APS boss Brooks goes barnyard on Skandera (NM Ed.Sec. "Moo, moo, oink, oink")

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | November 7, 2013 | Mike Bush / Journal Staff Writer

[CedarDave]

Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Winston Brooks on Tuesday sent Twitter messages to a television reporter that derided New Mexico’s education chief, Hanna Skandera, likening her to livestock.

In a series of tweets with KOAT’s Lauren Zakalik, who was in Moriarty covering an event in which Skandera participated, Brooks said at one point, “Maybe Skandy should head for the livestock truck!!!” He immediately followed that tweet with another: “Moo, Moo, Oink, oink!!”

APS social media expert Maralyn Beck joined in the conversation, adding six emoticons – cartoon pictures – of a pig, a cow, a boar, a sheep, a penguin and a frog. Beck said the emoticons were her way of “having a conversation without talking.”

Brooks on Wednesday apologized and said the tweets were inappropriate. They were removed Wednesday morning.

Gov. Susana Martinez suggested Brooks’ comments were sexist as well as unprofessional.

“All he’s doing is showing young girls and boys that it’s OK to do things like that,” the governor told KOAT-TV. “… You don’t behave this way or treat women this way. (You don’t) talk about women this way and expect to be respected by young girls who are in the school district.”

Brooks has been a vocal critic of Skandera for months, particularly her handling of the new teacher evaluation program implemented this year. When the Legislature was unable to reach an accord on a new evaluation program, Martinez and Skandera imposed their own program administratively.

[CedarDave]

Governor Martinez has been trying to reform the education system in New Mexico, always among the lowest performing in the country, and one part of her efforts has been teacher evaluations. Hanna Skandera was appointed Secretary of the education department after Susana was elected in 2010 but at the urging of the teacher's unions the Democratic controlled senate refuses to vote on her confirmation. APS is the largest school district in the state with nearly 90,000 students (about one third of the state’s students) and in addition to teachers, maintains a massive bureaucracy with 15,000 employees.

[CedarDave]

I should add, that APS is Albuquerque’s third-largest employer.

[CedarDave]

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[Tijeras_Slim]

I’ve heard Brooks on 770, he’s a puffed up lib a-hole. If the board tries to get rid of him he probably has some payout clause like the previous weasel.

[CedarDave]

His excuse was that he was new to social media. He should stay away from it.

[Hardraade]

I’d have thouht NM was too warm for Penguin livestock.

But what do I know...

[SpaceBar]

Skandera is being wrongfully maligned by the left-leaning teacher’s union (i.e. guild), because she threatens their hegemony. She’s fully qualified and competant in her job. The teachers want to test everyone but themselves. Funny that.

[CedarDave]

The bureaucracy is housed in two large multistory office buildings in central Albuquerque, referred to as the "twin towers."

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“90,000 students (about one third of the state’s students) and in addition to teachers, maintains a massive bureaucracy with 15,000 employees. “

WHAT? Am I reading that right? 1 employee for every 6 kids? I must be confused!

[refermech]

At least 2 administrators for every teacher is one problem and most teachers are hard left politically. Tons of broken families too so it’s almost insurmountable for even the good teachers.

[CedarDave]

“90,000 students (about one third of the state’s students) and in addition to teachers, maintains a massive bureaucracy with 15,000 employees. “ WHAT? Am I reading that right? 1 employee for every 6 kids? I must be confused!

You're reading that right:

http://www.aps.edu/about-us/district-information

BTW, APS is the city's SECOND larger employer (I wrote third-largest).

[fieldmarshaldj]

That needs to be slashed by 2/3rds just for starters.

[wideawake]

You don't understand.

If a child is in a classroom with more than 19 other children, he will never learn anything and is doomed to illiteracy and failure.

If the number is 19 or less, he will thrive and become a leader of the community.

Just ask any teacher's union representative.

[RedMDer]

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[oldbrowser]

Sounds like he is a follower of Alinsky’s school.

[IYAS9YAS]

Skandera, from what I understand, is a big supporter of Common Core. So, regardless of the reform she’s trying to push, she’s still a problem.

[IYAS9YAS]

Skandera, from what I understand, is a big supporter of Common Core. So, regardless of the reform she’s trying to push, she’s still a problem.

Not only that, but we have personal knowledge of her white-washing student abuse at the hands adminstrators, teachers, and other students, in the Rio Rancho (suburb of ABQ) school district. Lying to investigators. Not a fan of her, but dislike Brooks even more. She's certainly not the one to fight for our kids.

[leapfrog0202]

Also he’s done other things that show a similar lack of judgment. It’s time for him to move on IMO. A person in his position, with his salary, needs to set the example and should be smart enough to not get him into such situations.