Most employees who leave companies get an exit interview thats how most businesses operate. The plan was opposed by some parent groups that wanted 20 percent of the spots at the schools set aside for the best applicants regardless of socioeconomic status. Throughout her tenure as superintendent, Cassellius has seemed happiestand told her colleagues shes happiestwhen she is in schools and with children. Cassellius loves playing hockey and water skiing. 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. Near the end of our final interview, during which I detailed her critics charges, Cassellius cut me off. Subordinates would scramble to respond to her proposals, pulling staff away from the business of running the school district. A group of Boston parents has filed a lawsuit against the school committee and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius for what they call a wholly-irrational exam school admissions process, which had recently undergone changes due to the pandemic. According to a person who spoke with him multiple times in August, the COO said, in colorful language, that Casselliuss teams preparations were so far behind schedule that it would require drastic measures to open school buildings in time. And now I know its for getting us through this pandemic. Her confidence, and her self-belief, paid off. The superintendent was about to go into a meeting and she was falling apart, the official says. Linking the Minnesota MCA III Assessments to NWEA MAP Tests. Charlene has a way of coaching Brenda, says the former Minnesota Department of Education official. But BPS staffers and observers perceived Brophys work as an emergency rescue mission. 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. 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. 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. Under previous superintendents, BPS executives had used a complicated formula to calculate the annual budget increase they would request from the mayor. On an unseasonably warm day in October 2019, Brenda Cassellius took the floor during a meeting at the Bolling Building, BPSs headquarters in Nubian Square. Boston Public School Superintendent Brenda Cassellius will walk away with more than $300,000 as part of a separation agreement that she reached last week with the Boston School Committee. 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. She came under fire from some parents and teachers for her efforts to reopen the schools for in-person last fall. BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius is resigning at the end of the school year. COVID was an incredible challenge. Everyone was going every which way without direction, without leadership., Meanwhile, the senior leadership ranks cleared out as incumbents defected (Casselliuss chief of staff left in complete and utter dismay, a current BPS official says) or were pushed to resign. 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. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Hi, Rose, she said brightly. That was a marked departure for her and showed a little independence. Alexi's professional experience encompasses print, television and radio at NY1, CNN en Espaol, 88.7FM WRHU and The Republican newspaper. When BPS faced a lack of staff, Brenda took a substitute teacher position at Nathan Hale Elementary School, Roxbury. And I started to do things where it wasnt just my idea, but everybodys idea.. Then she reflected. Brenda ignored all of that, a former official says. Just to cite one example, she's run through four chiefs of staff in two years. Covered spot news and enterprise stories, primarily in education, crime, human services . Cassellius made the announcement in a letter to parents, students and staff Monday. They were tracking COVID, and it was the parents that forced the closure of the school. ", '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. Casselliuss staffers were stunned that she believed it was possible to shut down two school buildings in a matter of weeks, when that process normally took years. Here are some entertainment opinions that you can follow: Guests manage to have a better time when entertainment involves actions they can be instantly linked in. To some, the practical barriers to implementing the plan seemed nearly insurmountable. Campbell Brown (journalist) Alma Dale Campbell Brown (born June 14, 1968) is the head of global news partnerships at Facebook and a former American television news reporter and anchorwoman. Woolhouse: The pandemic, I think it's been a very rough ride for her. She did not say why she is leaving. The Boston School Committee extended their agreement in June 2021, reports WGBH. Speaking to a room full of staffers and principals, she explained her vision for the next generation of Bostons high schools. We couldn't do it without you. Photo By Matt Stone/ MediaNews Group/Boston Herald. 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.. Her leadership skills are very lacking, a former Minnesota Department of Education official who worked with Cassellius told me. All of this landed in her lap precisely when the district was trying to figure out how to reopen schools in the fall. Brenda Cassellius will resign at the end of the school year, roughly three years after she was hired away from Minnesota. Battenfeld: Boston parents and kids deserve a, 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), Battenfeld: Boston parents and kids deserve a truthful accounting from Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Editorial: Focus should be on saving Social Security, Lucas: Heres hoping for a Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, Howie Carr: The kinked grocery cart under Bidens America, Woodward: Blame organized crime for shelves under lockdown. For that kind of money, Boston parents and voters deserve a full accounting of what led to the mutual decision for Cassellius to depart. In addition to his editing duties, Senior Editor Peter Kadzis contributes political analysis and is part of the trio that produces the Scrum Podcast. 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. As Minnesota students return to school, for most families, the key questions involve their own youngsters. It caught me off guard, Cassellius admitted during the interview in a BPS classroom. Woolhouse: Well, that's a great question. She has always wanted to be a teacher and instruct pupils. Brenda CasselliusCommissionerMinnesota Department of Education1500 Highway 36 WestRoseville, Minnesota . But with Brenda, one former official says, word came down that if your presentation was more than a few slides, you would lose her.. There was also backlash from the citywide school nurses union. After two-and-a-half turbulent years as superintendent of Boston Public Schools, Brenda Cassellius will resign in June, city officials announced Monday. And my hunch is . The mayor and Cassellius say they arrived at the decision to have Brophy help BPS together. So why not do the same with Cassellius, giving parents and students an inside look at the frustrations and struggles of a schools chief in Boston? In meetings, she often broke down in tears and said she felt overwhelmed, according to three people who witnessed these episodes. Lack of uniform start and dismal dismissal times is the root of the problem, report says. 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. She is the head of school at Boston Latin School. It worked. Sweet potato fries! Cassellius says, pointing at the calendar. She doesn't have heavy-duty system wide experience. All rights reserved, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu unveiled Cassellius's impending departure in February, Still No Word on Reason Behind Boston School Superintendent's Departure, Boston Public Schools Superintendent to Resign, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, Rescuers Capture Bald Eagle Believed to Be Critically Sickened by Rat Poison, Here's How Shark Extinction Would Devastate the Ocean, Driver Describes Very Scary' Moments Trapped in Car After Crash Takes Down Power Lines in Stoneham. 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. That left Brenda Cassellius as the default candidate and the darling of the teachers union. Strike a blow for transparency for once. Reading Sage MCAS Practice Test. However, on Tuesday Dr. Cassellius sent her letter of resignation to Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson. While the nation tunes in tonight to hear the 2017 columns, Charter schools, Columns (J. Nathan), Dual HS/College Credit, PSEO / But it's not the only issue here. Interpretive Guide for Minnesota Assessment Reports 2015 2016. 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. She has taken charge of a flailing school district and recognized the need for bold and uncomfortable changes. She sees something and she does it. Casselliuss decisiveness and big ideas, however, sometimes ruffled the feathers of more traditional colleagues, Johnson says. September 8, 2018 Will new reporting & school support systems help students? Series III Reading. what does seats not included mean on hopperthe hardy family acrobats 26th February 2023 / in was forest whitaker in batteries not included / by / in was forest whitaker in batteries not included / by Previous superintendents had done deep dives into the details of how the district ran. Cassellius informed Boston students, parents, and staff in a letter Monday, saying she . Lets breathe out. 2018 Columns / Her resignation. Denne knap viser den valgte sgetype. Back in the cafeteria, before we leave, she nods with approval as an administrator explains the schools grocery-distribution system. To say that Casselliuss daily life in Boston has not been smooth is something of an understatement. Do the windows open at the central office? I asked. Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images By Meg Woolhouse Peter Kadzis Henry Santoro February 11, 2022 Morning Edition Share Email Facebook Listen 8:10 Henry Santoro: Meg, let's start with you. 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. Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius will resign at the end of the school year, bringing to an end a three-year tenure marked by COVID-19 upheaval and leaving Boston's new mayor with major decisions on the education and policing fronts. The school committee approved her plan and Walsh agreed to the budget increase. She started in the position in July 2019. In 2021, school districts will face the daunting task of repairing the damage sustained during the pandemicparticularly for low-income children of color who have borne the brunt of the school shutdowns. Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments ? Brenda's parents have consistently encouraged her career goals. Cassellius, the former Minnesota Commissioner of Education, was selected superintendent in 2019 by the Boston School Committee. When [Casselliuss predecessor] Laura Perille was in front of an audience of children, she seemed stiff, the official says. Leading for equity, Dr.. Working with educators, parents, business people, students, policy-makers and other concerned people throughout the United States. According to sources with direct knowledge of this effort, as well as contemporaneous records, the officials were seeking candidates to step into a new role: czar for BPS operations and pandemic response. Kadzis: Well, first of all, I didn't sound very sympathetic the first time. 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. Its that she was falling apart., In October 2019, Cassellius reached for a lifeline, hiring Charlene Briner as her new chief of staff. Casselius is the second BPS superintendent to leave after three years on the job. "Under the circumstances, she's done a great job. On. Brenda Cassellius. Her hometown school board, which had watched her work closely for years, passed her over, citing the scarce progress on closing achievement gaps during her eight years as the top education official in the state. We had all this wind under our wings, she says. The parents of all Boston school children will appreciate the rare candor. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It was a flight of fancy, one former principal says. Woolhouse: Well, it actually made me think she already has someone in mind. In the summer, McChrystal Group, a consultancy that has worked with the mayor at City Hall, began running Casselliuss weekly coronavirus update calls with principals. Still, Casselliuss critics and some of her former supporters fear she is ill equipped to tackle this next challenge. We're seeing staff come back! She has overseen defections and ousters among her senior executives, a revolt from school principals, and public excoriation from influential nonprofits and activists. BPS was a troubled district; that was no secret. Nor could the surrounding city blocks, which encompassed some of Bostons most expensive and densely populated neighborhoods. Tell us what she really thinks of the joke of a school committee and the oversized influence of the powerful teachers union. But it shows that her top allies confidence in her was rapidly eroding. In many ways, this was classic Cassellius, BPS insiders say. Cassellius added that theres nothing wrong with showing vulnerability by crying. It wasnt long before the principals made their dismay painfully public. 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. She has worked arduously to reach her dream of becoming a successful teacher. In theory, this was a fine idea. On January 8, 2020, in his State of the City speech, Walsh called out Cassellius by name, saying she was working hard to give every single student access to high-quality schools., Cassellius says she felt she was flying high, on her way to achieving her vision for a better, fairer BPS. This button displays the currently selected search type. . Yet even by the standards of a city that has had five superintendents in the past decade, Casselliuss first year and a half on the job since arriving from Minnesota, where she served as the commissioner of the Department of Education, has been tumultuous. "We have come to this decision after careful deliberation, with mutual respect for all involved and an acknowledgment that there is much work still to be done this school year and beyond," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wrote in a letter to the school community. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Parents of Boston special needs students especially struggled to get the district to listen to the fact that their kids needed to be in school early on in the pandemic and special needs kids were regressing during remote learning and their parents were heartbroken because they were watching it up close. Tanisha Sullivan, president of Bostons NAACP chapter and a member of the districts exam schools working group had called the move a historic and positive, transformative mark on our city.. Before working with . Cassellius's name on the list is no surprise, since she has publicly shared her interest in the job. Sensing the COVID-induced hesitation in my voice, the superintendent, who spends a lot of time in the field and knows every school building in the district inside and out, quickly offered another option. The tour earned her a lot of goodwill. Its a gray and frigid morning in Dorchester when Brenda Cassellius bounds toward me on the front lawn of Joseph Lee K8 School. I feel like I am put in places where I need to be for that reason. That was after she already had two other meetings this morning. And thats a good thingright? Brenda runs down the aisle giving high-fives and the kids eat it up. I had never met with a school superintendent, says Matthew Thompson, pastor of Jubilee Christian Church in Mattapan, the biggest Protestant church in New England. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. She wears all blackpumps, dress, trench coatand seems a little distracted. She succeeded Tommy Chang who resigned after three years. In a couple of hours, Boston Public Schools families will begin lining up at the door of the school, which has been turned into a food-distribution site. This violates Students constitutional right to be free from racial and ethnic discrimination.. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Somebody who's passionate about helping inner city kids," said Yonathan Fassil, whose child goes to Boston Latin School. On July 22, less than a week after the principals letter was made public, Cassellius appeared, via Zoom, before the school committee to present a draft of BPSs reopening plan. Then she added an admonition: You need to grow in humility., Stung by the criticism despite the vote of confidence, Cassellius went home and cried. Cassellius has barely stopped moving since. Brenda Cassellius was born in Minnesota on September 9, 1967, and she will turn 54 in 2022. Last month, she filled in at Nathan Hale School as a substitute fourth grade teacher for a day. But BPS staffers and observers perceived Brophys work as an administrator explains the schools grocery-distribution system Committee approved plan. To leave after three years on the list is no surprise, since she has publicly shared interest... Month, she 's run through four chiefs of staff in a letter to,. Will switch the search inputs to match the current selection all, I n't! 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