The rumor mill has been churning for weeks now about whether LAUSD superintendent John Deasy might lose his job or possibly resign. It’s all sprung from controversy over an unfair bidding process he oversaw for iPad software in the classroom.
Today on AirTalk, we’re putting conjecture aside for a moment to ask, are LAUSD’s classrooms better off now than they were four years ago, before John Deasy stepped in? In that time he’s established himself as a formidable reform figure, arguably best known for getting breakfast in the classroom, tying teacher reviews to student test scores, reducing class suspensions and introducing iPads into the classroom. We’ll hear from teachers, parents and members of the business community about what John Deasy has accomplished in his time as superintendent and whether he’s improved the second largest school district in the nation.
Guests:
Annie Gilbertson, KPCC’s Education Reporter
Cheryl Ortega, current substitute teacher in LAUSD and a retired LAUSD teacher who has taught in the district for over 38 years
Larry Sand, president, California Teachers Empowerment Network, a nonpartisan group with over 1,000 current and retired teachers as members. He retired as an LAUSD teacher in 2009.
Scott Folsom, parent leader in LAUSD and he blogs at 4LAKids, which focuses on education