in New York where she majored in journalism and Spanish. Brenda Cassellius Selected As Next Boston Schools Superintendent May 2, 2019 BOSTON ( WBZ NewsRadio) After a year-long search, Boston Public Schools has a new leader. The school committee approved her plan and Walsh agreed to the budget increase. She quickly won jobs as a teacher, assistant principal, and then principal of a middle school, after Carol Johnson (who would later serve as BPS superintendent) hired Cassellius to work in the Memphis school district where she was superintendent. Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius will resign at the end of the school year in June, closing out a turbulent three-year tenure overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, in. The historic building and the congregation within it both seek to reckon with a truer version of their history. It wasnt long before the principals made their dismay painfully public. This didnt come entirely as a surprise. 2018 Columns / 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. When the new system was approved, many city leaders and school advocates hailed it as an outstanding vote that helps to address longstanding equity issues within the district. And that was before the pandemic hit, turning the district and her job upside down. Cassellius and his partner Jason, as well as her three children, live quietly together. She came under fire from some parents and teachers for her efforts to reopen the schools for in-person last fall. Casselius is the second BPS superintendent to leave after three years on the job. The Boston School Committee announced last week that Dr. Brenda Cassellius will serve as Boston's next superintendent. Cassellius had been on the job less than a year when schools closed, but I don't think Cassellius' response helped build trust among parents in the district. Outgoing Boston Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius came in under the cover of darkness and is leaving the same way with a potentially huge severance agreement the city is sitting on. As Minnesota students return to school, for most families, the key questions involve their own youngsters. So I would say, keep an eye on Rachel Skerritt. Do you mind if I run a tape recorder throughout the day? I ask her. Still, Casselliuss critics and some of her former supporters fear she is ill equipped to tackle this next challenge. Boston parent group suing school committee for, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Boston parent group suing school committee for new exam school admissions process, Boston looks to continue remote testimony for public meetings, Special Olympics grant brings the magic of inclusive sports to BPS schools, 98.5 employees had their sensitivity training after Tony Massarotti suspension, Mike Felger rants about people getting fired over a bad comment, Heres what Maura Healeys $55.5 billion budget buys, Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence. The promotions left colleagues, and sometimes the promoted employees themselves, baffled. Even though the July intervention did not come to fruition, Walsh still took measures to bolster the central office. Cassellius made the announcement in a letter to parents, students and staff Monday. This letter is intended to provide information about AYP, Minnesota's waiver request and what an AYP designation may mean for the school their son or daughter attends. Charlene has a way of coaching Brenda, says the former Minnesota Department of Education official. What was frustrating, one former official says, was that they were often mutually contradictory. They were also disruptive. Bill would see benefits restored by Seth Moulton bill, 98.5 employees had their sensitivity training after Tony Massarotti suspension, Mike Felger rants about people getting fired over a 'bad comment', Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment. Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter. Jun 2002 - Aug 20031 year 3 months. According to four current and former BPS officials, she has offered multiple BPS employees significant promotions seemingly on a whim, with little knowledge of their track records. They were tracking COVID, and it was the parents that forced the closure of the school. For that kind of money, Boston parents and voters deserve a full accounting of what led to the mutual decision for Cassellius to depart. The superintendent was about to go into a meeting and she was falling apart, the official says. When you are disrupting the status quo with an anti-racist lens, as an African-American woman, you have to think about the motives of why people might be criticizing the ideas and the disruption that Im making so that underserved children can be served better and to create opportunity and access. Parents Evaluation. The plaintiffs are asking the court to prevent admissions decisions from being made under the new system and to prohibit the district from using a zip code system as a factor in future admissions decisions. There'll be other people considered. When she arrived here in the spring of 2019, she inherited a system plagued by underperforming schools, yawning achievement gaps between Black and white students, decrepit infrastructure, and a distrustful relationship with the community it must serve. This button displays the currently selected search type. Without Charlene, I dont think Brenda would have survived., In the months that followed, Briner helped prop Cassellius up, sometimes almost literally. I dont want this to come off negative, she told me in our first interview, but I think theres almost a sense of pride in that Bostonians say theyre hard on people, just like in Minnesota we have Minnesota Nice., Paul Reville, who served as secretary of education under Deval Patrick and is a supporter of Cassellius, says Cassellius needs to be given time. The pandemic impacted us all, including our workforce. Her leadership skills are very lacking, a former Minnesota Department of Education official who worked with Cassellius told me. Does the union get to dictate policy? Alexi's professional experience encompasses print, television and radio at NY1, CNN en Espaol, 88.7FM WRHU and The Republican newspaper. Cassellius had the political acumen necessary to be successful in Boston and also understood the critical role of educational equity and the needs of Black and brown students, as well as low-income students and English-language learners.. BOSTON Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius will resign at the end of the school year. Bill would see benefits restored by Seth Moulton bill, 98.5 employees had their sensitivity training after Tony Massarotti suspension, Mike Felger rants about people getting fired over a 'bad comment', Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment. Somebody who's passionate about helping inner city kids," said Yonathan Fassil, whose child goes to Boston Latin School. Covered spot news and enterprise stories, primarily in education, crime, human services . Cassellius added that theres nothing wrong with showing vulnerability by crying. Cassellius, the former Minnesota Commissioner of Education, was selected superintendent in 2019 by the Boston School Committee. Cassellius has barely stopped moving since. In one light, Cassellius looks like the ideal person for that mission. parents, and others. Previous superintendents had done deep dives into the details of how the district ran. Lets breathe out. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she supported the change because it is easy to understand, maintains academic rigor, and increases the opportunity for disadvantaged students. In many ways, this was classic Cassellius, BPS insiders say. Secretary Cardona to Visit Los Angeles High School of the Arts, Join Roundtable with Parents to Discuss the Importance of Mental Health Services for Students On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will continue touring schools in Southern California with a visit to Los Angeles High School of the Arts at Robert F. Kennedy . He had a flawed first search for a superintendent. She even briefly served as a classroom teacher in January when roughly 1,200 teachers and staff members called out sick during the omicron surge. She did not say why she is leaving. Josh Collins, Education Evolving, Education Minnesota, EdVisions Schools, Friendship Academy of the Arts, Jensen family, Julene Oxton, Kenneth Eban, Larry Pogemiller, Lars Esdal, Lisa Snyder, Lynn Nordgren, MAAP STARS Conference, Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Nell Collier, Patti Haasch, Rep Roz Peterson, Rep. Carlos Mariani, Rep. Jenifer Loon, Rep. Linda Slocum, Rep. Sondra Erickson, Sam Fredrickson, Sandy Connoly, Sen. Greg Clausen, Steve Allen, Students for Education Reform-Minnesota, Westra family / 1 Comment, This column originally was published by a series of ECM/Sun/Current Newspapers in late November, 2017 Thanks to passionate, practical families, students and educators Joe Nathan One of Americas finest traditions encourages us to pause late in the year, regardless of current controversies, to offer thanks. The plan, which was pursued without Casselliuss knowledge, was never consummated. The tour earned her a lot of goodwill. By then Cassellius had earned a reputation for being full of energy and big ideas. COVID was an incredible challenge. Join us. 'Substantial snowfall' likely for parts of Massachusetts, as meteorologists track wintry mix, Howie Carr: The kinked grocery cart under Biden's America, Hire at Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office loses job after old racist, sexist tweets emerge, Patriots slammed in NFLPA survey about team facilities, player working conditions, Boston Police seize 37 dirt bikes and mopeds, recover fentanyl and guns, and arrest 4 after 'illegal drag racing' investigation, Student loan debt cancellation could be on thin ice as Supreme Court takes up case, Massachusetts lawmakers push for relief, Milton asks governor to stop demolition of broken MBTA station staircase, Black WWII vets denied G.I. The. She has taken charge of a flailing school district and recognized the need for bold and uncomfortable changes. During the second half of 2019, she visited every school in the district and met privately with parents, religious leaders, activist groups, and politicians. And thats a good thingright? The Boston Public School Committee is expected to sign a separation agreement Wednesday to give Cassellius at least $311,000, the Boston Herald reported. A spokesman for BPS declined to comment due to pending litigation. To some, the practical barriers to implementing the plan seemed nearly insurmountable. Hey Marcus, what you got going on these days?. When she was selected as a finalist in the spring, BPS staffers at Bolling, as well as executives at education nonprofits, had called their contacts in Minnesota to get the scoop on the promising candidate. In a letter to "the BPS community" this morning, Mayor Wu said she, School Committee Chairwoman Jeri Robinson and Cassellius decided it was time for Cassellius to move on. Speaking to a room full of staffers and principals, she explained her vision for the next generation of Bostons high schools. The Boston. Unveiled in early 2020, it laid out an audacious vision for the future, proposing that seven large high schools across the city simultaneously expand Advanced Placement and pre-AP courses, create technical and vocational education tracks, offer dual enrollment with local colleges, implement International Baccalaureate programs, and expand to include the seventh and eighth grades. According to five current and former BPS officials, she often appeared to make snap decisions, seemingly without contemplating their ramifications. This year, in addition to giving thanks to God and [], Joe Nathan / But hearing it 49 days before the school year starts doesnt give you much hope., The teachers union also criticized the plan, calling it totally out of touch with reality. In the midst of the pandemic, a teachers union taking a shot at a superintendent should be as shocking as an April snowstorm in Boston. 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