Looks like we have another FOA for Cave Creek Schools.
Cactus Shadows Principal Dr. Donna Lewis
Assuming this is the same person you can see that Dr. Ashby and Dr. Lewis serve on the same board are both members at the Teacher Education Partnership Commission.
Teacher Education Partnership Commission
And they worked together at Arizona Department of Education, both jumping ship around the same time.
Here is some background on Dr. Lewis.
THREE NEW ADMINISTRATORS JOIN PHOENIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT #1
Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with hiring friends and associates, but we must admit, we are completely underwhelmed. Dr. Lewis has been a pure administrator for at least the past 5 years, most recently in an elementary only district, and there seems to be no high school level principal experience to be found. Additionally, Phoenix Elementary has a completely different set of demographics than our district does and accordingly would be unfair to compare test scores, even if Dr. Lewis was in charge of the curriculum there. Hmmmmmmm....It does not say interim anywhere on the new CCUSD CSHS principal page.
One other fascinating tidbit. Apparently the district notified AIA before the district has had the courtesy to notify the community or the media.
Hat tip to the commenter for pointing this out.
Update: Apparently Dr. Lewis was hired to be assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for CCUSD in the school year 2003-2004 after Dr. Ashby left CCUSD for a position with the Arizona Department of Education. Dr. Lewis quickly bailed on CCUSD around the end of May 2004 ( 9 months? Thanks!) to also take a position with ADE.
Thanks again to those commenters.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
New Principal for Cactus Shadows and Cave Creek Unified Schools
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Is there anything unusual to this job path and do you know of any better candidates that applied for the job?
ReplyDeleteIt seems pretty typical and perhaps we should give anybody that takes a position that tends to chew principals up and spit them out in a year and a half a medal of courage.
honeymom
Looks impressive to me
ReplyDelete"Dr. Donna Lewis joins the District with 22 years of experience in the education field. Lewis most recently served as associate superintendent for accountability for the Arizona Department of Education where she oversaw all statewide testing as well as the intervention of schools failing to make academic progress. She has worked in many capacities of education including elementary school teacher, principal and adjunct professor at George Mason, The George Washington and Virginia Tech Universities. Lewis has co-authored and produced several educational articles and audio/visual materials and holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University, a master’s of education from the University of Arizona and a doctor of education from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C." I wish her all the best.
CCUSD Watch,
ReplyDeleteRemind me again, exactly how long it is that you've been vitally interested in improving CCUSD schools? If it's longer than 4 years, you've not always been interested in curriculum or the name Donna Lewis would ring a bell.
She was the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction while John Gordon was Superintendent. (No tip of the hat needed. If this is news to you, you've proven my point.)
I've written this before but here goes again. MANY people have been working for improvements in the district for a long time. Having great schools benefits us all.
Change takes time and patience.
If you've been here longer than 4 years you know what changes have taken place already. If you haven't been here that long, you moved here knowing the status of our schools.
Why would you do that if you believe the school system is such a failure? There are clearly lots of other areas in the valley where you see stellar schools. If you had a choice and are so vehemently opposed to the way everything is working in CCUSD, why come here at all?
Your latest entry shows that clearly you've not pondered my question long enough....
ReplyDeleteHow exactly do you propose to solve the CCUSD hiring concerns when your site continues to spew negativity?
If what you are "reporting" is fact, CCUSD appears to have found a principal (interim or otherwise). Yet immediately you're critical of her abilities and qualifications.
What a nice welcome!
It seems like Ashby and Burdick are getting all their girlfriends to come to CCUSD. It's becoming Cave Creek Unified Sorority District!
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that the district just hired a curriculum director to be a high school principal and a high school principal to be a curriculum director.
ReplyDeleteInstead of always being critical, let me ask a question instead.
ReplyDeleteIf you had an acquaintance that you knew fairly well and had worked together with that person in the past and they had the necessary skill set that could fill a position in your current company, would you consider hiring them? Or would you look for someone that you didn't know who they were and what their skills were other than what was written in a resume? It does not surprise me that in the close-knit education community in Arizona that educators seek out other educators that have similar ties to one another. Or am I missing something here?
Update to the post: Apparently Dr. Lewis was hired to be assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for CCUSD in the school year 2003-2004 after Dr. Ashby left CCUSD for a position with the Arizona Department of Education. Dr. Lewis quickly bailed on CCUSD around the end of May 2004 ( 9 months? Thanks!) to also take a position with ADE.
ReplyDeleteThanks to "July 6, 2008 7:03 PM" but a question; How does this change our analysis? She is a pure administrator, not a high school principal. Shuffling papers around as a curriculum director for an urban elementary school district or at the state is a completely different position than running a large suburban high school, interim or not. Now we know she bailed on the district after only 9 months, apparently to follow Dr. Ashby. Someone tell us the upside here.
Dear July 6, 2008 8:52 PM,
ReplyDeleteYou wrote,
"If you had an acquaintance that you knew fairly well and had worked together with that person in the past and they had the necessary skill set that could fill a position in your current company, would you consider hiring them?"
Did you read our entire post? We said...
"Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with hiring friends and associates, but we must admit, we are completely underwhelmed."
Then proceed to explain ourselves.
If the district comes out tomorrow and says that Dr. Lewis was a high school principal for 10 years in some other state at a suburban and nationally recognized high school with great scores and high expectations, we will be happy to post our enthusiastic support.
"Your latest entry shows that clearly you've not pondered my question long enough....
ReplyDelete...
If what you are "reporting" is fact, CCUSD appears to have found a principal (interim or otherwise). Yet immediately you're critical of her abilities and qualifications.
What a nice welcome!"
After some pondering we have come to the conclusion that we are CCUSD Watch not CCUSD Boosters. We are here to be critical and questioning. And again let's be clear, we are not reporters or journalists.
Maybe some of the more flighty employees will choose not to apply after reading our posts, but maybe this will help reduce turnover if they know what they are in for ahead of time.
The district will eventually realize that the best way to hire great employees is to have a great environment and to treat them accordingly. When those changes start to happen, we (or you commenters surely) will start to take notice.
Think of us as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
While I don't agree with the selection, I don't think it's fair to dismiss Dr. Lewis's potential as a principal/ Just because she doesn't have high school principal experience but does have experience as an administrator doesn't mean she is not up for the job. Look at the principals in the district how have experience and have done a horrible job.
ReplyDeleteI believe the administration certificate educators obtain to become principals covers K-12. The state must feel those who hold that certificate are qualified to lead any school in that range.
ReplyDeleteAs to your assertion that you'd "enthusiastically support" this principal if you learned that she had 10 years experience in a high school with great scores/expectations, I have my doubts.
Why would she leave such a place to come here? Wouldn't you likely question her intent if this was the case? I could see you asking why she'd leave when things looked perfect...there must be a problem?
You'd have had a concern regardless. You said it yourself - you are here to be critical and to question.
Dear Watch,
ReplyDeleteYou said that, "After some pondering we have come to the conclusion that we are CCUSD Watch not CCUSD Boosters. We are here to be critical and questioning."
The "Watch" part of watch groups most likely stems from the meaning of watch - to keep close and careful observation.
Many Watch Groups interpret that as objectivity. You are interpreting as being critical and questioning (not necessarily objective). I don't necessarily have a problem with that as long as you continue to be honest about it. Perhaps you should consider incorporating it into your mission statement out of fairness to the many people who do not understand your reasoning when they read your posts.
honeymom
"The state must feel those who hold that certificate are qualified to lead any school in that range"
ReplyDeleteAgain with the state. The state is not the arbiter of sound educational choices, it defines the bare minimum.
"Shuffling papers around as a curriculum director..." Shuffling papers? Really Watch do your homework PLEASE
ReplyDeleteI'm not impressed by any of these new administrators.
ReplyDelete5:59 PM - Donna Lewis, the jury is out...I am leary of people who take a job and then leave CCUSD with less than a year to go. Didn't Dr. Ashby do something similar? Is this normal?
ReplyDeleteDr. Burdick will do a good job and we all need to rally behind her and support her. I think she is a stronger individual than Dr. Ashby (nothing personal against Ashby)...but she needs our support. Additionally, you have Elle Gaines...what a phenomenal catch! She is already a superstar and will take Black Mountain to new heights. I wouldn't be surprised if she implements Core Knowledge at BM since she is certified to teach teachers on Core Knowledge and how to utilize it in their classrooms. BM is very very lucky.
Re: Donna Lewis - Was the position that she left in the district a permanent position or an interim one? I see that she has been named "Acting Principal" which I believe designates that it is an interim position. Many times, Acting Principals then become the Principal, but not always.
ReplyDeletehoneymom
Interim is a contract position, acting is not. When you're interim you're hired for a certain amount of time. Acting means that when they find a replacement the "acting" person can leave.
ReplyDeleteHigh School and Elementary school experience are two completely different things. That was part of the problem with Ashby. She was an elementary school teacher and she spoke to everyone like they were in elementary school. As a high school teacher I despise this type of treatment. I am an intelligent adult and deserve to be treat like one and not a 1st grader.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be an interesting year!
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ReplyDeletehttp://ccusdwatch.com
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Please continue the discussion there.