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Dear Editor,

Seven years ago I started teaching at Dan Mini School in Vallejo. It was a refreshing change from a neighboring district .The Vallejo Unified School District really treated teachers like professionals.

Since the state has taken control of the district, learning conditions in our school district have terribly declined. I have no problem with reform, however, I believe that the mandates of “No Child Left Behind” have sacrificed learning opportunities for the students in Vallejo. The district expects teachers to collaborate outside their duty day when other districts hire art, music, and P.E. teachers so that the teachers can collaborate.

Our students have been denied field trips that enhance the curriculum and make learning fun.

It is great that each classroom was given a computer this summer that has the capabilities to go online, although, none of them are even hooked up.

Our School Level Plan and Mission Statement were written by a highly paid consultant with no input from the staff or the School site Council. We have also gone to three lunch periods, without any input from staff. It seems that all that matters to this administration is test scores. A lot of good it did for us to pay consultants over $50,000 last year, when this year we have become a “Program Improvement School” this year.

Last year the district administration tried to enforce teacher collaboration throughout the district by forcing two minimum days per week on all the schools. Luckily, the teacher‘s union figured out what was happening and let the administration know that they didn't believe the students should to be out of the classroom, two afternoons each week. Our staff is extremely capable, resourceful and creative. In fact, our 2 nd and 3 rd grade teams have devised a plan that involves the teachers taking each others classes during P.E. so they can collaborate twice weekly.

When I started working at Dan Mini we had Principals who truly were instructional leaders. Our staff worked really hard in order to deliver a sound educational program for all students. This past year our staff has been yelled at, belittled, and criticized when we contribute our ideas. We need to be treated with respect. We are continually being harassed and coerced. This kind of treatment is not conducive to the spirit of teamwork and quality education.

If teachers and the School Site Council were given the opportunity to share in some of the decision making the whole school community would benefit.

Teri Nutt, Teacher at Dan Mini Elementary