Richard Farkas
Middle School
Collaboration the key to making schools work
by Richard Farkas
Oct 9, 2008
At the end of the 2006 football season, the New York Giants were a team in turmoil. The coach, Tom Coughlin, had lost the confidence of the team and he was in danger of being fired. The players had grown tired of his top-down authoritarian approach and were tuning him out.
Some of the veteran players decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with the embattled coach and the results of that meeting paved the way for the successful 2007 season, which ended with the Giants winning the Super Bowl.
There are the collaborative schools, like MS 238 in Hollis, Queens, where the administration and
the UFT work — and pose for pictures — together: (from left) UFT Vice President Richard Farkas
Principal Joseph Gates, District 29 Representative Joyce Schwartz, Chapter Leader Juan Tineo and
UFT staffer Sue Picicci.
What had changed? The players convinced the coach that they wanted to succeed but needed to be included in many of the decisions that were made. Coughlin instituted a weekly meeting of the team’s leaders and implemented changes that put everybody on the same page and created an atmosphere conducive to winning.
The recent releases of several reports indicate that the lessons learned from the Giants’ locker room can be used in our schools as well. The 2008 School Progress Reports show that the schools that made the biggest gains were those where educators and administrators had collaborated and worked well together.
As UFT President Randi Weingarten said in commenting on the reports, “Our goal should be to identify the issues affecting each school and then collaborate to develop plans to make improvements.”
Makes sense, doesn’t it?
The announcement that UFT staff in 89 schools had received bonuses based on schoolwide progress also shows how meaningful real collaboration can be. Chancellor Joel Klein commented that “people are in it together … they are rowing the boat together. They feel a sense of passion and commitment.”
Randi voiced that “this can’t be a top-down model where it’s imposed on people, because even the best top-down model imposed on people doesn’t work.” And commenting on the smooth opening of the school year, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan said he was “confident that by working collectively, school leaders, teachers, parents and the Department of Education … can provide every child in the New York City public school system with a quality education.”
Where have you gone, Jack Welch?
Ninety-four percent of the parents surveyed by the Department of Education approved of the job that their child’s teacher is doing … and that’s because teachers know what kids need. That’s what makes the story about the principal of MS 216 [see story at left] so sad.
He’s principal who refuses to collaborate and takes the my-way-or-the-highway attitude.
He’s principal who doesn’t see that teachers and their union want what kids need and that this is done by working together.
Every day around the city, I see the opposite of MS 216 Principal Reginald Landeau … school leaders who work collaboratively with their staff. School leaders like Janice Geary, Joseph Gates and Joe Lisa, among dozens of others.
We would like to highlight these schools and chapters so if you work in an environment of trust and collaboration, please let me know at RFarkas@uft.org. And as always, we will fight those who don’t.
Middle School Hall of Shame Award goes to ...We arrived for an annual visit to MS 216 in Fresh Meadows, Queens, on a warm September day. Despite the outdoor sunshine, the mood inside the building was anything but sunny. Day six of the school year found teachers miserable as they described how they are beaten down daily by an administration whose goal is to decimate the school’s UFT chapter. 
So, who is responsible for this campaign of terror? None other than Reginald H. Landeau Jr. (and please pronounce the name correctly, that is Lan doe). The name sound familiar? Maybe you are thinking of his father, the original Reginald Landeau, former superintendent of District 29. But no, this is his son, Reginald Landeau Jr. (and remember, it’s Lan doe). Let’s look at his stellar path to becoming a teacher. This scion came up through the ranks, starting his career in 1985 as a paraprofessional. In 1992, he arrived in District 19’s PS 174, where he served four years as a substitute teacher (you remember the PPTs?). He was appointed (after finally completing his requirements and paperwork) in 1996. He must have sparkled there, because after four years, he ended up in the District 19 office. (Doing what?) From there, there was no turning back, as he made a triumphant return to PS 174 as an assistant. That brief, one-year stint was followed by another one-year stretch at 110 Livingston Street. (Doing what?) And from there, it was upward and onward to the principal position at MS 216 in District 26. It’s been no picnic with Landeau since he arrived at MS 216 in 2004. His arbitrary and capricious tactics have kept members jumping, but this year, Landeau’s pompousness reached new heights as he assigned teachers to mandated weekly planning meetings on their prep time. (He takes attendance, so you better be there on time!) District Representative Mary Vacarro tried to discuss this contractual violation with Landeau, but he told her to “go file the grievance.” After meeting with the staff and advising them of their contractual rights, in the spirit of collaboration I attempted to meet with Landeau. Here’s what happened. Landeau’s office door was closed, and five minutes later, out came AP Daphne Van Dorn. Taking one look at the UFT staff, she quickly withdrew back into Landeau’s office. (To tip him off? To plan strategy?) After another three minutes, the door opened and Van Dorn exited. Entering the office, we found Landeau behind his sleek corporate desk. Closing his door, we raised the issue of mandated assignments on prep periods. What followed was textbook corporate America. From his throne, Landeau ordered his door opened, barking that he NEVER closes it. (But, we had just waited eight minutes while he met with AP Van Dorn behind his closed door.) I again asked for a few minutes of his time to collaborate on the assigned prep period mandate. Landeau stated that he did not have to collaborate, and that an appointment was necessary to speak with him. So, the grievance was filed. What has followed, however, is a rampage by Landeau as he harasses the teachers who filed the grievance by calling them into his office for a grilling. Telling them that “their union’s got it wrong,” he has attempted to intimidate and bully teachers, stating they “can leave 216” if they don’t like the way he runs the school. And so, for his determination to intimidate his staff, our first MS SHAME AWARD goes to Reginald Landeau (Lan doe) Jr. He just doesn’t get that ruling by fiat will go nowhere. He doesn’t understand his boss, Chancellor Klein, when he talks about the school community working together. He doesn’t heed the advice of his CSA union leader, Ernie Logan, speaking of the partnership successful schools develop between teachers and school leaders. He just doesn’t get it. And that’s too bad for the MS 216 teachers, parents and kids. |
