According to a press release from New Hanover County Schools, Ashley High School's principal Jackson Norvell has been reassigned and will be the new principal of
Wrightsville Beach Elementary School. Parents, teachers, and even students at Ashley have been pushing the school board for a change in leadership at the school since Norvell was assigned there as principal.
A 2014 Teachers Working Condition Survey showed that under Norvell's leadership there were severe issues between teachers and administration at the school. A 2015 Teachers Working Conditions survey showed that there had been slight improvement in some areas, but serious problems remained. Likewise, preliminary results from a 2015 AdvancEd survey were not good. Complete results from the Ashley AdvancEd survey have been kept from the public.
Additional stories on the reassignment:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150613/ARTICLES/150619944/1177?Title=Ashley-principal-Jackson-Norvell-reassigned-for-2015-16
http://www.wect.com/story/29313110/ashley-high-school-principal-reassigned-to-elementary-school-amid-controversy
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/06/13/first-on-3-embattled-principal-norvell-leaving-ashley-high-school/
Showing posts with label jackson norvell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jackson norvell. Show all posts
Sunday, June 14, 2015
News Outlets Confirm NHCSWatchdog Special Report
On May 11th NHCSWatchdogs had a Special Report that Jackson Norvell would be removed as principal from Ashley High School. On June 13th, after a press release from New Hanover County Schools, local media outlets followed with stories that confirmed the earlier NHCSWatchdog report.
Other media reports:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150613/ARTICLES/150619944/1177?Title=Ashley-principal-Jackson-Norvell-reassigned-for-2015-16
http://www.wect.com/story/29313110/ashley-high-school-principal-reassigned-to-elementary-school-amid-controversy
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/06/13/first-on-3-embattled-principal-norvell-leaving-ashley-high-school/
Other media reports:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150613/ARTICLES/150619944/1177?Title=Ashley-principal-Jackson-Norvell-reassigned-for-2015-16
http://www.wect.com/story/29313110/ashley-high-school-principal-reassigned-to-elementary-school-amid-controversy
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/06/13/first-on-3-embattled-principal-norvell-leaving-ashley-high-school/
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Ashley Working Conditons Survey Results Skewed by Teacher Exodus
The newest Teacher Working Conditions Survey results were just released. Local
media outlets were quick to report that teacher working conditions at Ashley High
School were improving, but are they really? What do the results really show?
You
have to hand it to the school systems public relations department. They do a
great job. They tell the media the message
they want to get out, and the media types up a story accordingly. The media reports on the newest Teachers Working Conditions
Survey at Ashley are no different.
Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley even warned in a press release “it is imperative that viewers keep in mind that this is just one piece of data about each school.” His warning should be headed. The slightly improved results
at Ashley are misleading at best. One very important factor that directly
affected the survey results is not even mentioned in media reports.
What
better way to improve your schools score than for teachers that were speaking out about deteriorating conditions at the school to leave. The exodus of teachers from Ashley High School undoubtedly had the biggest
impact on the new Teachers Working Conditions Survey. A large percentage of disgruntled
teaches left Ashley since principal Jackson Norvell took over. It has been
reported nearly 40 employees have moved on since mid last year. Not only did a lot of experienced teacher leave,
but new teachers were brought in. Those new teachers were much less likely to complain
about Norvell.
Concerns over retaliation likely kept some teachers from filling out the survey. While the survey was supposed to be anonymous, school officials were made aware that some Ashley teachers were concerned their identity might be compromised in the process.
A
2014 North Carolina Teachers Working Conditions Survey showed that under Norvell working
conditions at the school had plummeted. In emails to WWAY teachers
wrote "It has been the worst year at
Ashley ever this year. Our principal is a bully and is retaliatory," Another described
the school under Jackson's leadership as "A scary place to work." In a report at Fox Wilmington, Ashley
teachers said Principal Norvell has consistently punished those who spoke
up in the school and that teachers are in fear for their jobs.
Have things really changed that much? Just three weeks ago Ashley teacher Jennifer Sugerik spoke out publicly at a New Hanover County School Board of Education Meeting about the circumstances at the school. She also had letters in hand from other Ashley teachers that addressed the poor working conditions at the school. This type of action is unprecedented, but demonstrates how desperate many Ashley teachers still are for a change in leadership at their school.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Special Report: Changes are Coming to Ashley High School
Ashley High
School has been in turmoil since Jackson Norvell was appointed as principal in
2013. Parents and teacher alike have complained about deteriorating conditions
at the school. Unofficial reports show that as many as 40 employees have left
the school since Norvell took over. A 2014 Teacher Working Condition survey showed Ashley teachers ranked working conditions at the school the worst of all county schools.
At this month’s New Hanover County School Board meeting, an Ashley teacher finally spoke out publicly about the problems as Ashley. She pleaded with school
board members to wait for the results of two more pending surveys about
conditions at Ashley before making a decision on renewing Norvell’s contract. With
all those issues, many at Ashley were in disbelief as they learned the New
Hanover County Board of Education renewed Norvell’s contract for another year
at this months Board of Education meeting.
What most do
not realize is the school board was left with little choice but to renew
Norvell’s contract. While there had been a lot of bad press about problems at Ashley,
the assumption is Principal Norvell has had no formal complaints filed against
him. Teachers repeatedly told the media and officials they feared retaliation
if they spoke out, and for that reason, it is not likely any teachers had filed
written complaints. Without formal written
complaints against Norvell, the school board risked a costly lawsuit by Norvell
if they failed to renew his contract.
What’s
important to understand is that while Norvell’s contract was renewed, the
renewal was essentially for a salary amount. It does not guarantee Norvell will
be principal at Ashley. With all bad press about conditions at Ashley, the
school board is left with little choice but to remove Norvell from Principal at
Ashley. They don’t have to fire him, they can simply transfer him to another
position somewhere else in the school system.
The renewal
of Norvell’s contract by the school board should not be mistaken as approval of
his job performance at Ashley. It should be viewed as a means to an end. They
renewed his contract because they had no choice. Now Norvell can be moved to
another position in the school system before the start of the new school year
without concern of a lawsuit, and Ashley High School can get it's much needed new leadership .
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Principal’s contract renewed; Ashley teacher speaks out
Repost of a story posted by WWAY. Link includes video.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Amid a flurry of controversy the New Hanover County Board of Education approved Ashley High School Principal Jackson Norvell’s contract for another 4 years. One of the schools teachers tonight though is speaking out.
Jennifer Sugerik had asked the school board to consider new survey results before renewing Norvell’s contract. Early reports from these new surveys show a similar pattern of distrust of leadership and other systemic issues. Norvell has been under the microscope since last year when survey results showed teachers were unhappy at the school. Sugerik says something has to change.
“You don’t want to see anything bad happen to it. It is like you own child you want the best for that and I think many of us feel that it’s not there,” Sugerik said of the school....
See video and rest of the story here:
Ashley Parent Posts Comment About Conditions Under Principal Norvell / Thanks Teacher for Speaking Out
An Ashley High School parent posted the following response to a Star News article:
What a disappointment. I have been an Ashley parent for 13 years, have seen many changes in the Administration. Our school, in my and many other parents opinion, has gone down hill quickly in the past 2 years. The teachers are afraid to speak out, many are losing interest in being here, there is a feeling of bullying by the administration. This spills down to the quality of education our students are now receiving. Many excellent educators have left our school, which has been such a loss for our students. Thank you Mrs. Sugerik for being the voice for the parents and educators. I am so disappointed with the board for not allowing more time for results to come back, and to investigate the issues that are well known at Ashley High school. We will be watching the next school year, and will keep the Board on notice.
Post and related Star News Article can be read here:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150505/ARTICLES/150509867/1038/news69?Title=Ashley-teacher-speaks-out-at-board-meeting
What a disappointment. I have been an Ashley parent for 13 years, have seen many changes in the Administration. Our school, in my and many other parents opinion, has gone down hill quickly in the past 2 years. The teachers are afraid to speak out, many are losing interest in being here, there is a feeling of bullying by the administration. This spills down to the quality of education our students are now receiving. Many excellent educators have left our school, which has been such a loss for our students. Thank you Mrs. Sugerik for being the voice for the parents and educators. I am so disappointed with the board for not allowing more time for results to come back, and to investigate the issues that are well known at Ashley High school. We will be watching the next school year, and will keep the Board on notice.
Post and related Star News Article can be read here:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150505/ARTICLES/150509867/1038/news69?Title=Ashley-teacher-speaks-out-at-board-meeting
Ashley teacher speaks out at board meeting
Published: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 10:03 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 10:03 p.m.
Read the complete story here:
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Fired Ashley TA under criminal investigation for inappropriate sexual behavior with minor
A report posted by WWAY 5/1/15
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — An Ashley High School teaching assistant fired this week is under criminal investigation.
New Hanover County Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Jerry Brewer says deputies are investigating Rebecca Ann Morgan, 25, for allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior with an underage person. He said the alleged victim is a 17-year-old female, but would not say if she is a student at Ashley. No charges have been filed, but the investigation, which began April 23, continues, Brewer says.
New Hanover County Schools spokeswoman Valita Quattlebaum says Morgan was terminated Wednesday after previously having been suspended with pay.
“We are not authorized to say the reason for the termination,” Quattlebaum wrote in an e-mail to reporters......
Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/05/01/ashley-ta-fired-district-wont-say-why/
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/05/01/ashley-ta-fired-district-wont-say-why/
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Ashley Teacher Working Conditions Plummet under Principal Norvell; Worst in the County
Ashley High School and it's Principal Jackson Norvell are sure to be back in the news in coming weeks. Ashley made headlines as teacher surveys showed working conditions at the school had deteriorated rapidly under it's new leadership. A number of new surveys are underway. Parents and teachers alike are already expressing concerns over how those surveys are being handled. But before we get to what's coming up, let's take a quick look back at how bad thing had gotten under Norvell's leadership.
Media reports told of severe problems with the change of leadership at Ashley High School. A review of all New Hanover County schools finds that Ashley teachers rank their new leadership the worst in the county by a significant margin.
A 2014 North Carolina Teachers Working Conditions Survey showed that under Norvell working conditions at the school had plummeted. In emails to WWAY teachers wrote "It has been the worst year at Ashley ever this year. Our principal is a bully and is retaliatory," Another described the school under Jackson's leadership as "A scary place to work." In a report at Fox Wilmington, Ashley teachers said Principal Norvell has consistently punished those who spoke up in the school and that teachers are in fear for their jobs.
Results from the survey only reinforced teachers concerns expressed in media reports. Below are some of the actual results from the survey.
-School administrators consistently enforce rules for
student conduct
Dropped
from 66% to 16.9%
-School administrators support teachers’ efforts to
maintain discipline in the classroom
Dropped
72.0% to 36.6%
-Teachers are recognized as educational experts.
Dropped
from 84.3% to 39.1%
-Teachers are trusted to make sound professional
decisions about instruction.
Dropped
from 75.0% to 44.3%
-Teachers are relied upon to make decisions about
educational issues.
Dropped
from 75.0% to 34.8%
-Teachers have an appropriate level of influence on
decision making in this school.
Dropped
from 62.0% to 17.1%
-The faculty and staff have a shared vision.
Dropped
from 73.5% to 29.4%
-There is an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect in
this school.
Dropped
from 59.2% to 18.8%
-Teachers feel comfortable raising issues and concerns
that are important to them.
Dropped
68.6% to 20.0%
-The school leadership consistently supports teachers.
Dropped
from 72.3% to 26.9%
-Teacher performance is assessed objectively.
Dropped
from 73.5% to 46.3%
-The school leadership makes a sustained effort to
address teacher concerns about
leadership issues.
Dropped
from 68.7% to 27.4%
There are a lot of unanswered questions and concerns about at least one of the upcoming surveys. We will address those issues in future reports.
A complete copy of the 2014 survey can be found here:
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