Dear Mayor Emanuel:
In 2010 Chicago Magazine ranked Blaine Elementary School as the 16th best elementary school in Chicago, and the 6th best neighborhood school. After being hired to lead Blaine in the fall of 2011, I told my Local School Council (LSC) I had a “six-year plan” to turn Blaine into the #1 neighborhood school in Chicago.
I have the pleasure of informing you that I lived up to my promise to the Blaine LSC, and I did so a year earlier than promised. Last Monday, Chicago Magazine released its elementary school rankings for 2016. Blaine is now ranked as the #1 neighborhood school in Chicago, and #3 public school in the City overall. In the process, working with motivated teachers and engaged parents, we increased the percentage of students meeting reading standards from an already high 79% to 89% in just our first two years. That kind of growth from an already high performing school–without the addition of a selective enrollment program–is unprecedented.
Behind this significant accomplishment are a series of basic concepts based on empirical evidence regarding effective school practices and thoughtful consideration of how we might apply those practices at Blaine. One fundamental element of improving the school was ending selective access to advanced curriculum. When I arrived, less than 30% of students had access to it; today more than 90% have access. As is the case with most CPS schools, Blaine has a talented hard working staff. Another critical element of our success was to involve that staff in an effort to create systems, relationships, and patterns of collaborative activity that are proven to improve teacher performance, and therefore improve student achievement. In many ways, that was the easy part.
The difficult part was mustering the will and stamina to remain steadfast in our commitment to use evidence-based practice in the face of tremendous pressure–from politicians like you–to adopt baseless “school reform” ideas like “tracking” (school based selective enrollment), “choice,” and the over-evaluation of teachers; ideas that are grounded in ideology and politics as opposed to proven effective educational methods. In a word, the biggest obstacle to Blaine becoming the #1 neighborhood school in Chicago was politics. And while many people contributed to this problem, nobody in our great city is more responsible for that political obstruction than you.
I spent a lot of time fighting those politics during my first two years at Blaine. Some of the people I fought had good intentions, but it was abundantly clear that they did not understand effective education policy. Rather, they came with ideology and politics. We came, instead, with empirical research and evidence.
I take my profession seriously and I practice it with integrity. I did not succumb to corporate educational fads. I did not pander and I did not bend to the selfish aims of a privileged few. If an idea was not in the interests of the school as a whole, it did not happen under my watch. However, during those first two years I kept my fight behind-the-scenes and between the walls of Blaine. Like all CPS principals at the time, I took no public stances against your incompetent and uncaring mismanagement of our school system. It was my sincere hope that internal advocacy and leading by example could and would prevail.
Instead, the achievement gap steadily increased under your mismanagement as you and your appointees at CPS made one disastrous decision after another, in defiance of the evidence and research on educational practices. You have made it increasingly difficult for principals and teachers to provide strong academic programs for our students.
Accordingly, in the summer of 2013 I began efforts to ensure that the residents of our city understood the negative consequences of your administration’s backward and reckless management of our school district. I did so for the following reasons:
- Decisions by you and the board you appointed and completely controlled had damaging consequences for our school system.
- Although your board was unelected, and therefore unaccountable to the residents of Chicago, you were indeed elected and could be held accountable.
- As a public servant it was my responsibility to ensure the public understood the negative consequences of your school-related decision-making so they could hold you and your board accountable.
So for the next three years, I consistently and publicly advocated for credible evidence-based education policies. This, in turn, made me also be a consistent public critic of the ideological and politically driven policies coming out of your office and implemented by your hand-picked board.
One might think that after witnessing the unprecedented academic gains of Blaine students, you and your appointees might call on my school leadership team to help you understand how we improved at such an incredible rate. Instead, at your direction, your appointees are pushing forward with efforts to terminate my employment. It is clear that I am being punished for my advocacy, and that this retribution is more important to you than effective public education for Chicago’s children.
Instead of learning from our work at Blaine, your appointees attempted to suppress that work and silence my voice. When CPS officials removed me as the principal at Blaine, I was already planning to relinquish my post to assume the office of president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association (CPAA). However, after being chosen by my colleagues to serve as CPAA president I decided to fight the removal on principle, and to use the administrative hearing process to demonstrate the charges against me are baseless. Now, in light of the factors listed below, I will conclude that process by tendering my resignation:
- Since I have taken on the role of CPAA President, I cannot return as Blaine’s principal, no matter what the outcome of the hearings. Meanwhile, the Blaine school community cannot move forward and hire another permanent principal until my case is resolved. I cannot allow those for whom I have worked so hard in the last five years to suffer the consequences of your destructive political agenda.
- The hearing process is, of course, a kangaroo court that ends with a determination by your appointed school board; the very school board that voted to censure me in the first place. I don’t expect your appointed board to deliver justice any more than I expect it to practice fiscal responsibility or competent educational management.
- Thus far, during the hearing process, your appointees have failed to produce any of the requested communications to and from your office regarding me and my work at Blaine. Yet the records you produced to justify your refusal contain clear evidence that your office was involved in my removal. You confess that at a minimum the CPS legal office communicated with the City legal office multiple times regarding my termination. I will therefore have to fight for these documents outside of the hearing process through FOIA requests and possible litigation should your office continue its pattern of refusing to release information that, by law, should be publicly available.
- The flimsy charges you’ve leveled against me–combined with the recent elevation of my school as the #1 neighborhood school in Chicago–makes it obvious that your actions against me have everything to do with politics and nothing to do with what’s good for students and families. Therefore the point that I wished to make in the hearing process, has already been made–loudly and clearly.
With the above factors in mind, I hereby resign my position as principal of Blaine Elementary School. However, my efforts to reverse your poor fiscal and educational management of our school system are just getting started.
In just six weeks since since I became its president, the CPAA has saved the Illinois Administrator Academies for principals after your appointees at CPS attempted to sabotage the program; made significant amendments to the Education Platform of the Democratic Party; worked with principals to form action teams that will influence city and state education policy; built relationships with elected officials in order to create access to the legislative process; created the foundation and framework necessary to build a democratic representative structure for both CPAA governance and input in CPS decision-making; joined with the engineers and teachers to oppose your wasteful expansion of absentee facilities management under Aramark and SodexoMAGIC, and started a news service that keeps school leaders informed by providing them with a thematic summary of the week’s education and political news. We intend to build on this work for Chicago and its school children.
In closing, should you ever decide to prioritize student learning over the profits of your campaign donors, feel free to reach out to me and the principals I was elected to represent. We have an abundance of ideas for improving the system for the students we serve. In the meantime, we will continue in our efforts to vigorously advocate for the kind of effective evidence-based education policies and practices that your office does its best to ignore and suppress.
Sincerely,
Troy LaRaviere, Former Principal
James G. Blaine Elementary School
Chicago’s #1 Rated Neighborhood Elementary School
@TroyLaraviere
Troy for mayor!
Thank you for being brave enough to stand up to a well established system that is working against everything good teachers and principals are working for. I applaud you.
My mother was a CPS principle for over 20 years…..somewhere in heaven she is loving this article right now. They never care about the children. My mother would fight endless battles for the children. It was so bad that the Board of Education would not fix the windows in the schools, instead electing to let it rain and snow on the children. As a result, my mother’s school was the first school and public institution ever in the state of Illinois put into public receivership!!!!! Thanks to a judge who cared about some children on the South Side of Chicago. Finally the windows were fixed! I applaud this former principal!!! My mother also took her school to a high ranking in the city but the powers that be never care! This former principal should know that he has the backing of ancestor CPS principals as well! Continue to amaze my friend!!!!! Signed the daughter of a formal CPS Principal…..
This young man should be the MAYOR Stay strong!!!
OMG! Congrats on your massive achievements and so gracefully pointing out another huge reason why Rahm is so inadequate, pompous and uncaring toward the people he should give a hoot about. He should step down, not you! Can you get your educated and truly caring self on the ONCC, FAA or CDA? The 10s of 1,000s of citizens whose lives have been ruined since Oct. of 2013 sure could use your help in resolving the nightmarish noise issue of OMP.
How about Troy for President! Something constructive might actually get done for a change!
Thank you Troy. You spoke this with purpose and thought. Well said
Snap!…..EMMANUEL you really fkd up another one! ….
Yes, Troy for Mayor of Chicago!!
First of all, a job well done!!! Secondly, I’ve been waiting for someone to give CPR to The Mayor. This is ridiculous how he and his team as tried to sabotage this great work for their own politically greedy desires! Yes you do have the attitude to be Mayor!!!
Like you, I am a true believer in that good decisions to drive true change, does not come easy to those of us that do so with selfless, integrity and commitment. I raise a glass to you and your team of “trouble makers”. I only wish we had more people like you. Now I leave you with my favorite quote:
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” -Steve Jobs
Please run for mayor, I know you will be voted in!
Politicians shouldn’t be involved with school policies unless they’ve received a degree in education and have 5 year’s experience in a classroom! This isn’t just a Chicago issue, it’s a national issue! I can’t believe that our political figures haven’t figured this out! When will they wake up?
Our preschoolers playing in a sand box behave better and get along better than our politicians! How sad! What kind of an example are our politician’s setting for our youth! It’s a national issue that needs to be addressed and major changes need to be made now!
i don’t necessarily agree with the five-year standard, but I certainly agree with your general point.
As a former Principal of a Head Start- grade 10 Native students, I understand your efforts and the tremendous labor, intentionality, and collaboration it takes to move a school forward in such comprehensive ways. Our school also made tremendous gains. I applaud your efforts, those of your staff and all involved stakeholders. I suspect your experiences, similar to mine utilizing PLC approaches, will serve you well in making profound changes in this broader arena.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
It is beyond pathetic that politics has high jacked the educational process and works sgainst our children instead of for our children. This is why CPS really losing fantastic educators and principals to other districts across the State of Illinois and other stars across the country. Our colleagues have had “enough”.
BRAVO BRO!
You rock! It makes me so frustrated to see Emmanuel not using empirical evidence and listening to Chicago’s parents to make it the great school system it could be
Exposed!
Your record at Blaine stands out in stark contrast to the machine. Well stated.
I am in tears!!! With advocates like you, there is hope. I stand behind you 100%, and love you even more for your sincere commitment to the students of the City of Chicago. Thank you for not being afraid to come forward and expose the corrupt political agendas that step on others for their own personal gains.
BRAVO is right. BRAVO to YOU!
But more importantly, THANK YOU ♡
TRUTH!!!! VERY WELL SAID..
Appreciate your work
And people think an elected school board will improve things. Bravo and good luck to you Troy!!!
That is because the political system especially in Chicago is flawed and the results are being seen with kids dying. Education declining and increase in inmates in a privatized jail system that finances Rahm and other political figures.
Troy, I thank God for you. We are fighting against wickedness and greed. Our children are paying the ultimate price. “Proverbs 29:2 (KJV) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Our city is mourning. We have to pray that our leaders turn from their wicked ways and to do what is right for the people.
I hope you run for mayor. You have my vote!
THAT’S how you advocate for education, on several levels. Well said and well done, Mr. LaRaviere, and continue the good fight.
Troy for U.S.Secretary of Education! I am inspired by you. But you can’t do this alone. Where are the voices of the staff and families you served? They must be outraged about your forced resignation.
That is exactly what I said when I posted this on Facebook. You are a hero, Mr. LaRaviere. The country needs you badly.
Reblogged this on Crazy Normal – the Classroom Exposé and commented:
Troy LaRaviere, former principal of James G. Blame Elementary School, Chicago’s #1 Rated Neighborhood Elementary School, continues to fight the corruption in the Chicago mayor’s office.
Reblogged this on The Urban Schoolhouse.
Phenomenal letter. Excellent explanation and a new “J’ accuse” about a corrupt incompetent and Napoleonic complex mayor that should have never been elected and needs to be prosecuted for his vindictive policicy and misappropriation of public funds!
FIRE HIM NOW!!!
Outstanding! I applaud your strength, stamina, and courage. I will send this out to everyone I know.
So well written, and so inspiring. Thank you for writing this and good luck. There are so many people who are behind you 100%.
I wish I could help you out…..but I live in Florida. I am, however, interested in your situation and applaud your stand against all of the BS and politics. Schools should have NEVER been involved with political ideals…but it seems that they have and this is the result. In my county our school superintendent is elected!!!! If that’s not politics I don’t know what is. But then…we also elect our top law enforcement official. I hope for the children’s sake someone steps in and continues what you have started…….I am forever in your corner……I wish it could be more. I wish I could put my actions where my heart is. Thanks for sharing this!!!
Thank you for standing up for education and taking on a system that is horrifically broken. I live in Lakeview and have had the privilege of a good elementary school for my son and fought the system in favor of promoting Lake View HS as a strong option for our children. I was unable to sway many parents but know our children deserve more.
I was neither for or against, Rahm but your letter has changed that. I will never vote for him again. Thank you for sharing.
let’s not forget that politics=money. it’s big business that has highjacked public education, just like they have hijacked our healthcare system.
How many school systems across the country are reflected in this story? This is a national disgrace, not just for
Chicago and sadly one for which this country will have to sooner or later pay the price. Fortunately there are people like Troy LaRaviere who are willing and able to fight back. Bravo!
I agree my boss and I were basically harassed threatened and ultimately removed after 3 years of unprecedented growth. My boss has gone to glory and I think that is because of the stress created by this hostile board and their lawyer. My health was significantly impaired because of the stresses and total disrespect embarrassment and so on. I still have great ideas but physically can’t practice what I loved. Keep up the good fight!
CPS principal ?
My thought, if there was a survey DONE on how many of these politicians children actually attend public school , we would be alarmed. I say let the parents who have children that attend make CPS have the right to make decisions on their children s behalf.
If you ever decide to run against the machine, I will gladly work for your campaign!
I think that you should run for Mayor! I promise to help campaign. Rahm’s real intention is seen when you reverse the “R” and “H” in his name… Rahm is HARM to our city and educational system. Fire Harm Emmanuel now!
Bravo to you sir!!!!!!! Light will ALWAYS expose Darkness. Our children deserve better. We must rock the vote at the next mayoral election.
Very little of educational “policy” these days follows research. For example, mandatory homework, the purpose of which is to practice a new skill, or in older grades, to prepare for the next day. Mandatory homework does not accomplish either of these goals.
Also, rigid compliance with standards, defeats the entire idea of a “teachable moment.”
These are only two instances but there are many more.
TRUE THAT……U READY FOR THIS….
As a concerned mother, grandmother and former public school teacher, I say you should hang your head in shame, Mr. Mayor!
Prayers that everything you set out to do in the name of education be a success! Remarkable! God bless you!!!
I’m awestruck by your determination. It gives me hope…and courage of my own!
Well done thy good and faithful servant. On behalf of the children, I thank you and I support your dedication.
And he didn’t even mention the disaster of Barbara Byrd Bennett.
Reblogged this on velissima and commented:
I am reblogging this without much comment. The author speaks clearly for himself. I am inspired by his courage and dedication in the face of the Chicago political machine.
Reblogged this on The Quotidian Hudson and commented:
A reblog bout a truly important subject in the United States. This gentleman, as a representative of all of our hardworking Principals, teachers and school staff, should be recognized and commended for his hard work.
Now only if Emanuel would do the same and resign too. Rahm you have messed up everything in our fine city. Get out.
I hope Laraviere sends his letter to congressmen, legislators and newspapers. Troy’s stature as principal of the top school, combined with his eloquence and unarguable logic make this letter one that should not be wasted.
As a retired principal, I salute your courage and encourage you to keep fighting the good fight for the benefit of all of the children in school now, and those to come. God bless you!
Bonnie
CRHS Principal (retired)
Katy, TX
Mr. Laraviere’s voice and message need to be carried throughout our country. Rahm’s motivations can be seen in his actions. Rahm’s primary goal is to provide financial windfalls to those seeking to profiteer off the public education system. Rahm is not concerned about the financial cost, nor is his concerned about the damage the profit taking activities of his “supporters” inflicts on student learning. After all, he can simply blame the teachers and blame the administrators.
Rahm’s actions in conspiring to suppress the video of the police killing should have been enough to force him out. I do not know that that this resignation will provoke the same degree of outrage and activism, but it should as it is a direct attack on those who have proven they can make their community better. Rahm (aka CPS Board) is deliberately trying to punish a person who has proven he, not Rahm, puts the lives of the children in the community first.
Troy LaRaviere you ROCK! Thank you, and the children thank you too!
I live in California so I cannot do more than cheer you on, Troy. I heartily agree with those who want you to run for mayor of Chicago. Since you endorsed Bernie Sanders for mayor (and I loved the ad you did), I imagine Bernie would endorse you for mayor if you ran. He already said that he did not want support from Rahm (or Harm, as another person said in their comment).
From an educator in Montana:
THANK YOU. Keep fighting for our kids and educating others to do so as well. We have a whole generation of new teachers who need leadership not politicians to show them what we can accomplish for and with our students.