I almost never bother to read through the comments (or post obviously) because I am too busy having a life and being a high school teacher preparing to educate your children! But these comments against the high school teachers are hurtful and lacking in basic knowledge. The school district consciously started RtI in the elementary levels a few years back and the complete program is just arriving as a "package" to the high schools. The high school teachers are working just as hard, but the factors are much more diverse as children age. Teachers should be held responsible for what goes on in the classrooms and be responsible for planning effective lessons. We have no control over the choices the students make, whether they have eaten in the morning or whether they have support systems to help them (friends, parents or family members). Even the most critical of you who waste your time posting hateful things want people to follow your commands. The high school teachers were forced to wait for the district initiatives before we could "officially" start RtI. Try getting the facts for once before you comment. The schools are public buildings, I don't know a single teacher that wouldn't welcome community members to walk a day in their shoes. Try living our lives and work before you open your mouth and let the hate flow out.

Yes Commonfox, let's publish individual teacher scores so parents can see the least effective teachers! I think it's a great idea.

This is the link I found for what's going on in California. I laugh because the Unions can not protect them. The public deserves to know the truth.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/...

woody is clearly some one who can not. TJ Rock, give the teachers a minute at the high school they will find someone to blame.

OK, great job at the elementary level, but apparently, the teachers are slacking off at the high school level.

@rodgersfan- exactly what the heck are you talking about? I am no teacher, but I will say this, to measure teachers by standardized testing is an ignorant statement. There are simply too many variables, disabilities and what not to account for. Do yoou have some stats that you'd like to post? supporting your erroneous and totally false claims? Most years all Janesville schools or most do fine on standardized testing. I am guessing you are some kind of conservative who doesnt like the fact that teachers even get paid.Give me ONE viable cost-effective way that you or anyone here advocating for merit-based pay, ONE! You can't! It wouldnt work itd be expensive and unfair to the kids. Remember pal, some kids learn different ways, not everyone is great at taking tests, I am sure youre some kind of home scooled genius , but different strokes for different folks. Teaching for testing is ineffective and has been proven to be so. No child left behind program by georgie porgie and his band of roaming dummies was probably the absolute worst education al reform ever! it cost the govt waay too much and gave NO results. It was nothing more than a pr stunt for the WORST president in the history of this once great nation. BTW, since you are so smart, which post is from a teacher?I think that you are bitter because a teacher pickesd on you and now youve said your piece. Teachers are of the most hard working and dedicated people you will ever meet. There are always lazy people that cruise, but I would say that % is way lower in the JSD than where you work. Genius!
@ commonfox- seriously man find some other blog that you have something useful to say, you speak in cliches and have really no clue about what youre talking about. I mean seriously I know there are some teachers who blog on this site but none are in here. So unless you have something worthwhile to say I'd just take all the rhetoric someplace else.

I have read many comments on here by teachers. When a school fails the W.K.C.E. or what ever it maybe. The first thing teachers tend to do is get on here and attack parents for not being involved enough.

They suggest in many of their posts that low income kids are not capable of achieving the same as those who have been blessed with a stable home, food, two loving parents etc....

So here we have schools who surpassed where they needed to be, with a school population that has more low income than some others in the area. They passed the test.

So what about these other schools who did not pass you know the one with the more well off family's than low income. So what is the excuse for these schools?

So many teachers posting on here should you not be in school?

commonfox, in your response to your comment about low income families...
"IT'S not about the child's home situation it's about how hard the teacher's try."

It is totally about a child's home situation. A child must have parents that are engaged in their child's life. Just because a house is considered low income does NOT mean they don't have a good home situation.

The teachers do try hard, but they can't do it all. They need the parents to have their back.

Some very defensive teachers on here. Teachers who have never made the grade more than likely.

Maybe not defensive but jealous of those who can, when they can not.

Explain "top notch". That is a very ignorant statement, and very broad. Also explain how youd fairly implement a merit pay system. I shudder to read your response.

You are totally wrong on merit pay, there is no basis in reality. The cost to evaluate all teachers individually would be far more than anyone could possibly imagine. If you scream for merit based pay because you want schools to be better, I salute you! However, most if not all of the people that advocate merit based pay for teachers , want better schools for less money. That is just not possible. Remember you get out what you put in, you cut education in general takes a hit. A great majority of teachers are wonderful selfless individuals that do what they do because they love it, love the kids, and are dedicated to their responsibility to take the next generations of kids and giving them the tools the need to succeed.
There have been more than a few people in these blogs in the last few weeks , have been making statements supporting the fact that the Janesville teachers aren't quite up to par. They would also say that the stats support that claim. Well I am still looking for THOSE stats. These stats say atleast 2 of the local elementary schools, are not only doing well but excelling. I do believe that this is an example of all the Janesville chools, even the ones that dont get state awards.
The schools in Janesville are of the highest quality, they are full of people whose only objective is to give your kids the BEST possible environment for learning. Why is it that everytime their contract comes up for renewal, everyone seems to think that the schools are substandard and we owe them nothing.
To the point of merit pay, Id be for it if there were a way to take into affect all of the different variable with the different personalities and disabilities that teachers deal with in the classroom everyday.Also if there were a way to guarantee that the people reviewing thteachers were completely and totally unbiased. We do not need a teacher worrying about what her principal or "Assessor" may think. There is NO WAY to make merit pay work without spending WAAAY more than youd ever save. We cant turn schools into private business people, we just cant. The business model doesnt work when it comes to certain environments.Education is definitely one.

commonfox: This proves nothing. It was one year and it takes both parental and teacher involvement. Don't spout off ignorantly.

Stubby I have NO problem in paying top notch teachers more. The sad fact is not enough of the teacher's in our schools are 'top notch.' I strongly believe schools need to go to merit pay.

wahoo_35 -- They do it for all schools in WI, including high schools and middle schools. Unfortunately, no high school in the gazette readership area met the qualifications for receiving the award.

See http://www.dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2010_... for the complete list of schools.

Both my kids went to Lincoln and they have very good teachers at that school. I am very proud to say that my kids were Lincoln Lions!!!!

Nice job folks! I'm curious - since some of the people who hang around here were calling for teacher firings and pay cuts based on the lower scores, I was wondering if they will now open their pocketbooks to reward the top-notch teachers "responsible" for these successes?

Why don't they do this in the high schools?

Way to go, students and teachers!! (One question however: Who is Kim F. Ehrhardt?)

Once again Great Job.

Congratulations to these students!!!!!! Job well done.

Now teachers who whine about how low income students tend not to try, do not have the support at home, do not have the resources to succeed. This just proves it can be done. IT'S not about the child's home situation it's about how hard the teacher's try.

Out the door goes that excuse. You were proven wrong and that goes for any school.

Way to go Adams. The guided reading is a great program. My daughter loves it. Kudos to Lincoln too.

Great to see this :-)

Congratulations! Awesome!