Thursday, May 8, 2014

New Bedford teachers want school superintendent out - News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England

New Bedford teachers want school superintendent out - News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice to see the numbers! Unfortunate that there were so many who did not participate. That is a cool 98.97% of the vote though. It may not carry a lot of weight to get her fired but it felt good as I voted with my middle finger....

Anonymous said...

I hope everyone sees how pia is manipulating the media. Decent ed leaders don't screw over teachers like durkin did to Joanne, or lie and conceal. Her approach is warped.

Anonymous said...

We are not denying there are a few bad apples in the bunch. You find this in every occupation. For Durkin to defiantly state that teachers are being pushed out of their comfort zones, no kidding. That is how we learn and grow, and not the problem. We are not afraid of hard work. We are afraid of durkin's intimidation tactics. She has never supported, inspired, or valued our contributions as seasoned educators. There are many variables that play into success. Don't let her fool you. We have no supports! What Durkin is subliminally saying is that she wants her pension so she isn't going anywhere. It's like giving us the middle finger. She is one of the most hated superintendents who will continue to exact revenge against teachers who do not respect her. PIA DURKIN is bad blood.

Anonymous said...

This wacky superintendent insulted our professional ethics as teachers. She gives good teachers bad names. She deserves everything that happened to us inflicted on her right along w/ mayor and SC who endorse her.

Anonymous said...

Durkin's smug face is repulsive.

Anonymous said...

She is a power and money hungry glutton.

Anonymous said...

Pia encapsulates all the seven deadly sins!

Anonymous said...

Will there be any follow up on Jack Nobrega's Call for a Vote of No Confidence in Lou St. John....THAT IS AWESOME.....Lou St. John IS the problem along with this union.

Anonymous said...

Pia has the Napoleon complex that short men possess....I have to puff myself up and bully people to make myself look worthy!

Anonymous said...

Lou St John is an ass. He shouldn't have done a vote of no confidence. What was he thinking? If you people don't like your jobs, get another.

Anonymous said...

To the poster who said If you don't like your job get another...that is an asinine comment. These people LOVE their job, just not the way the whole game is being played out. THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN....Pia isn't the problem, the parents who don't discipline their kids or lack self respect for themselves. But they are only part of the problem as well. Certainly there are some bad teachers, but this problem is long before Pia Durkin's tenure with NBPS. Lou St. John should spend less time trying to get rid of her and start doing some more inner soul searching and think about how better he could use his time to lobby for the teachers additional resources, finding ways to make parents feel more engaged in their childrens lives, looking for ways businesses and the community can help foster a working relationship with the school system....ect, ect, ect. This guy is on a one way ticket to finding his union body turning on him and QUICK like.....he has surrounded himself with just a handful of lemmings who think the way he thinks......WHOA IS ME....THE SYSTEM IS OUT TO SCREW ME.....THE SYSTEM OWES ME THIS AND THAT.....I WAS TREATED BADLY AND NOW I WANT REVENGE.....WHOA IS ME.... That mentality is not serving him well right now. Spend some time in the schools Lou, talk to the teachers, talk to the parents, talk to the administrators. Get out of your gang of 8 or 9 close knit rebel rousers and start working for the KIDS!!!

Anonymous said...

Lou acted on behalf of the teachers who asked for his help. At least he doesn't play dirty. You know where you stand with him. Can we say that about you? The votes of no confidence speaks volumes.

Anonymous said...

^You ought to find yourself another job! We wanted this viote. Our point was made and people are listening.

Anonymous said...

Jack Nobrega was awake and called for a no confidence for Lou? I want to start a petition to have his name removed from any and all NBPS facilities current or in the future. He should have left the SC before he completely tarnished his reputation.

Anonymous said...

To the last comment-Do you work, if you do.. are you micromanaged, ridiculed, threatened ? Does your job rely on test scores? Do you work over time and not get paid for that time? Until you teach 36 kids in a class , with no help, no support then you can come and talk to me. Until then, ZIP IT!

Anonymous said...

Those that think Pia is doing a good job are either trying to save their OR hoping to get on her good side to move up!! Isn't that they way of NB anyway? She may be book smart and know all the buzz words but her people skills SUCK!!! I wish I could have seen her in the classroom !!!

Anonymous said...

For the person who said "if you don't like your jobs, get another". Well, ignorant sir/madam hundreds of teachers have left or are leaving. The teachers staying are loyal to the children of New Bedford and know they can wait out this cycle of madness. On another note, very odd to see how quickly commissioner of education Mitchell Chester came out in support of Durkin. Maybe he can come out as quick with some funding for our district as he drags our name through the mud. College students majoring in education would not even consider working in a crazy and unsafe district like New Bedford. Support the teachers that are staying with smaller classes, more alternative schools for the dangerous students, some computers that actually work, and books less than a decade old.

Anonymous said...

To the bitter poster who suggested Lou St. John is the problem ... The superintendent, mayor, SC and state love data. The data would indicate the contrary as almost 99% of the teachers who voted believe that Pia is the problem. They feel that neither they nor their students are safe. Although, the major "players" refuse to acknowledge the climate of fear ... The entire staff knows it exists and want to reach out to the citizens in order to avoid a tragedy of the magnitude of Columbine and Newtown. The math is there ... The writing is on the wall ... Time to do the right thing to bring this shattered school system back to normalcy.

Anonymous said...

Absurd to allow Francis let the district rot and then give Durkin a vote like this

Anonymous said...

Old Jack should be in a nursing home!

Anonymous said...

Bashing the union? Trying to bust it? A vulture like Durkin would salivate and swoop down for the kill.

Anonymous said...

To the blogger who referred to Jack Nobrega's "no confidence" vote. I believe the only people who could conduct that vote would be the NBEA members, and we (most of us) stand strong for the man who protects our rights as workers! We are not about to do that! And although we could have taken a vote of "no confidence" in the mayor and school committee, we chose not to do so at this time. (Jack Nobrega made a motion?)

Anonymous said...

To have teachers vote a No Confidence of this magnitude across the district, something is seriously wrong with the superintendent and the people who back her. These are not the actions of a normal person and certainly not the qualities desired in an administrator. She does not lead her flock. Durkin is the sly fox scrounging around the hen house.

Anonymous said...

Yeah---8 or 9 people supported the vote? You have listed a bunch of things Lou should do that are not his job. Lou is a UNION PRESIDENT. His job is to make sure his members can teach in a safe, productive, and fair workplace. When he takes care of that-we can take care of the kids.

Anonymous said...

Rebel rousers, really? Did you hear the testimonials of your colleagues? Do you not empathize? Do you truly believe your superintendent is a savior? Did she not cover up a rape in Attleboro and bring the same type of behaviors here to NBPS? Do you respect and admire these qualities? Whoa...

Anonymous said...

Our union president is doing what a union president should; supporting teachers who came to him for assistance. AND, there were many of us! What fairy tale are you from?

Anonymous said...

Our respect for our union president has risen. Who gave you your data?

Anonymous said...

Let's see where you will be when it happens to you. And mark my words, it will. The unrest will continue until durkin and her cronies are gone.

Anonymous said...

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink. Some are drinking the pia kool-ade.

Anonymous said...

Pia Durkin is a major player and a major problem. She does not help. She harms.

Anonymous said...

Durkin brought this on herself. Our actions are a reaction to her destructive practices.

Anonymous said...

I firmly believe that pia durkin is using bribes, sympathy acts, or throwing around crumbs of superficial kindness to gain a few supporters.

Anonymous said...

We couldn't make this stuff up if we tried.

Anonymous said...

Jack Sprat should eat no fat!

Anonymous said...

This vote of no confidence has not humbled pia. She will be worse than ever with all this power.

Anonymous said...

Durkin is loving this! Her ego is so damn big and she will say whatever she needs to say to keep her "cool-aid" drinkers believing her crap!!!!. Let the games begin PIA!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

When Jack Nobrega was first elected to the school committee, the district was one of the best in the state. Since he has been on the committee, the district in now one of the worst. All this under his watch!!!

Perhaps in the earlier days he stayed awake or had brighter colleagues on the school committee who could tell him how to vote compared to today's committee.

Anonymous said...

Just look at the districts in our neighboring communities. Pia Durkin would never be accepted there. Her reputation precedes her.

Anonymous said...

I think Pia post on this blog-how else can you explain such ignorant and moronic posts such as "if you don't like your job, get another". Moronic-it has to be pia or Mitchell! Or better yet, someone who has their head buried up their

Anonymous said...

Well, there it is folks! Pia is laughing at us right on camera. She "isn't going anywhere". Why should she? She has managed to bully us so well (at the HS) that teachers get punched in the face, dragged down halls and god knows what else and it all gets squashed. Because everyone is so afraid of the repercussions. I am leaving in June which cannot come fast enough. I would rather be on welfare (which I do not say at all lightly)than go along with this indecency any longer. The students are running the asylum and Nurse Ratchet is running the "Cuckoo's Nest". My fervent hope is that all students leave and she does not have enough teachers left to teach the ones that are left. Colleagues, get the hell out of there. You are far better than that. You deserve to be in an environment where you are valued. Money isn't everything. That place will kill you in the end.

Anonymous said...

This is not about the turnaround plan but how it is implemented and unscrupulous actions of administrators. That is the unacceptable part.

Anonymous said...

I have pretty much sided with the teachers in this, but I'm not very pleased with how St. John has handled the Durkin matter. Jack Nobrega is right about St. John.

Anonymous said...

Jack Nobrega is not right about St. John. There is no pleasant way to handle Durkin. If you side with the teachers you must understand that Lou is on our side. He speaks for the members, traumatized, dehumanized, and disregarded teachers. She breaks the contract and it is his responsibility to demand she uphold those agreements.

Anonymous said...

What?? Lou St. John is a saint!! Who else would want his job?? Whomever you are, you need a reality check, and what are you doing to make things better for the teachers of NB??

Anonymous said...

That's pretty funny...Louis St.(Saint) John is a saint. Love it!