Minor Daniels Member Survey September 2015 a omen esa Do you feel safe in your building? 100% oo cox ox me 7 ea ves to oan aa ves se to aa comment 2 Metal Detector doesn't work ‘* Teacher's car was stolen; teachers have had money, car and personal property stolen © Minor issues aren’t addressed by administration, building to major issues ‘¢ Students becoming increasingly aggressive (I!) ‘¢ Lack of boundaries and consistency create chaotic atmosphere Teachers are not supported in efforts to reign in students © Students have flipped tables, thrown chairs and books, kicked things in my room and are brought back to class within minutes '® Major incident is just bubbling beneath the surface © Students are disrespectful and do not follow directions «Students can enter and leave classroom whenever they want (II) © Inmates are running the asylum «Students are out of control without significant consequences (II)Not even the administrators can handle the level of behavior in this building Students threaten my life and when written up are brought back without a consultation or apology One teacher was hoisted above students’ heads and thrown into the hall Constantly being cussed out by students itis usta babysitting job at this point Dillard has created a dangerous worksite at this school, blames out of control students on the teachers, when students are put aut of class for behavior, they are put right back emboldening them Students think it’s ok to imply physical violence Only feel safe due to my relationship building abilitiesCustomize Export © Would you transfer right now if you could? - - mean o% 10% 20% «RAO SOKO OU SON 100% newer choioes Responses Yes sso% Wo 45.45% 0 comments ‘Comments: © Lam afraid if | choose to leave, it would be a mark against me; it’s a political environment and if you are not a yes person to the right people, you will pay and it will kill any future career aspirations © Iwant to see MDA succeed. Love my students and colleagues. Just want a safe environment that is conducive to learning. ¢ [can handle the situation ifimprovements are made, no improvements and | would consider transferring next year. © 'm thinking about retiring ‘* There is no structure or discipline in place = [feel demoralized, | would transfer in a second, © | would only transfer fora promotion, not a lateral move © Was caught by surprise at the atmosphere of this school © Would never transfer mid-year, | made a commitment and will stick it out ‘© Absolutely, yes © Depends on where to, not jumping from frying pan into the fire‘+ Was placed here without a choice. | won't take sick days for fear of what will happen in my classroom. Am hopeful the administration will get it right ‘© Would love to be a part of the changeCustomize Export + Are you thinking about transferring at the end of the school year? a ee ee ee ee ‘Anavwer Choices Resconses, ves sore 0 Wo 2.00% 2 Comments: © Major reason is that | don’t feel serious issues are being resolved in a timely manner, if at all © | don’t feel teachers are taken seriously when voicing concerns or possible resolutions. © Teachers’ ideas are not respected © Only if things do not change. | don’t want to teach where | don't feel physically safe. If no improvements are made and leadership doesn’t improve. (Il!) ‘© No, but 'm thinking about retiring © fl car’t transfer, I'll probably retire early © Most definitely, © Ihave never been threatened re:E-2’s or “bring on JCTA” at faculty meetings. «Teachers can’t teach because they're dealing with behavior issues all day © Iwill transfer or leave the district. | didn’t get a degree to be belittled and humiliated by administration and threatened by students.Customize | Eport ¥ How would you rate the effectiveness of the administration in the building? On a scale of 41-10, with 1 being very ineffective and 10 being very effective. 10% 20% em 0% ~ a we a es ia ot + 2 3 4 6 6 8 s 89 ‘anawer chokes Responses ‘ 10.19% ‘ 2 nase > 15% 1 ‘ nam . 5 se.10% ‘ ‘ 0.00% ° 7 200% 2 . 0.00% ° ° 0% ° 0.00% ° Comments: * [feel this whole experiment falls at the hands of district admin—the building admin and stakeholders did not have an adequate amount of time to prepare = Whole project created by people who aren't in building everyday.After 7 weeks, still no set non-negotiables and no consequences; students need boundaries Think the admin was putin an awful situation by the Board and central office. MDA was supposed ta be a model for a new type of alternative school but principal was appointed late into the summer. Still very little training for restorative practices and PBIS; no referral forms Only told to keep kids in the classroom No behavior management plan in place Students come back to class with litle or no consequences Building the plane as we fly it, poor planning and preparation on the admin part has lead toa poor teaching situation Students have no consequences for their behavior Hope to see improvements with PBIS training Were not prepared for a middle school or how to run one Portions of administrative team are governing through intimidation and threats The administrators can’t handle the behavior in the building but want to blame teachers instead of supporting teachers There is no code of conduct applied consistently Students laugh among themselves about lack of discipline, call it “free for all” Nothing has been implemented and differently than in past years, actually even less of the programs that were being used | put most of the blame on district administration Dillard has no leadership skills Opening day, he threatened the entire staff with €-2's and disciplinary action including termination—he didn’t even know us yet Dillard isa zero. Knowsley is maybe a 2, but is trying Branch thinks she runs the place—belittles teachers daily and refuses to help but creates problems then leaves teachers to deal with it Ising actually does things to help. She's very close to 2 10. Walker appears to have sense, he’s a keeper and near 10 as well Middle school AP’s and counselors are doing well at trying to find new things that work to discipline students based on what they're given to work with Some students do awful things (sexual harassment including touching, bringing a lighter into the school, throwing food from lunch in the classrooms, throwing sharpened pencils) and they aren‘t punished It’s not clear what behaviors will be punished and which ones will not Dillard says things in the faculty meetings about how we aren’t doing our jobs When we send kids out for misbehavior, they come back within 10 minutes with no consequences,a Customize Export ~ Do you believe your principal acts in a professional manner? Most or allot tassence wnancnseted secon’ baad (% 10% 20% «HONS GO OHH «BOK 100% Answer Choices Responses Most or all ofthe time 13.60% 3 More often than not 36.36% ° Less often than expected s1a2% 7 Rarely or never 18.10% ‘ Toa 2 Comments: @ {think Dillard was set up for failure «From day one, instead of being supportive, empathetic or give clear expectations, we were given threats of a E-2's ‘© We need the adults to model behavior for our students, not threaten and yell « fyou can't model effective management skills with students, itis demoralizing to tell us that our evaluations are based on that same skillDillard put into difficult position by his superiors. But he needs to work on his communication with staff ‘There is very little direction except to threaten and tell teachers how poorly they are doing Each staff meeting lowers teacher morale We have been given no vision or leadership He doesn’t have the respect of the teachers or the students Doesn't motivate staff at all Blames the teacher, not the students when incidents occur No support or change happening He acts in an accusatory manner during staff meetings He's trying, but doesn’t have the skills or knowledge to be effective Faculty meetings are intimidating and confrontational in all my years teaching, this s the only place t've been threatened with E'2s and told to “bring on JCTA" in faculty meetings. Terrible public speaker Principal is derogatory toward teachers Constant talking about ineffective teachers at faculty meetings and threats of E-2s. Never compliments. Does not understand the need for discipline in an alternative setting Dillard rules by threats of E-2’s, intimidation and bullying Student got into Dillard's face and said, “F**k you, youn***er” and he returned the student +o the classroom without consequences. Even the students disrespect him and use profanity toward him, Tells us students behavior is because we have no classroom management skills Every large group meeting this year invariably includes a threat of E-2s, 2 rant about Kennedy staff and comments about how ineffective we are. Students call him “curly” and “uncle” and he just ignores them, smiles and waves. If the kids say anything to him that he can’t handle, he just walks away and leaves the teacher to deal with itPAGE 3 as customize Export ¥ Do you feel that the administration supports effective student discipline within the building? ves No Answer Chlees Responses ves 455% 1 Wo 95.45% a Teta = Comments: '* No clear expectations or consequences * Very little consistency © Lworty about my liability ifa student is injured by another student throwing chairs, flipping ‘tables, etc. But if | send them out, nothing happens No set system for discipline or rewards Students refuse to follow rules, constant cursing and rude comments Consistency is an issue © Consequences aren't spelled outDisruptive students who are removed from the classroom return just a disruptive within a few minutes In one case, a student beat another student without provocation but both students were barely disciplined and were given identical consequences They don’t even know how to handle this level of discipline Restorative Justice has gone overboard. The old way might not have worked either, but there needs to be some middle ground. Need consequences No consequences only makes the students feel more bold and the teacher abuse gets worse. Ym afraid to turn in referrals because Dillard will just make it my fault ‘Trying to implement a regular school environment at MOA is illogical | have some things in my class for rewards/consequences that work, but Dillard says we aren't allowed to use them. | think some of these things aren't in the administration’s power. Higher powers have a direct impact on disciplineexport = What three things do you think most need to be changed to make Minor Daniels successful? ‘© Responses (20) Comments: ‘© Clear/concise rules and expectations for students (XVII) ‘© Positive/supportive atmosphere for students and adults (Il) + Emphasis on helping students gain effective functioning skills and positive behaviors that will benefit them into the future © More input from teachers «Board members/central office decision makers actually spending a significant amount of time in the classrooms © Leadership that values teachers and seeks to motivate (Vl) ‘© stop threatening E-2s and poor evaluations at every meeting (II) ¢ Many students need direct instruction, not the ontine learning (tl) © Students need reading classes © BMP is not working © Hazardous pay © Communication (I) * Consistency © Planning = Organizing © More behavioral coaches © More staff, we need the one on one with extreme students Reduce the distance between admin dream scheme and classroom reality © Teachers feel that speaking out is dangerous, © Outsiders need to understand the students we work with © Transition times ‘© Putting too much on security guards and officers in the building for discipline + Real leader installed and Dillard placed in a position better suited to him Honest and heartfelt apology from the district for the terrible atrocities this social experiment brought onto teachers and students «New administrationexport ~ What is working well? ‘© Responses (19) Comments: + There are people building individual relationships with students, building trust—enables students to build regulation skills and create goals, which Is creating positive results academically. This should be the mission and goal of MDA. + Team planning for middle school teachers. GCC is wonderful Admin has been supportive of my efforts to reduce online learning and use other resources ‘© Online learning has been working well. Several students have earned credit toward graduation (Hi) + Nothing «Some communication between admin and teachers «Better defined roles of administrators and counselors and sticking to them—there was too much blending of counselors trying to be administrators © Ourlow student numbers help. Higher numbers would make an unmanageable situation impossible «Teachers are working hard and collaborating (!) ‘© Starting to see consequences for students actions * Common planning © Enjoy working with the students who want to work ‘+ More frequent opportunities for students to return to their home schools ‘© Teachers are trying to buy in © love my co-teachers + New transition teacher placed will help * Consistent sub in PAC has been helpful + Calling parents to pick up their kid when in trouble might help make the parent accountableExport ~ Is there anytl g else you want to share with JCTA? (© Responses (14) Comments: © Please help us get this madhouse under control so we can teach © Find it difficult to believe the principal was hired without plans and systems ready to implement. © Hard to work with and for someone who uses fear and intimidation to attempt to motivate '® School is not running as well as it has in the past © Change is not happening fast enough ‘© MDAis sinking because the students run the building. Putting more students here before rules and order are in place will only make matters worse © [have taught in an alternative setting for nearly a decade and have never before feared for my life like | do here daily More demoralized than | have been in over 2 decades of teaching © Lam dedicated to helping this school work ©The political game has no place in a school system © This school has major problems * lam being cursed at, objects are thrown and am verbally abused on a daily basis, lard isa tyrant and expects teachers to do what he has proven himself incapable of doing © Planning time is taken by embedded PDs © Not getting full duty free lunch time [believe in the vision but it’s been rough this year. © Safety and student discipline are critical to the success of MDA. Teachers can’t be blamed for lack of classroom management when supports/tools are lacking. ‘© Biggest concern for Minor Daniels Academy. Kids cannot read and are taking online classes. They cannot read the computer, so they act out behavior wise. ‘© Students are running the halls, they're yelling profanities, being disrespectful, aggressive, and defiant. There is NO semblance of order and | hope it doesn't take a serious incident to get someone's attention. Teachers can NOT teach.We have no leadership, no discipline, and the students are not getting ANY consequential responses for their actions. It's chaos, pure and simple. | hope someone's listening and | hope MDA gets some much needed healing actions. ‘Teaching is nearly impossible under these conditions.