Last meeting before being fired

I was experimenting. Working on my next blog. but I wanted to practice on something that wasn't my next blog. I tried to add sound to my other blogs and wasn't succeessful but maybe this will work.

The audio is the last meeting that I had with Mark English the Superintendent of AISJ before he fired me.

The Image are events that happend as a result of working in Saudi Arabia. Basicly the experience was very good. Most of the pictures were taken before Mark was offically employed at AISJ. My first year we had a different administrative staff. I worked 14 school days of the seconded year before they fired me. As you will see most of the pictures are very happy, even while he was there I managed to have good times. The only pictures that are bad I think is the picture of Mark before he started yelling at me. This was taken the very first time he call me into his office.

Any way, I hope this workes, so that I can work on my other projects.

Lawrence Moore

Pushed to leave today

Saturday September 15, 2007






They are getting really desperate. Last night I came in late about 10:30 pm. My room-mates told me That Mr. Ajmal had just called and that I should call him back. They said that it did not matter how late it was he would be waiting for my call.

My feeling is that it was late and he had not called me earlier. So, whatever it was it could not be that important, at least not to me. So I went to bed.

Around 8am the phone started ringing but I was doing my exercises so I didn’t answer it. Around 10 I decide to give Mr. Ajmal a call. He answered the phone as he was walking into the apartment. One of my room-mates had returned to the apartment to get something and met Mr. Ajmal as he was at the door. So he let him in.

It seems that the Board and English want me to move out today. I told them that I was not ready I had not got the information from the packing people yet.

He told me that they wanted to put me out, that they wanted the Apartment.

I told him that if they put me out, I would sit on the street corner in front of the school and tell everyone everything- how they fired me and would not give me enough time to pack.

He then told me that the school would pay for half of my shipping cost if I left today. I told, him, they fired me they should pay all of the cost.

He asked if that could be arranged would I leave today.

I asked him what time would I leave?

He told me at 3:00.

I said OK.

Some students said that they would come to see me, to say good-bye today, after school. School ends at 2pm. I hope they come I would not want to just disappear like some superintendents are known to do.

Sincerely

Lawrence Moore

Farewell Dinner

It was a great time for me seeing my friends and colleagues before I left. I don't think I look too sad.

This is from my students. I wished that I could have said farewell to them personally. I really felt their sentiment when I seen the poster.

Thank you, It was a joy and pleasure teaching you.

Lawrence Moore

How do I feel about all this?

How do I feel? Am I OK?

I feel great!!!

All the time they were telling me to shut-up, to close my eye and pretend what was happening was not happening, to be on their side and collaborate with them.

What did they offer me in exchange for my cooperation?

They offered, over-work, under-pay, humiliation, degradation, lose of self-worth and self-esteem.

For declining their offer I get to keep my self respect, self-worth, and self-esteem. I also get $8,000 dollar for 14 days work, a free airplane ticket to anywhere I want to go, and a lot more vacation time.

It was never a hard decision to make. And I am enjoying ever minute of it. I don't know how anyone could think I would have made any other decision.

Best wishes.

Lawrence

Who Is Mark A. English

After watching this guy for a few days. I saw the he consistient made bad decision. He problably did not make the major decisions. I am sure the board of trustees made them. He will be the scape-goat when they are called to be responsible for those decisions.

But his day to day decisions, his micro management, his relationship skills are all bad. You don't get to be this bad over night. So I started searching to see what I could find out.





Col. Michael T. Anderson passed command of the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School June 6 to Lt. Col. Mark A. English [2005]. Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr., U.S. Military Academy superintendent presided over the ceremony held at Fort Monmouth, N.J.
Following the transfer of colors, the superintendent welcomed the incoming command team of English and his wife, Eleftheria. They come to Fort Monmouth from Amman, Jordan.
Selected in 2002 as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Jordan, English conducted research on the education of women in Arab societies and served as a visiting professor of linguistics at the University of Jordan.
English enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 and shortly afterwards attended the same preparatory school he commands. Graduating USMAPS in June 1973, he proceeded to the USMA, where he graduated in June 1978 and was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He served in many command and staff positions in the 3rd Armored and 9th Infantry divisions as an executive officer, battery commander, operations officer, and division air defense artillery officer for I Corps.
In 1988, as a Middle East foreign area officer fluent in Arabic, English returned to West Point as an assistant professor in the Department of Foreign Languages.
From 1992-1994, he served as the Chief of Army Programs, Office of Military Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Amman and was the West Point Visiting Professor at the National War College 1997-1998 where he conducted a national security seminar on geo-strategic issues.
In 1998, he returned to West Point as an associate professor of Arabic and Middle East studies. English holds a master’s degree in civil government from Campbell University and a Ph.D. in curriculum instruction and foreign language education from the University of Texas at Austin.
http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/PV/030620/USMAPS.htm

WEST POINT -- The U.S. Military Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr., has selected Lt. Col. Edgar “Tyge” Rugenstein as the 25th commandant of the USMA Preparatory School. He will replace the current commandant, Lt. Col. Mark English, June 2.
http://www.usma.edu/PublicAffairs/PV/050513/rugenstein.htm



The Continuing Education of Mrs. Ross
Mrs. Ross at times seemed to be spitting nails at Terry Cook, her chief of staff of a single month. And after the school moved into the Tweed Courthouse, the school’s avuncular black president, Dr. Mark English, a man who’d taught at West Point and the National War College—the former commandant of West Point Prep, whose responsibilities included hiring faculty—was informed that his presence wasn’t wanted in the building. He was now to conduct all business from Mrs. Ross’s Soho offices.

{I think the New York times writer is calling Mr. English a " Uncle Tom". look up avuncular it means uncle. why use such a big word to call a back man uncle.}

Mrs. Ross was always deciding she knew best, suggesting they start up a summer school before the location was even finalized. And for a time, she decreed that the fifth- and sixth-grade teachers instead of the students be the ones to pack up all their things and move from room to room at the end of each period. English lost the fight over the uniforms Mrs. Ross was demanding—including shoes and extra shirts that could cost students as much as $200 (25 percent–off gift certificates were eventually distributed). English disappeared the first week of November; not long before, he’d arranged for a photo to be taken of Chancellor Klein with the children when Mrs. Ross was out of the country, and some wondered if the two events were connected. (“If you don’t get the right person, you make the change,” board member Marty Payson explains.) In its first few months, Ross Global lost art, music, and Chinese teachers, a kindergarten teacher, and two sixth-grade instructors. A Ross spokesman maintains that the turnover has only strengthened the school’s programs.
http://nymag.com/news/features/29724/index6.html

Ok MarK English was head of two different schools before coming to AISJ. I have not been able to find out what he did for the two years that he was at the Milatary prep school.

But I was able to find out somethings that happened while he was briefly in charge of the Ross Global school.

"English came to ROSS in February 2006 with a strong background in military schools. For three the headmaster at West Point Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, English also served as associate professor of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at West Point for 12 years. "

"The school focuses on healthy mind, body and spirit which, English calls, the "wellness component" to their approach to education. Students are exposed to eating organic, seasonal and natural foods. "We are working with the DOE to incorporate this in to our school," said English. Yoga and Tai Chi will also be taught in the mornings and during physical education. "


"Classes are taught using an inclusion model in which special education pupils are integrated into regular classes, with the help of a special education teacher and a consultant. "We are still working on the files to see what kinds of special educations needs we are talking about," said English."

What did teachers say about the school that Mark headed:

"Many of the promised programs have never existed in the school," including the central "spiral" curriculum, writes a teacher. "There has been a revolving door of staff members, mostly because they expressed concern or disagreement about the current conditions at the school." This teacher writes that among the school's many problems are the "loss of experienced staff members, minimal support for students with special needs from qualified, experienced staff members, and a lack of basic policies that help a school to function, such as a discipline plan." (June 2007)

A teacher who recently resigned writes that the school is in turmoil instructionally and in terms of discipline. She writes: "I was never given any support - no one even would talk to me about the curriculum that we were using. I was lost and floundering even though I have experience. Discipline problems are rampant and serious incidents routinely go unaddressed by the administration. The current administration is oppressive and threatening." (June 2007)

"As you enter the school you can feel the chaos," writes a teacher. "The majority of teachers in the upper school are substitutes. The principal has no problem telling people what they want to hear and it not being true; for example, she tells parents that teachers are certified when they are not." This teacher also echoes concerns about discipline. "Many teachers have left and there have been more fights due to lack of proper supervision," she writes. "The school has no discipline procedures. There is little to no collaboration among staff, and the principal does not encourage collaboration." (June 2007)

There has been a revolving door of administrators and principals at Ross Global Academy, according to a New York magazine article and parents who contacted Insideschools. Ross is on its fourth principal since opening in September, according to a feature about the school's founder, Courtney Ross, in the April 2 edition of New York magazine. The article reports that founding principal Jon Drescher left just before school began. He was replaced by an interim acting principal Robert Durkin. He, in turn, was replaced by Frank Marchese, who had run a private school in Canada. After two weeks, according to parents, Marchese was removed and replaced by Stephanie Clagnaz, an administrator who previously worked in a suburban school district and who had been at Ross for two weeks as an assistant principal.
http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=1557

If work(ed) at AISJ this my sound like your school now.

What do I get for being fired?

What do I get for being Fired?

Final payment due to termination of employment contract effective Sept. 9, 2007.

Salary for Aug 20 to Sept8 14 days @ SR 746 10,444.00
One month Salary in lieu of notice period 11,500.00
Length of service
for 2006 - 2007 = SR 11,500 x 50% 5,750.00
for 2007 - 2008 = SR 11,500 x 50%*1/12 479.17 6,229.17
Shipping allowance 3,750

Total SR31,923.17
divide by exchange rate 3.75 = $8512.85

Plus SR4500 for flight home. which is equivalent to $1,200.

Why did they fire me, today.

I was thinking about this. It was clear that they were going to fire me, it was just a question of when. So why now?

1. It could have been because Mark English the Superintendent came to our living quarters to see how much furniture that we have. We showed him around the house and then he asked if we minded if he went upstairs to our private bed-rooms. I said that I minded, and he left.

(There are three adult men living in this apartment. Our contract says that two is the requirement for singles living in accommodations provided by the school. So once they put three people in the apartment they breached the contract. In a few rooms there is either no or little furniture. Scott one of my roommates told Mr. English that we need more furniture.

English told Scott that the only way we would get furniture is if he went around an inspected all the villas.

I felt that Mark English coming in our home was in invasion privacy and him looking around my bed-room was unthinkable.

When Scott said that it was the only way that we could get what we should have been entitled too, I gave my OK. But I told them that he was not allowed in my private bed-room.

So when Mark asked if we minded if he looked upstairs I said yes.)

2. I told our newly appointed teacher's representative about several breaches in our contract by the school. She may have brought the issue to the attention of the superintendent. But I don't think she would have done it that quickly.

a. (In our contract it said that our work week is not to exceed 40 hours in general.

Our work week is 40 hours just for teaching, We clock in at 7:30am and clock out at 3:30pm. This does ntot include a lunch break because we may have a duty during that time. When they have any meetings, events or affairs then the week obviously will exceed 40 hours. so our work week regularly and continuously exceed 40 hours because they allways have at least one meeting planned for the week if not more plus some event.)

b.( our contract states that we are to do 30 hours of after school service. It states that we have been paid for those thirty hours.

This leave the implication that those 30 hours are to be included within the 40 hours. Because the only thing that we are paid for is those 40 hours. And it clearly says that we are not to exceed 40 hours in general. It does not say that we are not to exceed 40 hours a week plus the 30 additional hours for the year.)

c. (We signed our contracts under coercion. When we were in our home countries they sent us a contract to sign. It was called a contract summary. They said that we needed to sign it get our visas. I read it, it looked OK. It had everything that I agreed with.

But when we got here, after we left our home, jobs, cars and family and friends: They took our passports and gave us another contract to sign. This contract was completely different from the one that they had sent us. I did not have to sign it. But I did not have a income, a home, friends or family with me. I was no longer in position to negotiate or bargain. So I signed it in good faith, trusting that they would be honorable people.

They could have sent the real contact and they chose not to. Even when asked by one couple They sent the real contract when it was too late for the party to change their mind without compromising there social and economic position.)

Somehow I don't think those are the reasons.
3. What i think is the reason is that we had Parent\teachers meetings scheduled for the day after I was fired. I am pretty sure that they did not want me to have a talk with our students parents.

(a. not enough book for the students.
b. Over crowding of classroom
c. lack of school discipline
d. lack of organization
e. lack of a plan or directions for improvement or development of teaching.
f. An increase in unskilled, unqualified teachers
g. students in the wrong or inappropriate class
e. lack of leadership and responsibility from the administration.
These are the changes the Board of Trustees approved of and the new administration brought.)

The day after I was fired all my students had new schedules. I've seen students waiting weeks to get their schedules corrected. To change 12 classes of students, the teacher who replaced me and my classes, schedules over night is not likely here. This had to be planned well in advanced.

Lawrence Moore

An article that was sent to the teacher of AISJ

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 23:39:31 -0700 (PDT)

Subject:
AISJ - Arab News Article

After Rough Patch, Future Looks Bright for AISJ
Siraj Wahab, Arab News

Dr. Mark A. English, superintendent, American International School of Jeddah, center, says he is excited about leading what he describes as a very talented group of educators who have the interests of the community at heart. (AN photo)

JEDDAH, 5 September 2007 — The American International School of Jeddah is a local institution that throughout the decades has fostered the education of thousands of students from dozens of nationalities going all the way back to its inception in 1952. Graduates of this school have moved on to occupy top jobs the world over.
That is not to say it hasn’t been a bumpy ride for the institution founded 55 years ago as the PCS, the Parents Cooperative School , by a group of American companies operating in Saudi Arabia . In the 1980s, the school changed its name to the SAIS , the Saudi-American International School , and was underwritten by Saudi Arabian Airlines. But in June 2004 the country’s national carrier gave up its sponsorship, threatening the future of one of Jeddah’s top-rated private schools.
Under threat of dissolution, a group of individuals led by Dr. Khaldoun Mhaimeed, got together and figured out a way to give the school a new lease on life. The American community in Jeddah pulled through, and the SAIS became the American International School of Jeddah (AISJ).
“It was a tremendous effort by the community members to save their school,” says Dr. Mhaimeed, the president of the school’s board of trustees. “They are emotionally attached to the school. The school has been a part and parcel of their lives. Their kids graduated from the school and they wanted it to regain premier position. The revival would not have been possible without the stellar support from the US Embassy in Riyadh and the US Consulate in Jeddah.”
Its strong results have gotten the school accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, USA . It is licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Education to operate as a school for expatriate children.
Dr. Mhaimeed said the appointment of Dr. Mark A. English as the school’s new superintendent in May this year led to the turnaround. Dr. English has a background befitting someone in charge of maintaining the institution as a premier center of learning.
“I have a few ideas,” Dr. English told Arab News recently. “My goal really is to make the AISJ the premier international school, not just in the Kingdom but the entire Middle East . And I think it is very possible to do that.”
How does one go about doing that?
“The first thing is you want to have good people,” he said. “And so for some months I have been hiring people to put in certain positions because you have to have the quality factor in order to deliver the quality in education. So the first step is the process of hiring. I have hired some excellent people.”
Some of the people that Dr. English hired have Harvard MBAs, for example. He has hired some people with PhDs because he wants to make sure that the community knows that their children are going to get quality education.
Dr. English is an experienced educator and linguist with extensive knowledge of academic issues related to the development and matriculation of students through various curricula and education programs. He emphasizes the need to keep in communication with parents and to foster positive relations with the community.
“It is very important that courses are taught and the parents understand what is being taught,” he said. “For example, we had something called Industrial Technology as a field or as a course in the school. It is truly an outmoded term now. I want to create something called Information Technology. I talked to the kids and they are interested in something called Robotics. It is a very interesting field that children at a younger age can get used to developing programs; that can be something very relevant for the school.”
Dr. English previously served as president of Ross Global Academy Charter School in New York City and dean of the US Military Academy Preparatory School. This is his first assignment in the Middle East, but he has lived in Muscat and Amman .
“I am aware of the region,” said Dr. English. “But I can tell you Saudi Arabia is very different. This is a lot different in a lot of respects. But I am very comfortable in this environment. I know the culture. I know the language; I speak Arabic — not as good as I would like to — and that helps when I am communicating with parents.”
Dr. English is a 1978 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York . As a Middle East Foreign Area Officer fluent in Arabic, he has also served as an assistant professor of Arabic in the Department of Foreign Languages at West Point . In 2002, Dr. English was selected as a United States Fulbright Scholar to Jordan where he conducted research on the education of young women in Arab societies and served as a visiting professor of English and linguistics at the University of Jordan .
For his part, Dr. Mhaimeed is very happy with the positive buzz that Dr. English’s arrival has created. “The past three years have been very challenging,” he said. “The school was in the survival mode. However, now we have turned a corner. We have a professional group of teachers. We have all the ingredients in place now in addition to a leadership with a vision. I am not shy to admit that the school has been stagnant for a long time. However, now we are all set to take the school to the new level.”
The school’s alumni expressed happiness at the turnaround of the institution’s fortune. “I studied there till ninth grade and I have some excellent memories of the school,” said Faiza Ambah, a well-known Jeddah-based Saudi journalist who writes for mainstream publications in the United States . “It is because of this attachment that I have put in my two children there,” she said. “I want the school to prosper. It is a great institution and I wish them all the best.”

Thanks to Janet Raychouni for sending this to us!
-JAW

J. Andrew Westerman
Secondary Principal
American Int'l School of Jeddah
Tel: +966 2 662 0051 ext 271
Mobile: +966 569095937
Fax: +966 2 691 2402

Our third visit with english the super

I don't know if this is going to work. After the 2nd visit with Mark I started carrying a recording device. So when I was asked to go to Marks office again I went to the men's room first and turned the recording device on.

So, there is a lot of walking at the beginning of the recording. When I got to Marks office he was seeing someone, so instead of just waiting this time I went to the men's room to use the men's room. When i went back of course I ran into someone and talked a little. So, there is a lot to fast-forward.

Second problem this blog allows you to up load videos but it does not say anything about audio. and this is a audio recording.

If it doesn't work and you have a suggestion let me know.

Lawrence

Our second visit with english the Super

My collegue first visit with English the super

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:04:24 -0500


FYI--My first encounter with Dr. English matched Lawrence's description. He yelled a lot, told me to "get on the train," etc. I do note one difference: Dr. English never said that I was a good teacher. He never mentioned teaching, students, learning or the classroom. --XXXXX

My first visit with English the super

Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:46:22 -0700
From: Lawrence Moore
Subject: first day at school#$@!$%
To: friends

This was my fist visit to school this year. Mr. English had his secretary on the lookout for me. When she saw me she told me that Dr. English wanted to meet with me.

Before I forget. I arrived from Yemen two days ago. Mr. Ajmal was at the airport picking up two new teachers. So of course he brought me back with too.

In the house that I am in, I am suppose to shair it with two other teachers, Scott and a new teacher Jeremiah. Scott kept his old room, and I took the rooms the Greg used before he moved out.

Mr. Ajmal told me that he checked house under Dr. English orders, to see if it was OK for the new teacher. I had posted signs around the house explaining the living situations and things about the house just in case he got there before I, and now Scott, got back. Mr. Ajmal read the signs and reported it to Mr. English. according to Mr. Ajmal, Mr. English seem to think that I should give up one my rooms so that Jeremiah can have it. I told Mr. Ajmal that it wasn't going to happen.

Back to school. so I went to Mr. English's office. When I went in I took his picture. I got a new camera. My old one was stolen in Yemen.

He told me the picture taking wasn't necessary. He then asked me what was i doing asking the questions about the two school Directors. He seem a little up set, because he was yelling, What was I doing" over and over again. Asking was I trying to undermine his authority. blab.blab,blab..

I would have tryied to answer his question but he kept yelling what was I doing. I them figured that he did not care what I had to say, He was just trying to make his dramatic scene. So, did not say much and lket him finish his show.

He waved a paper in the air. It was the probation letter that the board sent. He said that was behind me. also that the only reason that he had not already fired me was because i was a good teacher. But if it do any thing or say anything he will fire me. There's a new guy in town and I better get on the train.

I am sure that whenever Judith shows up he is going to tell you the same thing.

speaking for being fired. I think Juanita Teate was fired as an example. He probably felt that it was not political wise to fire Judith or myself at this time. But Juanita was expendable. I think that if he felt that he could have fired Judith and my self with out any repercussions he would have and Juanita would still have a job.

I also suspect that anyone who was hired by Paul Pescatore will not be offered to renew their contracts. There will be two teams at the school Mr. English and the others. And it the others that he is going to get reed of.

See you in a couple of days.
Lawrence

Returning to school

These are the books we have for two Algebra 1 classes and five algebra 2 classes. You may guess that there is not enough book for our students.
One teacher told me that the books that he has for his classes are now the same age as his students.


As you can see they are not in the best condition. But they are over 10 years old. So lasting year after year for a decade is not bad.

I think books are important, especaially for schools. So it clear that they are not spending money on books. My classes were pretty lucky at least we had some books. Some of the other classes don't have any. We are one of the most expensive schools in the city. If they are not spending the schools money on books what are they spending it on and why?

Returning to school

The Yellow brick road? The New Superintendent had this walk way painted yellow and red. He calls it the Yellow Brick Road, after the road in the Movie/book the Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum.

No one seems to remember that in the story the yellow brick road lead to The Emerald City called Oz or

That the Emerald city was a fake. The citizens were required to wear green tinted glasses. The Wizard of Oz, the ruler was a fake, a humbug, a person with no real powers, just someone pretending to have power.

He wasn't even the legitimate ruler of Oz. The real hire to the throne Ozma had been kidnapped and transformed- sex change and lose of memory.

This is Mark A. English the new superintendent. But I guess he would like to be known as the Wizard of AISJ. The Wizard of Oz often appeared with a big head or other forms to scare people.


In one of the building these new TV were installed in all the classrooms. The students had commented that they were a waste of money. It seems that you can't see what is on the screen unless you are setting real close to the screen. not very practical for a classroom of students.
These are the new computers that everyone has.The whole school, the library and computer labs all have these new computers.

Returning to school

When I returned to work at The American International School of Jeddah (AISJ) this is what I found.
New floors.
New posters. These signs are all over the school, more then a 100 of them.
The main entrance has a new sliding door. Actually two sets of new sliding doors. There is another one on the inside.
This blue shade construction with the sign on top. There is also a lot more shade constructions around the school most are new.

Look at the grass! When I left the school in June it was all sand. remember we live in the desert.

You may also notice the signs and shade structures. The signs weren't there when I left and the shade structures had just been built.

In August of the same year 2007, all this had been completed