Driving a lot gives you time to think. Did a lot of driving over the weekend and as sometimes is the case began to think of my lawsuit.

We are coming up on 19 months since DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx was served with papers. Now yes, I do understand that a lawsuit is a long and arduous process and that things take time. I know for a fact that I have been quite well served by my lawyer, Bryan Glass, but that is what got me to thinking. Has the City of New York been well served by it's lawyer, David Mou? The Crack Team was surveyed and we think not. Jeez, if David Mou was billing by the hour it would be safe to say that David Mou is ripping the city off. How so? Let's examine things.

We do know how David Mou dragged his feet responding to the lawsuit back in 2014 when first presented with the case. But that is understandable. David Mou was hoping I would get terminated and the case would go away. It didn't. We even held out a rope to him while we filed a motion to default whilst he got his panties in a bunch. How does he repay our consideration? You can see it here (This is not David Mou, but an actor hired by The Crack Team).

But what is curious, and Zachary Carter should investigate, is why, when we made David Mou a very generous settlement offer did he not take it, nor at the very least bring it to his superiors?

When we had our first compliance meeting in July, an offer was made to David Mou that we would accept all negative ratings pulled from my file, that the suspension would be ended immediately, AND, that the city can keep the pay they had confiscated of mine from June.

Now that is a DEAL. Even Trump can't do deals like that.

Did David Mou take this offer to his superiors and  Zachary Carter (Technically David Mou's clients) as wont an attorney's fiduciary duty is to do? Doubtful. Should he have? Hey neither myself nor The Crack Team are lawyers but one thing we do know to do is to act ethically.


 But again, myself and The Crack Team are not lawyers.

The night before I returned from my suspension I was having a major, well maybe not major, anxiety attack or just the typical Jewish neurosis about actually teaching a class. It had been nearly 3 years since I had stood in front of a classroom and taught. Longer than that if one counts teaching with any confidence.

The 2012-2013 school year had been hell for me. My former (THANK GOD!) principal, DR Alison Coviello had done everything she could to destroy my confidence and do what she could to make me feel like I a horrible, rotten, no good bucket of road apples. So of course there was trepidation returning to the classroom.

But I got my chops back and it was like riding a bike. I realized I can do it still.

I spent the next six weeks in District 10 and even though I had some anxiety filled moments, all was good. And I learned something so valuable, or maybe re-learned it, or just had it affirmed. You know what I mean.

Dang it is those kids that make this all worth while. And when you least expect it, and from the kids you least expect it from, you get those jaw dropping moments.

My next to last day at the school in District 10 I subbed or covered a 3rd grade class. I got to know the teacher pretty well when I was with another 3rd grade class for 2 weeks while their teacher was out on maternity.

I think it was after lunch. Yeah, it had to be after lunch, lunch is at 10:35 in that school so the entire day is after lunch I received a note from a student just out of the blue(Identifying details have been redacted) (CLICK TO ENLARGE).

I was floored. I had done nothing special, at least in my mind, to deserve this. I was really touched and still am. But there was more.

About 5 minutes later I got this (CLICK TO ENLARGE);
This was a good day. I don't know if it was as good as any day I had in 20 years of teaching, but it was the best day I had in 3 years!

So let's flash forward to last week. I left the friendly confines of District 10 and returned back to my old District 7 haunting grounds, in fact to a school I used to service when I was a staff developer.

I clustered and there was one 5th grade class that I had every day, a class with a most challenging student.

From day one, he tried to did everything he could to get noticed and to push my buttons.

Thursday as I was leaving the class, he handed me this (CLICK TO ENLARGE);
This note was completely unsolicited. At no time did I ask him to write it nor did his teacher. In fact I had not mentioned his behavior to anyone.

What I feel for the first time in a long time is the ability to be myself in a classroom. Yeah, I know, this can all change and I might have some horrible moments, but I can't think like that. If I do I can't be what I want to be as a ATR/Sub/Teacher.

It's hard being an ATR. It's tough walking into a class for the first time and the kids don't know you. It's hard as an ATR when you have to pick up a class in the morning when you will be with them all day. It's just plain hard. But it can be rewarding.

I am looking at it this way.

When I became a staff developer in 2000 someone asked me why would I want to be working out of the district office. I responded that by being in the DO I can work with and help more students than I could in a just being in one school. That's how I am looking at being an ATR.

I am going to keep these letters. I am going to use them for those days that don't go well or to remind myself that I came out the better person after 3 years.

It's nice to know that I made a bit of a difference for a brief time.

I got an email from Bryan Glass last week. David Mou, the attorney for the Corporation Counsel had sent over a box of documents we have been waiting for since the beginning of time. I was excited. Finally, I would have some answers, some documents to peruse through, to find answers to questions I have had since August of 2012.

It was not to be. David Mou pulled off the biggest con.

Remember the movie "The Sting?" At the very beginning Robert Redford and his buddy Luther did the whole switcheroo with the money. Redford basically gave that guy tissues? That's kind of what Mou did to us. The old switcheroo.

We got 2,135 of pure unadulterated, grade A, 100% nothing.

All we got is what I had already. My hearing transcripts. My hearing decision. My file. The evidence that the DOE attorney entered into evidence (Though we did ask for it). The evidence the DOE attorney never entered into evidence. Nearly all the papers were printed out (THEY'RE TIME STAMPED!!!!!!) in 2013 or 2014.

Here is Mou's answers to our interrogatory and discovery requests. See what I mean? All lawyer babble. All a bunch of nothing.

What sucks is that I put in hours upon hours answering the interrogatories and getting the discovery requested for I have learned through the greatness of Bryan Glass that a persons moral compass should be above reproach.

Answer after answer of "client-lawyer privilege," "work secrets," "too broad a request," "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." Mou does a better "blah-blah" than Alex Lifeson.

But this is all par for the course with the NYC Corporation Counsel and Mou.

The emails between Coviello and AP's are privileged? Between Coviello and Yolanda Torres are privileged?


We should be privy to what went down at IS 162. Yolanda Torres has no problem ruining my career but does everything in her power to save the careers of administrators at IS 162, even when there was a death involved.

Where are the ethics of those who are sworn to uphold the high standards of the New York State Bar?

Is this oath not to be taken seriously?

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I  will support the constitution of the  United States, and the constitution of th e State of New York, and that I will  faithfully discharge the duties of the office of [attorney and counselor-at-law],  according to the best of my ability."

Sad. So very sad. 

For those who have read my blog posts (here, here, here, and here) about my former AP at PS 154 in the Bronx, Rajendra Jimenez-Jailall there was one more thing I had wanted to add but couldn't find the proper way to segue into it. Until now.

It was either May or June of 2013, about several weeks into the reign of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx when Mr J said something quite revealing to me.

DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 had decided that mass preps in the auditorium were no longer to be accompanied by a movie but rather the children were to sit there, sometime for several hours, reading books. Good idea, poor implementation.

So one day, at the end of the day, I am covering the mass prep along with The Bow Tie, Mr J. The entire 2nd grade was in the auditorium when a student came up to me with a question. Now this student had a lot of issues, had been a holdover, and was quite challenging. I knew how to handle him and I had gained this young man's respect. Anyway, he came up to me and I was standing next to Mr J. and asked me something or was kvetching about something. Anyway, I got him to go back to his seat and as he was walking back Mr J turned to me and said;

"We'll see him in jail in a few years."

I was incredulous. I wish I had said something then, I should have. But as we know if a teacher makes an accusation against an administrator there better be witnesses.

So last night I get an email from a former teacher at Bronx Bridges High School. She knows The Bow Tie all too well and shared her story. A story that she has sent to Chancellor Farina, only to be ignored time after time.

Here is her story of her brush with The Bow Tie, Mr J (We added and/or deleted/edited some and highlighted the good stuff!)



WHOA! Some takeways.

One, as far as The Crack Team is concerned, it appears as if The Bow Tie, Mr. J had engaged in criminal activity by falsifying public records, the teacher's observation. Read it again. He never did the 6th observation as he should and instead of being a man, decided to just copy the previous observation verbatim.

According to New York State Penal Law S 175.30 Offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree; 

A person is guilty of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree when, knowing that a written instrument contains a false statement or false information, he offers or presents it to a public office or public servant with the knowledge or belief that it will be filed with, registered or recorded in or otherwise become a part of the records of such public office or public servant.

Offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Not good. Seems that there might be a possibility that Mr J and his bow tie might be looking at some time in Rikers. Maybe there he might meet some of his former students, you know, the ones he had so much faith in. But think about it. What a self-fullfilling prophecy if there ever was one. One wonders how many Newports Mr J would fetch for.

Leaving two boys locked inside your office so they can duke it out Raj? Come on. Even a TFA teacher knows not to do that. Was Mr J written up for that? Doubtful. As he said under oath at my 3020-a hearing, he is a good friend of Nellie Castillo. Ms Castillo looks the other way apparently. Hey Nellie, isn't this putting minors in harms way? A criminal offense?

Losing instructional material? Isn't this something to be written up for? Not if you are an AP and buddies with the principal.

So meanwhile The Bow Tie, Mr J had the audacity to sit in judgement of me and to criticize me and not assist me. When I complained I was looked at as if I am a liar or crazy. Looks like the Karma Fairy has snapped Mr J's bow tie.

But who is really to blame for this? DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx and former and currently exiled District 7 superintendent Yolanda Torres. They both had no problem conspiring attempting to separate me from my direct deposit and actually succeeding with several of my colleagues, but to pass the buck onto others at the expense of the students and teachers at Bronx Bridges HS is beyond the pale.

I am dying to find out about Mr J and what happened with him at PS 154 during his last year there in 2013-2014. Soon I will. We are awaiting discovery from the DOE and soon we will be deposing both DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx and Yolanda Torres. In fact, I think we should depose both Mr J and his bow tie as well.

This man is a waste of human life. He is self-serving and all for himself. He couldn't handle 1st graders, what the hell is he doing in a high school?

For those reading this at Bronx Bridges, keep on sending the stories.

I have always believed that the chapter union (UFT) meeting is sacrosanct. That what happens in a meeting stays in the meeting, and that if you are not a UFT member you have no business being there.

The meeting is where we can share, let off steam, kvetch, and feel safe. For anyone to attempt to go against that is no better than those we are trying to stand up against.

That's why I was shocked when sources at PS 154 in the Bronx shared with The Crack Team that the new chapter chair allowed DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx to "sit in" on a UFT meeting so she can ostensibly get feedback from teachers on what is "on their minds."

Yet again, DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 needs to be in control and not allow for independent though amongst the many anencephalic members (Most. Fortunately there are several independent thinkers left there) of PS 154. But the problem goes way beyond this.

With DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx involved in the meeting, and even if the purpose is benign, can teachers and paras feel safe to be candid with her? Is it not possible for DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx to make a mental or actual note of who is in attendance at the meeting and decide that those who are at a union meeting or speaking up vociferously should be targeted? Again, if DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx appearance is benign, is it not possible that teachers will not share because they are afraid to with her face to face? Is this not what the consultative committee is for?

Ah, the consultative committee at PS 154. It's a scam. The deck is stacked with the sycophants of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx. They know who butters their bread and who can make their lives miserable so they play nice and look the other way. But that is to be expected.

What should not be expected nor accepted is the total acquiescence to the demands of  DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx by the current CL at PS 154. A lackey like this, has never been seen before. She has set up camp, with a a couch, TV, and barcalounger within the confines of the colon of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx.

Take my example.

Over a week ago I emailed the payroll secretary at 154 inquiring about the whereabouts of my file. I did not receive an answer in a timely manner so I emailed the CL. Yes, the CL did get back to me and said she would check with the secretary. Shouldn't take long to ask. A day, another day went by and no response by the CL.

Over a week passed and I emailed the secretary again. No response. I then emailed the CL--again--and there was no response going on now for four days. What am I to think?

That, the payroll secretary was told not to respond back and, and this is even worse, the CL was told not to respond back in my opinion.

I'm not surprised. Word is the CL, before she was CL, threw a friend under the bus at PS 154 and has always done what she can to satisfy DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx. Hell, why not? When a school starts cutting, what is it they cut first? Art.

Here is my opinion for the few at PS 154 in the Bronx if you need the union;

Under no circumstances trust or go to your CL or the Consultative Committee. Whatever you say to your CL or CC in my opinion will be the same as if you were telling DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx and we all know what happens when DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx feels when she has been crossed.

Either email me for advice, the former CL,  or contact the new DL for District 7. 

I can't believe I have yet to write about this or mention this on these pages.

About a two months ago Yolanda Torres was "moved up" and is no longer the superintendent for District 7 in the Bronx. No one on The Crack Team saw it coming. We are shocked and amazed and know that a black cloud has been lifted off the families and teachers of District 7.

According the press release from the DOE, Yolanda will know be the...

Executive Superintendent of the Division of Family and Community Engagement (FACE)

Yes, an old face to take over FACE. Yolanda is taking over for Jessie Mojica, who according to the Daily News will assume a managerial role in FACE.

I met Jessie make in 2009 when he was working as the education liason for the Bronx Borough president's office when we were having he troubles with Principal Linda Amil-Irizarry and AP Derrick Townsend. Jessie showed a real interest in what was happening at the school and truly cared about the communities in the Bronx that he was serving. When I heard that Jessie had gotten a job at Tweed a few years back I saw it as a win for the good guys.

I ran into Jessie a few time since. Once at a technology meeting for Bronx tech liaisons a few years ago and at Chambers St during my hearings. Jessie deserves better than this.

So back to Yolanda.

This chart shows the Peter Principle in action. How one actually does rise to the level of their incompetence (Click to enlarge).

How does someone has vastly incompetent as Yolanda Torres rise to the upper echelon of the NYCDOE? Let's look at some of Yolanda's record.

In May, the Daily News reported that District 7, Yolanda's district, is the worst in the city.

Yolanda is responsible for a vast conspiracy to separate me from my direct deposit forcing me to sue her and others in what might just cost NYC thousands of dollars. 

Horrible test scores year after year in District 7.

Yolanda covered up malfeasance at IS 162 in the Bronx. 

Allowed a school to go down the toilet. 

Covered up the ineptitude of pal, Linda Amil-Irizarry when Irizarry was principal at PS 154. Here, here, here, here, and here.

Allowed Greg Papadopoulos to get nothing but a slap on the hand for stealing time. 

My friend Stu Schmelz is dead and I know who is culpable in this. 

Yolanda has allowed a reign of terror brought upon PS 154 by her minion DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx. 

How long would Yolanda last if she were the superintendent of schools in Harrison, NY? About a week.

Sadly, a manger at McDonald's is more accountable than Yolanda Torres at whatever it is she does.

It's been over a week since we last laid our eyes and ears upon the inanity of Rajendra Jimenez Jailall, former AP at PS 154x and current AP at Bronx Bridges High School. But for those who are just arriving or have forgotten, let's have a little review.

We have learned that Rajendra Jimenez Jailall has the ability to make empty promises to me in that he promised me composition notebooks for the students and never followed through.

We have learned that Rajendra Jimenez Jailall promised me a demo lesson, on two separate occasions and never followed through and when asked about such a promise in my 3020-a hearing misremembered.

And we have learned how Rajendra Jimenez Jailall, in a horrible case of truthiness, told me that my informal observation of October 12, 2012 was based on Danielson, denied it in my hearing and shared that the informal would not count towards my end of the year rating.

So what are we to learn today? How Rajendra Jimenez Jailall come to the conclusion based on using a blindfold and a spinner to decided that I was to be given a U on the informal observation of October 12, 2012. But first, let's have a looksee at the observation!



As we can see that of 28 items to check off, I was only rated on 12 items and none based on instruction, only my classroom, oops, I meant in the parlance of PS 154 and DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154, my "learning environment."

Yes, I  know you are saying to yourself, what is the deal with the E? Well, E is for evolving, something that comes from Danielson, yet it was not supposed to be implemented during the 2012-13 school year. And yes, those numbers i parentheses? Danielson too. And to wonder why Rajendra Jimenez Jailall only misremembered this observation being based on Danielson.

But one thing was curious. Of the 12 items I was rated on, (1s, 3 u's, and 8e's) why was I given a U rating? Let's hear what Rajendra Jimenez Jailall had to say on November 12, 2012 as he first channeled Casey Stengel in doublespeak and then Ralph Kramden when he knows he screwed up. (LISTEN HERE).

Did you hear him say it was based on "all of the items that were not addressed"? So what he did not choose to rate me on I was rated U anyway? What the heck? How can I have an observation based on what he did not check off?

And, since when is a informal observation based only on the classroom environment? More importantly, how can class routines, high expectations, paired work, etc... be rated when all Rajendra Jimenez Jailall observed was not even being in 15 minutes in my room and we were all in the middle of the mini-lesson?

LISTEN TO  Rajendra Jimenez Jailal's reaction when I question him on Danielson. He has no idea what to say.

And LISTEN TO Rajendra Jimenez Jailal's reaction as I question him about there is nothing about the student's engagement in my class, that they are learning, that they enjoy coming to my class. He again has nothing to say. Just mumbled and gargled words.

It's obvious that DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx neutered Rajendra Jimenez Jailal soon before the school year had started and he was only "following orders," and "kissing ass." We have heard from several members of his former school, PS 28 in the Bronx and this seems to be Rajendra Jimenez Jailal's pattern.

The ironic part is that Rajendra Jimenez Jailal went through what I had gone through the following school year, 2013-14 school year. Karma is a bitch, eh Raj?

Teachers at Bronx Bridges, watch yourself around Rajendra Jimenez Jailal. Watch what you say and what you think. In my opinion he is not to be trusted and he has a long relationship with Nelsie Castillo.

As one former colleague of Rajendra Jimenez Jailal's at PS 28 wrote to me in an email;

"Only thing I can say is that he was a horrible teacher and colleague. Arrogant and condescending to both kids and teachers.  I was with him when he was a 4th grade teacher and he couldn't manage his class. And I was with him when he became literacy coach and couldn't handle that either.  He thought he was God's gift to education....he was an arrogant jerk and we pretty much let him know it back then."

What a pathetic little "man."

Bear with me while I get to the punchline that is Rajendra Jimenez Jailall.

Regarding my informal observation by Mr J in October of 2012, The Bowtie under direct examination was asked; 

Was this observation based on the  Danielson Framework for Teaching?

To wit The Bowtie replied;

I don't know. I'm referring to the box that you asked about, not to my knowledge.

Really? Really, Raj? Is that the story you wish to stick with?

As we listen to this it appears that The Bowtie's memory is askew, he misremembered, has a bout of truthniness, or just out and out lied.

In fact he believed his truthiness he kept it going under cross;

Q. Do you recall telling Mr. Zucker  during that post observation conference that this observation report was based on Danielson? A. Pardon? Q. Do you recall during that post observation conference telling Mr. Zucker that this observation was based on Danielson? A. Not to my memory do I recollect saying  that it's based on Danielson. I don't remember that.

Don't remember, yet he remembers so much more. How is that possible?

But here is my favorite part when in the post observation meeting The Bowtie told me that this informal will not count towards by final rating. Have a listen. Heck, he liked it so much that this informal was not going to count towards end of the year rating he told the story again (LISTEN HERE!)!

Oh, and one more thing from this meeting. Listen here as I ask The Bowtie to stay after school with me one evening and just listen to how he tries to get out of it.

It is so sad that Raj could not be a man and own up to what he did. Funny how karma came the following year and he was a target of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx. So much for kissing ass, huh Raj?

A couple of years ago I met some teachers from his old school, PS 28 in the Bronx. He was so incompetent as a classroom teacher and without any classroom management he was moved up to Staff Developer. At this point, I was told, everything just went to his head and his ego just took off.

Its really no surprise he is a product of Teachers College and the only reason he is at Bronx Bridges High School is he is friends with the principal, Nelsie Castillo. Think about it. Why does a school with an enrollment of 309 need two AP's?

Teachers of Bronx Bridges, do not trust this man.

and always they're amazed when I show them 'round my house to my bed
I had it made like a mountain range with a snow white pillow for my big fat head- Gabriel, Peter 1986

As promised, there is more about the most inept AP ever, Rajendra Jimenez Jailall.


As has been previously reported on this pages, Mr J, or as he was affectionately known, Mr Bowtie, had promised me a demo lesson which never came to fruition. In his cross examination at my 3020-a hearing Mr J was asked;

"Do you recall if Mr. Zucker asked you during that post observation conference if you could provide him with a demo lesson?"

Mr J, being the man that he is replied;

"Not to my knowledge. Whether he asked for it, but we had Teacher's College working in the building and there was an opportunity for demonstration lessons to occur, but I don't remember that specifically."

Now mind you, the first time I asked for a demo lesson from Mr J was November 9, 2012. At this point I had zero staff development on the Cult of Lucy Calkins nor had a TC hack come to visit me. But I digress. The cross examination continued with him still being asked about me asking for a demo lesson.

Q.You don't remember him specifically asking you to provide him with a demo lesson? Mr J: Right.  Q. And what is a demo lesson to your understanding? Mr J:  That's when someone models a lesson about how to deliver a lesson.

That he doesn't recall, but he remembers the notebooks. Let's refresh his memory.

Listen here as Mr J promises me a demo lesson on November 9, 2012. 

But maybe we should give Mr J the benefit of the doubt, no? Perhaps he misremembered? What about when I asked him on January 31, 2013 for a demo lesson (Listen here) and his response to my request was;

"Absolutely, but before I do that DR Coviello will send you to a workshop with a TC representative , and we'll talk further on that. But if you want a demonstration lesson from me, fine, OK, (And here he tries to intimidate me in tough guy voice) but whatever I decide to demonstrate you will do it exactly...so we'll talk about it."

I'm still waiting that demo lesson Raj! Where is it? Even the first week of March of 2013 when I asked DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx and she replied (listen here!).

I've always believed that I had never received those demo lessons because it went against the grand plan of the conspiracy that DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx had hatched against me. But then again Mr J, or Mr Bowtie never gave me those lesson plans because he was just to inept and incompetent to give me a demo lesson.

Listen here as Mr Bowtie attempts to explain how to integrate Character Education and The Cult of Lucy Calkins.

What a maroon. One would assume that Raj would have decided to be a man. How sad.

That's it for now, stay tuned for more fun with audio and the most inept AP ever, Rajendra Jimenez Jailall.

So how is that lawsuit going you might ask? Well, it is chugging along slowly.

I last mentioned the lawsuit that we filed against DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx, the DOE, and Yolanda Torres back in August.

Discovery was supposed to be in on September 11, 2015 and so far we have received squat.

Because I have an extremely ethical attorney in Bryan Glass he kept on top of me to get my tush in gear to finish those darn Interrogatories. It's been tough. What with the holidays and me looking for a job every day for several weeks I just could not do it. But I finally finished it.

One interrogatory that comes to mind is when I am asked who told me that I would be given notebooks to use for my Character Education Through Literacy (Always add the "Through Literacy" or DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx will plotz!) and when.

Simple. It was the most inept Assistant Principal ever, Rajendra Jimenez Jailall. He is not at 154 anymore, but currently the AP at Bronx Bridges High School (God he couldn't deal with 3rd graders how is he doing this?). DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx effectively neutered him his last year at 154 the 2013-2014 school year.

We even supported Mr J as we called him, or sometimes Mr Bowtie, when he was shat upon by DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx. But he was just too neutered to do anything and just tucked it under and slank away.

But Mr J and myself had a meeting on November 9, 2012 in which he promised to get me notebooks (Listen here).

No remember that I had this program thrust upon me in a conspiracy between DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx and BFF AP Jessica Cruz. I had taught Character Ed. before but I not integrating it with the cult of Lucy Calkins.

I never received the notebooks from Mr J. Instead all I received were about 300 pocket folders. But so much could have been taken care back in September if I just followed what BFF AP Jessica Cruz testified to in my 3020-a hearing.

So the procedure for getting supplies  for students at the beginning of the school year--and  this is a practice that, I mean, we all learn in  Teachers School. You write "Welcome letters" to your  parents introducing yourself and teachers ask for  supply lists. And so, students typically would come  with the supplies to school for students that can't  afford or don't bring all the supplies, then we can  make accommodations.

We learn this in teacher school? Did the dance teacher have to do this? The art teacher? I had been a cluster before and never was I asked to send a letter home for supplies. Only homeroom teachers had done that. But even if I was supposed to why did DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx mention this to me or in any of the write ups I had in the beginning of that school year or what did not BFF AP Jessica Cruz inform me of this on our September 29 meeting?

But it gets better, BFF AP Jessica Cruz goes on;

So Mr. Zucker had asked Mr. J for folders

No I didn't. Listen again, it was offered to me.

But BFF AP Jessica Cruz is not done with me yet...

So as I mentioned, the schools are not in the policy or the habit of providing supplies for  all classroom teachers I was a cluster not a classroom teacher for the school year, which is the reason why teachers all write letters to parents welcoming them--introducing themselves and welcoming  their children to the classroom classroom teachers do, and they do it in June and not clusters, and also include a  list of supplies that you would need. In addition to  that, we do have a supply closet, and there are some  supplies in there. So if a student doesn't bring, or if a classroom happens to just have a group of students where most parents didn't supply the  materials then we would provide for that class. You  know, it would be for that specific--because that  class has a specific need. In addition to that,  teachers receive Teacher's Choice, and Teacher's Choice is monies that are given to teachers by the  Department of Education to provide--to buy supplies for students or for their classroom, and it would encompass anything from crayons and markers and paper  to even, like, an overhead projector. I spent over $100 of my money to get that classroom ready!So the  Teacher's Choice usually comes around December so how could I get notebooks for December?, and teachers have--it's either a direct deposit or an  actual check that's handed to teachers. The teachers  have to August--before the school year kicks off--  until March to use up the monies, and they just have  to provide receipts for what they've purchased. 

See, BFF AP Jessica Cruz had come to informally observe me on November 8, 2012. My meeting with Mr J, to discuss my informal observation of a month earlier was about to take place, the next day. At this point when BFF AP Jessica Cruz came into informally observed me my meeting with Mr J had yet tot take place so that I can learn from my previous observation!

And how did Mr J testify?

Q. Mr. Zucker asked you for student notebooks for his students? 
A. Yes, there was a request for notebooks.

WRONG RAJENDRA!! You offered the notebooks, twice (Listen to the second time in the same meeting)!

But who's fault is it that I never was told of sending a letter home, getting the notebooks, and getting folders instead... at the end of December? Of course, it was my fault.

Why was it my fault? I know dumb question.

If my name was Joe Smith I never go through this crap.

Next time...audio of me asking the most inept Assistant Principal ever, Rajendra Jimenez Jailall, for a demo lesson in November than January and he promising it and never following through. Oh, and let's not forget me asking the most inept Assistant Principal ever, Rajendra Jimenez Jailall, that I can stay late one day a week after school and if he can work with me on setting up my learning environment and hear how he blows me off. That and more next time!

I have got less than 48 hours of having my health benefits. We went to Westchester Social Services on
Friday and were approved for only $115 a month in Food Stamps and are waiting to find out about Medicaid.

My son got approved for free lunch and I have my Unemployment appeal hearing on Wednesday. In the last week or so I have sent out about 10 resumes to charter school and private employers. Nothing yet. Putting in an application with a tutoring service tomorrow. I spoke with director, she is keen on hiring me but we'll see.

On Wednesday I wrote about The Ratt at PS 154 who decided to make up such a vicious story that not only was I charged but the charge was substantiated.

What about the two other charges The Ratt came up with?

You will laugh.

As previously mentioned I had The Ratt's class usually the last period of the day at 1:50.

One day, and this happened often with The Ratt, she brought her class early to my classroom. The teacher of the class before me would pick up her class either at 1:50 on the dot and with The Ratt's class waiting for 5 minutes already I had to deal with a class that was already fidgety.

On this day, the teacher was classy enough to pick up her class several minutes early, about 1:47 PM. I had three minutes.

Unfortunately, The Ratt brought her class early and just as the other class had finished filing out, The Ratt started to walk away from the class.

Dang, I thought to myself, I needed that three minutes (FYI, DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx never had any grace time between periods. Not even a minute. I always wondered why.) to run down to teacher's lounge and get some peanuts. I had plenty of time.

I needed those peanuts. I had not eaten since breakfast that day and it was late. I could feel (Can't explain, but if you are diabetic you can tell) blood sugar getting low. I needed the peanuts and The Ratt brought her class early!

I asked The Ratt if she can just stay with the class for no more than two minutes, that I will be back by 1:50.

"Nooooo," The Ratt squealed, "I won't have a full prep."

I explained that I am diabetic and that I need to get something into my system. The Ratt did not care.

I turned to a 5th grade teacher bathrooming his class, "Can you watch The Ratt's class for me so I can get peanuts. I am diabetic and I asked her and she said she would not."

At this point The Ratt let out a loud, whiny, "WHY ARE YOU TELLING HIM MY BUSINESS?" shrill in front of the 5th grade class and her class. And I was the one crapped on. The Ratt claimed I did not talk to her in a professional manner.

If I didn't why was there no supporting anecdotal from the 5th grade teacher? Why did DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx take her word for it? And yes, I got a letter in the file.

Here is a another one involving The Ratt.

A week or so after this incident I had to get keys from her for extended day. I spent 15 minutes looking all over the school for The Ratt. Announcements were made and there was no response.

I finally located her in the computer room. All I said when I saw her was, "Oh there you are, I have been looking all over for you."

In her whiny shrilly voice I got it again, '"WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME SO UNPROFESSIONALLY? STOP!!!"

Yep, I got a letter in the file as well. In fact she said this in a room full of student whilst sitting between two teachers. Where was anecdotals from students and the two teachers? Again, I got written up for this. Only her word was good enough.

What comes around goes around. The Ratt fell out of favor so quickly. Just was removed from the colon of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx.

But The Ratt is teaching in best community possible. The Ratt can be celebrated in 2020. 

It has been quite week for me.

On Saturday I got the notice for my NYS Unemployment appeal hearing (September 9, 9:45 AM 250 Schermerhorn St in Brooklyn). I attempted to have the NYU Law School Unemployment Action Center represent me (Can't school just started). I spent all day yesterday sending resumes to charters (YUCK!). I have a week left on my health benefits and Welfare Fund. Turned in the application for my son to have free or reduced lunch. And tomorrow, going into White Plains to Westchester County Social Services to apply for food stamps and Medicaid.

It's tough. My wife is on disability due to severe back issues (She will eventually need a fusion from L3 up to thoracic area of spine) and I am going to have to stop looking at charters for a job and start just accepting anything. I do have some income. I am tutoring at a chain tutoring center but the hours are shaky and the pay is not that much. But I shall prevail.

In my rejection of Unemployment benefits the NYS Dept. of Labor said that I...

"...should have known that my actions could've have led to a suspension."

Of course, they don't know the entire story.

When I picked up my file the other day to see what the DOE had written in their response to as why I should not get UI, one thing stuck out at me among many;

"...he failed to be at his assigned post..."

Wow. Yeah, that is what I one of the charges were and it was sustained;

"Respondent neglected his professional duties in that he failed to be at his assigned post in May 16, 2013."

Who made this allegation about me? Another teacher. A Ratt. Of course if I too had lived in the colon of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx I would have been, at the most, taken aside and talked it out.

The story of this Ratt and how this Ratt came about to stabbing yours truly in the back (Several times that year) is somewhat long, but for brevity I shall hit on the high points.

In 2011-12 school year I was SAVE room teacher. The Ratt always would come and tell me how much The Ratt would love to have my job. So when preference sheets came around, guess what? Nice, huh? I have never ever put down for a position on the preference sheet for myself what another colleague wanted or had. Especially if that colleague had done a lot for me in the past.

When school started in September of 2012 I realized that The Ratt is plutonium and to stay far away from The Ratt. I decided that there was to be no communication between The Ratt and myself except for professional matters.

On May 16, a Thursday, The Ratt (Who at this time was no longer the SAVE room teacher but replaced a spec. ed teacher that had been targeted by DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx) was informed, as was I, that I would be covering The Ratt's class the last period of the day at 1:50 PM until 2:35 PM.

The class before had been picked up at 1:49 PM and I got things ready and then waited in the doorway for the arrival of The Ratt's special ed 3/4 class. When the clock hit 1:50 the class had yet to arrive.

The clock soon hit 1:55 PM. No class. 2 PM. No class. I peered down the hall way looking at The Ratt's classroom. The door was closed and the lights were off. I has assumed that the class was late coming from a mass prep in the auditorium (This would happen when teachers had PD).

At about 2:08 or so I felt the urge, a bad urge, to relieve myself (Metformin tends to do this). As I was taking care of business, over the PA it was announced for me to call the main office. I ended what I was doing and ran down there.

The school secretary, who is a wonderful person, told me that The Ratt called whining that I had never shown up to The Ratt's class for the coverage. I was puzzled. All cluster positions at PS 154 that year the classes CAME to the teachers, not the other way around. The Ratt was well aware of this being that I had her class two other days of the week.

I finally show up at 2:10 or so and the hell and whining I got from The Ratt was too much. Knowing how far inside the colon of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx The Ratt was ensconced I decided to err o the side of caution.

I apologized profusely. I told The Ratt that I would make up the 15 minutes on my lunch time or a prep. The whining was incessant, "I lost my prep time." I really tried to make good. But to no avail.

This charge was sustained based on the secretary's testimony. The Ratt had never shown.

A month later on National Write-Up Day (I received about 5 letters to the file on one day) I found out that The Ratt did what The Ratt did. Ratted me out.

This is ironic considering all that I had done for The Ratt in the past:

Gave The Ratt rides home into Manhattan.

Under a previous administration I listened and supported The Ratt has The Ratt was whining and crying was going on that that administration was targeting and harassing The Ratt.

In 2010 when our school got a grant through Play Study Win to have Metro Soccer come into the school and start a soccer team for the 4th and 5th graders to celebrate the 2010 World Cup (The kids practiced for a month to play in a tournament as Costa Rica to play in an all day tournament at Floyd Bennett Field) we (Myself and the phys ed teacher) allowed The Ratt to particpate.

We also put up with The Ratt fawning all over the representative from Metro Soccer for 6 weeks.

The Ratt was invited to come to MLS offices with us.

The Ratt was involved in a traffic accident in which The Ratt was injured. The Ratt was in need of an attorney I gave The Ratt the number of our personal attorney and The Ratt was on the phone for an hour with him and never retained him. Nor was The Ratt charged for the consultation ($500).

When the entire school, save for a select few, would endlessly badmouth The Ratt, I stuck up for The Ratt.

And how am I repaid? By The Ratt finding the most little petty POS thing The Ratt can think of and being nothing more than a Ratt.

Hey but I am in good company. That special ed teacher The Ratt took over for? The Ratt was planted into his room by DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 in the Bronx into that class about two months before he got 3020-a charges. The Ratt was supposed to "help out" but it was really The Ratt reporting back from what The Crack Team was told.

But Karma came. The 2013-14 school year DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 turned on The Ratt. The Ratt was cast out of the colon of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D. of PS 154 into the cold cruel world. The whining and crying were back. The Ratt left PS 154 after that year and now The Ratt is an activist for teachers rights. BARF!

Karma can be a game changer.

Baseball is a great sport. Think about it. What other sport are you considered great if you fail 70% of the time?

The .300 batting average is what hitters wish to attain. Hit over .300 in a season you did well. Have a lifetime .300 batting average over a career you are considered one of the finest hitters of all time. Of the 18,274 (Including pitchers) players to play Major League Baseball since 1876 only 178 have a lifetime .300 average (Based on 1,000 games played). That is less than 1%!!!!!!!

From the highest, Ty Cobb with a lifetime average of .366 to a lowest .300 on the dot for 11 players, that .300 average is a mark of success.

Even the last player to he .400, Ted Williams in 1941 when he hit .406, failed to get a hit in 60% of his at bats (When I was a kid my dad always said Williams would have hit 800 if he didn't miss 5 years due to military service).

The great Mickey Mantle finished with a career .298 average. Mickey always lamented playing his last two seasons, 1967 and 1968 in which he hit .245 and .237 respectfully (He hit .300 or better 10 times in his career). Take away those two seasons, Mick winds up hitting over .300 lifetime.

The point?

Why is it acceptable for a NYC school to have 80% of it's 5th graders and over 80% of its 3rd graders unable to read or write and then go into middle school where they have no skills at all.

This school? PS 154 in the Bronx, led by that purveyor of all things Lucy Calkin, DR Alison Coviello, Principal and Ed.D, this is what is happening the students on East 135th St in the South Bronx.

These are the scores that came out last week. Of the 57 fifth graders tested at PS 154 31.6% scored a 1 and 54.4% scored a 2. That is over 80% This is acceptable? Yes, 14% scored a 3, but this comes out to only 7.98 students. EIGHT STUDENTS!!!!


In 3rd grade 58 students were tested Of these, 55.2% of the students recieved a 1 and 29.3% a 2. This totals 84% of students out of a class who apparently weren't taught well from K-2 and especially 3rd grade. Again, to be fair, 15.5% received a 3 in 3rd grade, only 8.99 students. NINE STUDENTS!!!

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE IN THE COMMUNITY???

The students and the community of PS 154 are being short changed by a failed writing and reading curriculum brought into PS 154 by DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.d of PS 154 in the Bronx. Can/should DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.d of PS 154 in the Bronx be trusted to impart the right reading and writing program into PS 154 when she has close ties to Lucy Calkins and her failed methodology?

The community of PS 154 needs to know that they can do something. Demand to whomever will listen that an 80 percent failure rate is not acceptable and demand accountability. This is your community, your school, and your children.

Would these scores be acceptable in Scarsdale? HECK NO! How fast would the Scarsdale superintendent clean house? Think about it. So why is it acceptable in the South Bronx?

Because they believe they have a compliant population that will not contradict what they are told and how they are told to think. 

The parents, the community of PS 154, are the only ones capable of taking charge of your child's education. The parents and community are the best and only advocates. But to do this parents must always question what they are told and come up with their own answers.

It is up to the parents and the community to put and end to the NYCDOE allowing a 80% failure rate to be seen as a success. 

If Mickey Mantle had failed to get a hit 80% of the time he would have been a .200 hitter. He would not have lasted in the Majors for 18 years and would not be in the Hall of Fame.

One common takeaway from all the people who had attended my 3020-a hearing was how robotic, how unemotional, how two dimensional DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx came across.  Can DR Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx be the inspiration of Styx's 1983 song Mr Roboto?

Several sources deep within PS 154 in the Bronx shared with The Crack Team a email she had sent out to the sycophants and suck-ups thanking them for flowers she had been given at the end of the year. There is no emotion.

So The Crack Team was able to take the thank you email, put it through our Crack Computers and were unable to decode the email into what DR Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx was really thinking. We also decided to add the lyrics from the Styx song, "Mr Roboto," of the the album "Kilroy Was Here."

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto [どうもありがとうミスターロボット],
Mata au hi made [また会う日まで]

Dear Colleagues Those beneath me,

Yes, the rumors are true!!

Neil Haley, host of BlogTalk Radio's The Total Tutor Show has been negotiating for sometime to get me to appear live on his Internet radio show.

Months of talks had commiserated between Neil and The Crack Team as we were waiting for our demands to be made. Finally, in fact just this morning, Neil finally caved to the demands of The Crack Team and I will be live, on air, talking with Neil and taking phone calls.

Nothing will be off topic. For those who remember my own Internet radio show, those who have heard me live on WFAS-AM, and for readers of this blog, there is nothing that I will not share my honest opinion of.

This all takes place tomorrow night, July 15 at 11 PM EDT. 

Click this link and listen from your device or computer and hear as I openly and honestly discuss my 3020-a hearing, the charges against me, my suspension, DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx, the death of education in New York State and nationwide, the AFT, the UFT, the upcoming 2016 UFT elections, MORE, how teachers can best help themselves against attacks, and whatever else Neil decides to throw at me.

You can call in to speak to Neil and myself at (805) 285-9736 and also follow me on Twitter in which I will be attempting to live tweet along with Neil on his Twitter feed and follow along at hashtag #educhat.

One thing a good leader should always do is not to assume. A good leader will know to ask questions before the leader makes assumptions. Only a "leader" will assume and we all know what happens when one assumes, no?


In yesterday's post we discussed how an unnamed "leader" not only decided to throw my 3020-a proceedings and decision in my face but the unnamed "leader" decided without having read the transcript nor having asked me any questions that the unnamed "leader" knew the entire background of my case.

Today is another lesson on why we ask questions, why we don't make unfounded conclusions, and why when one wants to act as a "leader" one does not do what the unnamed "leader did.

The Cowgirl was mentioned yesterday in how I was thrown under the bus. Yes, of course, this Cowgirl could not have done it without the enabling of DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx. But as we know no one makes anyone do anything they don't want to do. As the unnamed "leader" know, being a tattle tale on other teachers is gauche.

We here at SBSB wish to share with the unnamed "leader" what type of person The Cowgirl truly is. The Cowgirl created a issue in September 2012 with the then physical education teacher, Carmine Ragguzzi. Carmine was so hurt that he penned an email to DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx. Carmine has shared the email with The Crack Team which will be shared here on these pages and seen nationally for the first time ever. Names and class numbers have been changed.

The following accurately describes a situation that occurred between Class 222 (The Cowgirl) at the time of their scheduled Physical Education class on September 19, 2012:

Class 222 was scheduled to have Physical Education at 1:50 in the gymnasium. The door to the gym that class 222 usually enters was left open just prior to 1:50 in expectation of their arrival. After opening the door and while waiting for the class, I returned to my office to prepare and "catch up" on a few things.  At 2:05 another staff member telephoned me, and during our brief conversation, I mentioned that I had been waiting for my class to arrive.  After that call(15 Minutes having passed), the class still was not at the gym. Therefore, I started to put away the equipment that was to be used for this class, thinking there was some unknown reason for the class not to show. I then checked the hallway once more, still no class.  I then closed the gym door.  There was no courtesy call to explain the situation. At this point, I went to the library to check the school website.

For this teacher to tell the Principal that the class had been waiting at the gym door at 1:50 was a blatant lie and an attempt to discredit me with absolutely no regard for the picture this painted as far as me adhering to my responsibilities as a teacher.

In addition to the above, there have been numerous instances whereby students from class 222, because of unacceptable prior behavior in their Physical Education class, it was necessary to make use of the "Buddy System" and have them sent to another buddy teacher's classroom in place of their P.E. class.

The Cowgirl was advised of this prior to the P.E. class and sent the students to their P.E. class, ignoring my request.

Carmine

Hmmm. One can see a pattern here with The Cowgirl. One can also see the blatant hypocrisy of The Cowgirl and the cahoots The Cowgirl engaged in with DR Alison Coviello; Principal and Ed.D of PS 154 in the Bronx.

Worse, it makes one wonder of the unnamed "leader" will engage in the type of behavior of The Cowgirl with members and teachers that dare to disappoint the leader. 

I can sleep at night and look in the mirror. I have never thrown something back in a teacher's face and if I have any questions I ask.