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