Members of Metro Association of Classroom Educators protest outside Hayes Intermediate School in Kennesaw on Thursday.
Photo by Marcus E. Howard
Photo by Marcus E. Howard
About five members of Metro Association of Classroom Educators said Teressa Watson needs to be removed from her position as principal of Hayes Intermediate because of her approach to education.
Watson could not be reached for comment.
"We hear that the teachers are being forced - from an instructional standpoint - to teach from a cookie-cutter approach, where they all have to be teaching the same way, of the same thing, at the same time and that sort of thing," said MACE Chairman and CEO Dr. John Trotter.
"That stifles creative teachers, and creativity is a very important element in reaching children, because all children are unique and they're different. You can't have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions," Trotter said.
The protestors stood near the corner of Kennesaw Due West and Stilesboro roads, holding such signs up that read, "Principal Watson Must Go," "Hey Watson, What's Wrong With Creativity?" and "Hayes Inter. Students & Teachers Deserve Better!"
Several people called the Journal on Thursday and identified themselves as Hayes teachers or the spouse of a teacher at Hayes who have had enough of Watson. Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, two callers complained teachers were being micromanaged and forced to spend hours on unnecessary paperwork, leaving little time to teach.
Hayes Intermediate vice principal Tom Farrell referred questions to the Cobb County Schools' communication department.
Cobb Schools spokesman Jay Dillon said, "The issue at Hayes Intermediate is a personnel matter that has to do with a teacher who has been placed on probation for her performance. She belongs to an organization called MACE, the Metro Association of Classroom Educators."
"This is a highly aggressive teacher organization, the same group that was associated with the problems in Clayton County and its school board. The MACE representative who contacted the school on this teacher's behalf is one of the former Clayton County board members," Dillon said.
Dillon did not identify the teacher he referred to. The former Clayton Board of Education member he referred to is Norreese Haynes, who was removed from the board in 2008 because of an alleged residency requirement violation. He was one of the protestors yesterday.
Watson's biography on the school's website notes that she earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Rochester and has 17 years of experience. It states that she "has adopted an educational philosophy that embraces all kinds of learners. She understands that many of us may have stumbling blocks in life as well as with learning. With that in mind, she has adopted the motto to keep 'Lifting as She Climbs.'"
This is the first year that Hayes Elementary has been split into a primary (grades K-2) division and intermediate division (grades 3-5). There are 576 students in the intermediate division.
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I guess we have to agree to disagree. I tend to see the best in people and keep an optomistic and opened mind. I saw a positive, supportive administrator. I am not so sure that you could find even a handful of people that share your opinion at FO.... based on what I did see while at FO. I am glad to hear you are finally happy. "Do unto others..." and take care!
MK
MK, you were half day during Tereasa's time. You were not there for staff meetings so you cannot comment on the things you did not see. The teacher at Hayes have the same complaints as teachers at FO (Rude, berating them in front of parents, lying, self-serving and supporting her sorority sister)...two schools with the same complaints.
You are correct in that FO is a happy family and Cindy is a woman of great character...but those things are not relevant in the fact that TEREASA WATSON is a hateful person who should never be in a leadership position. Her prior reports of negligence are a testament to that fact. FO is much better without her and Hayes will be also.
I am very happy person...but I will be much happier when Tereasa Watson is put in her place. And that is away from the Cobb County school system.
I am, truly, disappointed that she would hold her teachers to a standard that is on par with national standards and hold them accountable for their instruction.
I, now, know that if I am "called out" by my boss for a job crappily done, that I can run to MACE and they will make comments about him/her so that I can ruin a reputation rather than reflecting upon my own teaching. Never shall I think-maybe I'm not doing my best, could she be right? Instead, I will blame others for my lack of dedication for student learning, even though I'm sure there is undeniable evidence, from my boss, of my own insignificance in this profession as well as the unspoken thoughts of my colleagues who probably are in agreeance that I should be ousted, but are too ashamed to actually tell me to my face.
Guess I'll have to live my life in my pretend MACE bubble where all will be well with the world if the MACE reps just make nasty comments about the person who holds me accountable. I'll also use the excuse of the number of years I've been teaching, since that is a "great" representation HOW and WHAT I teach-yep, that's what I'll do.
Too many excuses in our society. Hold yourself accountable and reflect a little.
I have never worked for someone that is so down-right nasty. Yes, I said "worked for" because Ms. Watson makes it perfectly clear that we "work for" her and not necessarily the parents, students, or community. We "work for" Ms. Watson!
Ms. Watson is nasty in that she is a sneaky snake. I can tell she spends a lot of time thinking of ways to make herself look good while at the same time, she's being a bully. One good word to describe her is phoney. She is not genuinely concerned about students, teachers, parents, or the community. She is genuinely concerned about herself.
Read the blogs here, folks. Those who know Ms. Watson best agree that they wish they didn't know Ms. Watson. Can all these people be wrong?
PARENTS: Your school, Hayes, needs your help. Contact Mr. Sanderson and tell him you want Ms. Watson removed immediately. The next time picketers come to Hayes, JOIN THEM!! The community must come together to remove Ms. Watson. Ms. Watson has already done enough damage at Hayes and the longer she's there, the more damage she will do.
Get rid of Watson now! Get rid of Watson now! Get rid of Watson now!
Tereasa was only awarded a Principal's position within the county because Cindy Szwec, the principal at Fair Oaks, was tired of her attitude and could not make this year's sweeping changes with Tereasa Watson's continued resistance. Take a look at how long Tereasa was an assistant with several moves between schools...
Tereasa's has been reported to the teacher's union many times and had not been promoted in the past because of it. She will not last long at Hayes and the school and community will be much better off when she is gone.
First of all, she is not supportive of the teachers, and is known to be condescending in her speech and mannerisms. There was a time when teachers were valued and respected at Hayes.
Those days are long gone.
As you know from the previous comments, she wants all teachers to be on the same page, doing the same thing, at the same time (across the subjects). These "Watson-made" rules are not in the best interest of the students or teachers. This is ludicrous.
Think about this. Yes, she has to evaluate teachers on their lessons and the execution of those lessons... But she should not have a problem with teachers individually as all the teachers on a given grade level are doing the same thing. Does she forget the rules? She made them.
These demands are nonsense because students learn individually and not collectively. Some may need more or less time to "meet" or "exceed" a particular standard. Where does she get her standards from?
I was appalled to learn that she walked in as the substitute for one of the teachers who is going through a lot already. Who does this? I've never seen a principal sub for a teacher. Wouldn't that further exacerbate the situation? Why is she trying to be intimidating? There was another teacher going to training, please tell me why Watson didn't sub for this person? A leader should bring out the best in others, but this is not the case.
I am really concerned about the state of this school. Our reputation and the morale of teachers is on a rapid decline, and it will continue on this downward spiral until her dismissal papers are given. School needs to be over for Teressa Watson. She has no class.
How effective are you if you don't know who our superintendent is?
Leave Mrs. Watson alone. Quit whining and start doing "real work" - that means you can't sit behind your desk and grade papers while your students have DEAR time.
In a nutshell: Ms. Watson is the worst administrator I've ever worked for. She does not demonstrate that she cares about the students or the teachers, yet she clearly demonstrates that she cares about herself. How does she do this? She cares about hearing her own voice when she talks and she doesn't care about what others are saying. Why should she? In her own mind, she's always right!
She insults teachers in front of parents in order to make herself look good in front of the parents. Even if a teacher may not have acted or spoken in a way acceptable to Ms. Watson, there is no excuse for disrespecting a teacher in front of parents, students, or anyone else. There is no reason for disrespect at all. Period.
Unprofessional behavior, either on the part of an administrator or a teacher, should not be tolerated. As a principal, Ms. Watson should be courteous to EVERYONE. Unfortunately, she is not kind. As a matter of fact, she's a roughshod. She loves to throw her weight around as if she's the only one that matters because it's her word, and no one else's that matters at Hayes. Ms. Watson is the epitome of unprofessionalism. The teachers don't like her behind her back. In front of her face, they have to pretend they like her because they all want to eat, pay their mortgage, and clothe their children.
Believe me, this extreme dislike for Ms. Watson is not going to go away unless Ms. Watson goes away. She must be fired immediately.
If I were a parent, I would definitely join the picketers because the picketers are doing Hayes a big favor! PARENTS, YOU MUST CONTACT FRED SANDERS RIGHT AWAY!!! EMAIL HIM AT FRED.SANDERS@COBBK12.ORG.
The other issue is the stealth implementation (read cram-down) of the America's Choice program across Cobb County elementary schools in particular. That's why there is such emphasis on cookie cutter instruction, standards and data analysis. The bulk of instruction is geared toward the lowest common denominator. The average, ambitious and gifted students are the ones being left behind. Until NCLB is repealed, you are stuck.
Mrs. Watson is doing what she needs to do as administrator to meet her performance goals and to do what she is told she has to do. Of course no one likes all the paperwork, but until someone hits higher-ups over the head with a 2x4 and they realize "America's Choice" isn't the answer - or staff leaves in droves - then nothing's going to change.
Mace has is not part of Clayton County School system so get your facts straight before you say anything. They stand up for Teachers and the kids. How would you like your kids or grandkids to go to a school where the principal does not really care for the kids or teachers but just herslf. All she wants is more power and if she gets it all schools in any county would be in real trouble then. She only looks out for herself, she puts parents down, teachers down and evern kids. She MUST BE REMOVED from HAYES and NOT to ever be put in any other school or system ever again. Parents and teachers need to talk up and get rid of MRS WATSON.