Putnam Federation of Teachers
A Letter to the Superintendant
September 10, 2009
TO: Tom Townsend
FROM: Sharon Hughes
RE: Instructional materials
Dear Mr. Townsend:
While PFT/U applauds many of the initiatives that have been undertaken in the last few months and appreciates your recent correspondence with district teachers and staff, I feel I must express some concern regarding the fact that some instructional materials “are lagging” as noted in your letter.
It was very upsetting to hear from multiple sites throughout our district today about the fact that they still had not received materials that they were expected to put into use this next Monday. The teachers were very concerned about having time to familiarize themselves with these materials and prepare adequately for their interaction with their students. Further, they were concerned about the fact that observers from various levels of this program could possibly be in their rooms when they had not had time to prepare.
In light of these circumstances, I am requesting that those who are responsible for observing and evaluating instructional personnel be encouraged to give this lack of preparation time consideration. Appropriate personnel have been trained in SFA and Power Teaching techniques, and I feel certain they will implement these to fidelity. I also feel certain that it unreasonable to factor in an evaluation a teacher’s knowledge of or familiarity with curriculum that has not been available until such a late date.
I appreciate your understanding in this matter and hope that these concerns will be expressed to all principals and assistant principals at the earliest convenience.
