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Ejay Clark (photo from TV): appears before Board of Education tonight. WestportNow.com photoThe reviews of Bedford Middle School science teacher Ejay Clark show he was “excellent” in his first year, but he was rated as needing growth in his second year.
Parents who obtained Clark’s reviews – including observation notes and recommendations—made them available to WestportNow (click here for the documents). [PDF 8.5 MB])
The Westport Board of Education held a meeting tonight at the request of parents through a petition signed by almost 200 parents.
In the first year’s evaluation form, Clark was held to be “excellent” in all areas with few comments, but in his second year he only got the rating in 10 of 31 areas.
None of the “excellent” ratings was in the instructional areas. In those 14 ratings, he received “satisfactory” and “room for growth.” He also received one “unsatisfactory.”
The comments also stated that he did not achieve Westport’s standards in clarity of directions, connection between lesson objectives and activities, momentum of the lesson, closure, assessment of student learning and questioning techniques.
“It seems you were not accepting of the critical recommendations made,” the written report states. “The decision not to recommend you for reemployment is based on the judgment that your teaching performance is not up to district standards.”
The first evaluation was only signed by Harry Rossvally, science curriculum coordinator, and Tricia Raneri.
The second, however, was also signed by Bedford Principal Angela Wormser and Lynne Shain, assistant superintendent for curriculum and staff development.
In a November 2004, an observation letter from Raneri states Clark brings “tremendous depth and expertise to our science department.”
A year later, however, Raneri stated in another observation letter that she had concerns regarding Clark’s classroom management and assessment.
In an observation letter from Shain last fall, she states she would expect a more dynamic lesson from an experienced teacher such as Clark.
She states in a later observation letter that his teaching does not reach the districts high standards.
Recommendation letters from Wormser and Rossvally, however, give high marks for Clark.
Wormser states in her letter that Clark encourages students to advocate for themselves and has a high level of commitment to his professional growth.
“I would recommend him for any science position he would choose to pursue in his career,” she wrote. “His commitment and dedication to students will serve him well.”
Rossvally states in his letter that Clark is “personable, entertaining, animated, knowledgeable and passionate about science.”
“He is an experienced, veteran middle school teacher yet still willing to try new approaches and techniques,” he wrote.
I watched from home and am deeply disturbed by the behavior I witnessed by the board of Education.
I’m concerned that the only lesson children will be able to take from this whole experience is what it means to be railroaded out of town.
The ‘Comments/Recommendations’ section of the October 28, 2004 is missing from the files shown here. It might be instructive to know what was stated. The November 14, 2004 ‘Comments/Recommendations’ section includes praise and then “My only recommendation deals with questioning technique and more of an emphasis on uncovering misunderstandings.”
It is unfortunate that Mr. Clark was not observed and evaluated by his principal and/or someone from the central office during his first year. Any questions about his performance might have been addressed and ‘fixed’ then. It seems an impossibility to do much about his performance during the narrow window between November 2005 and March 2006.
It seems to be common practice for non-tenured teachers to resign versus having a hearing before a board of education. I can’t imagine a board reversing a superintendent’s recommendation unless there are extraordinary circumstances. A non-tenured teacher really has no right to be reinstated and a resignation would seem better than a termination.
The recommendation letters are great. They are the way to another teaching position – not necessarily a representation of evaluations. They seem to be a quid pro quo for resigning.
There must have been a quiet, behind the scenes way to deal with this. It is hard to believe that a hearing before the board was impossible. It did not need to be public. Throughout the state, the vast majority of tenure hearings are not public.
We have a group of parents who were quite school supportive, but now are angry. No matter what, this is a tough way to make the school system work.
There is absolutely no question in my mind that the quid pro quo system is inherently wrong.
Why does there have to be a quid pro quo? If the teacher is deserving, then give the teacher the letters of recommendation whether or not the teacher resigns. If the district does not want to re-hire the teacher, then they should live the possibility their decision is reviewable by the Board of Education. These letters should not be held over a deserving teacher’s head – PERIOD.
By doing it in the quid pro quo fashion, you are creating an environment of duress on the teacher – who then gives up valuable statutory rights of review. This is what is grossly unfair and this practice needs to end. The administration simply cannot absolve itself of responsibility for having its decisions reviewed by the Board of Education by having this quid pro quo system in place.
I have read this story in the newspapers and have followed it on Cablevision News 12. Parents, students, and teachers alike are discussing the matter. Westport residents should be VERY concerned, indeed. Westport claims it wants to attract and retain the very best teachers. However, the best teachers out there must be rather wise and intuitive. Given that, they would most certainly think to themselves: “I am staying away from the Westport Public Schools.” That is my thought as I look for a an even better teaching position than I already have. The Board can right this wrong and rehire one of the BEST teachers I know—Ejay Clark.
Principals and Vice Principals tend to come and go, but outstanding teachers stay with the community. To the Board I suggest you do whatever it takes to return Mr. Clark to the community that wants him back—the community for whom you work. Then maybe, in time, the tattered image of the Westport Public Schools may slowly improve.
Dean J. Vaccaro
National Board Certified Teacher