They love her.. She paralyzes the organization through her incoherence, another former official says. At the Joseph P. Tynan Elementary School in South Boston, she toured the hallways and classrooms with parents and their students, letting them know that she believed the school belonged to them. She has taken charge of a flailing school district and recognized the need for bold and uncomfortable changes. For the next hour, she listened warmly and keenly to the advice of her most important constituentsstudents. Was it the pandemic, which stalled Casselliuss agenda and turned her job into mission impossible? 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. Cambridge's public school superintendent left last summer, and Boston is now in a similar position. And my hunch is . Hey Marcus, what you got going on these days?. Students in the zip code with the lowest family income will be placed first. Alexi's professional experience encompasses print, television and radio at NY1, CNN en Espaol, 88.7FM WRHU and The Republican newspaper. BPS was a troubled district; that was no secret. See all the student videos on the Dual High School/College Credit page. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She is the head of school at Boston Latin School. Shes scattered, she struggles with talent management, and she doesnt provide a clear vision., Those traits were on full display once she arrived in Boston. Earlier this week, Boston Public Schools announced that Superintendent Brenda Cassellius would be stepping down at the end of the school year. Cassellius has faced criticism for allowing her administrator's license to lapse. The couple has been happily married for years and is parents to three children. Parents have seen at least a decade of turmoil, as you said, with a revolving door of superintendents and interim superintendents. Nor could the surrounding city blocks, which encompassed some of Bostons most expensive and densely populated neighborhoods. In Minnesota, he explained, he and Cassellius shared a frustration that an entrenched bureaucracy stood in the way of bold change. 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. To say that Casselliuss daily life in Boston has not been smooth is something of an understatement. 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 . "The Boston Teachers Union is thankful to Dr. Brenda Cassellius for her contributions to our public schools during what have been incredibly trying and unprecedented times," union president Jessica Tang said in a statement. Some zip codes, such as Chinatown, Beacon Hill and West Roxbury will have less exam school seats while other neighborhoods that are typically disadvantaged such as Dorchester and Mattapan, will get more. Brenda Cassellius, ESSA, Hue Hguyen, Minnesota Department of Education / 0 Comments, originally published by www.hometownsource.com, March 22, 2017http://hometownsource.com/2017/03/22/joe-nathan-column-mde-offers-great-opportunities-to-help-create-education-plans/ MDE offers great opportunities to help develop education plans Give Minnesota Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius and her colleagues at the Minnesota Department of Education some credit. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "Under the circumstances, she's done a great job. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. The plan, which was pursued without Casselliuss knowledge, was never consummated. Cassellius chats with the head chef, who shows her a color-coded calendar of the months meals. It seemed, to some principals, like she was trying to fix the high schools with a magic wand. - SEPTEMBER 9: Boston Schools Superintendent Brenda. Seven, or eight, or nine superintendents in a relatively short period of time? Here's what she said at a press conference the day after announcing Cassellius' departure. / CBS Boston. Oh, I want to come in on Thursday. She seems simultaneously energized and at ease at the school. After two-and-a-half turbulent years as superintendent of Boston Public Schools, Brenda Cassellius will resign in June, city officials announced Monday. Most recently as Boston Public School Superintendent. ", In a statement, the mayor said she was "grateful for the Superintendent's leadership, especially while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.". She started in the position in July 2019. Lets go to TechBoston, she suggested. BPS officials stress that the superintendent had every right to put her own team in place. There wasnt anything particularly unusual about the planit called for rotating cohorts of students to attend school two days a week while teachers used a combination of Web-based and in-person instruction. While the nation tunes in tonight to hear the She has previously served as an assistant superintendent at North St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale School District and Saint Paul Public Schools. Her mother's name is unknown, as well as her father's. Brenda graduated from high school in Minnesota and went onto the University of Minnesota-Twin City, where she earned a bachelor's psychology degree. Will they be encouraged and challenged? We talked about that challenge routinely, he said. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. A lot of the most energetic discussion have been around the admissions policies of the city's top three exam schools. 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. "I don't have any further thoughts on that at this time," she said. Everythings smooth and working great. Then, almost speaking to herself, she adds, Because in my life, its not like that every day.. 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. Publicly, at least, Cassellius still had the backing of the two allies she needed most: the school committee and City Hall. And she sincerely sought their counsel. That was after she already had two other meetings this morning. 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. During her early tenure, staffers at the central office found the new superintendent to be more drawn to splashy proposals than to the grinding back-office work they believed was required to solve the districts problems. I dont like to criticize people for crying because its often a form of sexism, says a current BPS official. Most employees who leave companies get an exit interview thats how most businesses operate. In October, school committee members voted to suspend for one year the use of an admissions test for Bostons three elite schools Boston Latin School, Boston Latin Academy and the John D. OBryant School of Mathematics and Science. Kadzis: That's what I might say, but she's a very accomplished woman. Cassellius made the announcement in a letter to parents, students and staff Monday. She has a deep gift for connecting with children, says a current BPS official who is critical of her leadership. Subordinates would scramble to respond to her proposals, pulling staff away from the business of running the school district. Big changes and bold visions were called for. She had been sitting in her car for the past 45 minutes, she explains, on a conference call with other big-city superintendents brainstorming ways to reopen schools in the middle of a pandemic. As Minnesota students return to school, for most families, the key questions involve their own youngsters. Once, a BPS official saw Briner and Cassellius huddled in a hallway in the Bolling Building. And that's really taken up all the air in the room, so to speak. What are their intentions and motives? Cassellius's name on the list is no surprise, since she has publicly shared her interest in the job. Who is giving that criticism? she asked me. 2017 columns, Charter schools, Columns (J. Nathan), Dual HS/College Credit, PSEO / She has one of the highest-stakes jobs in Boston, and the second-hardest job in the city after mayor, one source told me. College campuses increasingly offer time off for mental health, but some are skeptical. 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. You have a vision, according to the official. Brophy might have seen it this way, too. This is not a new problem in Boston, having a superintendent leave. Even with her facemask on, her expression made clear that the episode had been painful. She did not say why she is leaving. Charlene has a way of coaching Brenda, says the former Minnesota Department of Education official. Speaking to a room full of staffers and principals, she explained her vision for the next generation of Bostons high schools. Boston Superintendent Brenda Cassellius helped dismiss children at the Nathan Hale Elementary School in Boston after substitute teaching there on Jan. 5, 2022. For that kind of money, Boston parents and voters deserve a full accounting of what led to the mutual decision for Cassellius to depart. Shes a quick problem solver, says Bernadeia Johnson (no relation to Carol), a former superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. When you are really smart and your mind is moving a lot, sometimes you have to take the time to pause and hear from others., Carol Johnson saw both promise and room for growth in Cassellius. From the start, Walshs administration had hoped that Cassellius would restore stability to Bostons struggling school system. Through the early summer, officials had grown concerned that Cassellius and her new leadership team might not be up to the task of managing the pandemic response. In addition to his editing duties, Senior Editor Peter Kadzis contributes political analysis and is part of the trio that produces the Scrum Podcast. What they heard was troubling: Cassellius lacked strong executive leadership and strategic planning skills. The pandemic impacted us all, including our workforce. She is confronting an entrenched bureaucracy that wants to pursue incrementalism, rather than radical reform, and she is determined to shake the cobwebs free. We couldn't do it without you. 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. BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius is resigning at the end of the school year. She also served as a principal in the states of Minnesota and Georgia. In Boston, where more than 54,000 students returned to class on Tuesday following the holiday, Superintendent of Schools Brenda Cassellius told reporters there were 1,000 staff members out, including 461 teachers and 52 bus drivers. 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. Because of her background, she says, she has a lot in common with many BPS students. Series III Reading. She came under fire from some parents and teachers for her efforts to reopen the schools for in-person last fall. 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. It's been two very difficult years for schools, as many teachers and school officials are leaving. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. MS Word MS WORDPDF PDFView FileMS WordFebruary 16, 2012Dr. Then she reflected. She enjoys making connections with the community she covers and imploring others to use journalism as a tool to stay informed and engaged. Henry Santoro: Meg, let's start with you. Prior to the release of AYP data, Commissioner Cassellius provided an optional letter to parents that school districts could choose to send with their mandated AYP letters. Cassellius, who was pursuing several jobs at the time, said she felt especially drawn to the Hub. BOSTON The Superintendent of Boston Public Schools, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, has announced plans to resign after three years as leader of the state's largest school system and will address the decision in front of reporters at a news conference scheduled for 10:15 Tuesday morning. As a leader, she said, its good for people to know that youre human., Casselliuss colleagues, and many of her sharpest critics, however, have never questioned her humanity. Share Your Memories and Sympathies and Join the Bereaved! Can Wu deliver? ", 'Heartbroken' by the tragedy of war, a Ukrainian opera singer performs in Belmont, Healey's proposed budget a boon to education and the environment, Senate confirms first Hispanic judge to Massachusetts federal court, The woman who introduced MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott lies in an unmarked grave in Boston, The civil rights memorials that expose America's ugly history and warn of repeating the past. When Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius resigns at the end of the school year, she'll take with her hundreds of thousands of dollars from a separation agreement. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 14 BPCAE families in U.S. District Court in Boston on Friday. Prior to that she served as Minnesota's education commissioner. Trying to keep the union appeased and keeping the schools open during the coronavirus pandemic had to be a difficult job for Cassellius. 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. 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. We will remember him forever. When [Casselliuss predecessor] Laura Perille was in front of an audience of children, she seemed stiff, the official says. Further, just before applying for the superintendent role in Boston, she had been turned down for the same job in Minneapolis. Reading Sage MCAS Practice Test. That kind of knocked me down a peg. She picked herself up by reading every book I could find about the craft of leadership, she said. But the lawsuit says the zip code quota system is wholly-irrational and states that it serves to disfavor Asian and White students by decreasing their numbers at the Boston Exam Schools while favoring Latino and African-American students by increasing their numbers., A Brighton parent and member of BPCAE said, My kids have to submit GPAs and with so many kids in this zip location I just feel that my kids, their chance will be limited to get into exam schools., The lawsuit states, The Students are being required to apply through a race-based process. 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