Community Voice: Open Letter to Long Beach’s New Superintendent

To David Weiss:

I have been a teacher in the Long Beach Public Schools for more than 39 years, a member of the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association Executive Board for more than 30 and an officer for the past 14. From my experiences working with seven superintendents, as well as with countless other administrators, I am offering you a number of time-proven tenets that I have observed:

• Let the sunshine in. Be open and transparent. Make shared decision-making and consensus building the cornerstone of your administration.

• Recognize the power of partnerships. “Together, we can make a difference” is not just a catchphrase.

• Understand that reversing your position is not losing, and that that bullying is not winning.

• Don’t ask one group of stakeholders to sacrifice unless all stakeholders are asked to sacrifice.

• Maintain a connection with the classroom experience. Perhaps on occasion serve as a substitute teacher in grades Pre-K to 12.

• Only hire the best and the brightest, no matter the job.

• Use the power of the bully pulpit. Maintain frequent communication with the staff. Articulate your goals.

In an era of constant attacks on public education, together we have an opportunity to forge a remarkable partnership. Together we can overcome the constraints of an almost certain state tax-cap. Together we can create a new Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) policy for the observation and evaluation of teachers and principals to ensure that all are fairly, yet rigorously assessed.

I believe that you have the potential to positively impact the lives of the students and staff of the Long Beach Public Schools, and on behalf of the members of the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association, welcome to Long Beach.

Steve Freeman
President
Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association

Editor's Note: Patch is interested in your viewpoint as well. Please send your opinion to josephk@patch.com.