Interview with a Dickenson County Teacher Part III

How long have you taught in Dickenson County- 10 years

Do you enjoy your job?Yes and No If not why? Like most everyone else I feel like the students are tested too much and that the central office cares more about what looks good on paper than what actually works. CIP is a great example, at the meeting data was presented that made CIP look very effective in increasing SOL Scores when in fact most teachers polled at the schools felt that it was pointless and did not fit with their individual timelines and did not use CIP to achieve the success shown. If so why? I love being able to teach our youth to see that moment in which they go from memorization to Wow! I really get this and start asking more questions.

Do you think the county is headed in a positive direction for our children? NO! More emphasis needs to be placed on both college prep classes and vocational classes. By reducing the vocational classes offered they have cut off well over 50% of our students from being capable to succeed in the "real world" where not everyone attends or succeeds at college. Where skills as a carpenter, welder, electrician etc.. can lead to great job opportunities both in our area and outside of it. The rest of the country seems to be adding vocational classes where in Dickenson County seems to be using data from the 1990's to reduce ours.

Do you think the county prioritized its needs in building the new school? Not really, we have wonderful science labs at Ridgeview and the campus is beautiful however there are not enough classrooms for each individual teacher and if you ask the baseball and softball players and coaches the received the short end of the stick in the design with ill draining fields and the lack of an indoor batting cage.

Do you think you make a difference? In the grand scheme of things probably not, however there are moments where I know that to a few select students I have. BTW they are why I still teach.

What are your feelings of Superintendent Robinson? She is a wonderful politician who does a great job at "double talk".She as well as the board try to act diplomatic when asking for teacher input. Once the input is gathered they are told that their ideas were great however the plans have already been made or finalized which are not what the teacher committee voted for at all. Many teachers feel that it is a waste of their time to serve on committees due the the previous statement.

Do you feel her contract is fair to teachers? No

Do you think she respects her staff? No

Do you think Ridgeview High School met the goals that were set from the start? The only goal that was met by Ridgeview Campus is to put a feather in the Superintendent's cap in hopes of furthering her career and prestige.

Do you feel Mrs. Robinson puts equal emphasis on the rest of the schools or does she put her new school on a pedestal? No

What has changed in the school system the last 5 years? Less flexibility in the classroom, Less flexibility for student interest, Less teacher and student moral.

I have been told that we do not fail students anymore, any truth to that? We fail students everyday when we tell them we are cutting programs that were promised to them, when we tell them that the statistics are if they do not graduate, go to college and move away they will not have a chance at success, when we continue to allow students who pose discipline problems to remain unpunished so that our "numbers" look good, when students who follow the rules and try to succeed see that the teachers who are working to help them accomplish their goals are giving up leaving the teaching profession or moving to other counties.

Are you ok with me sharing your name? No, there is too much retaliation at the central office level.