BY MARK SKERTIC
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ten Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) teachers will likely work their final days this week because their performance was judged inadequate by fellow instructors.
"There's a stereotype that school unions obstruct or prevent schools from firing bad teachers," said Cincinnati Federation of Teachers (CFT) President Tom Mooney. " . . . we assist in getting rid of them when necessary."
The 10 teachers were deemed incompetent after going through the district's peer assistance and evaluation process.
District administrators declined to comment on the union's report until they could review internal reports Monday, said Eileen Houston-Stewart, CPS spokeswoman.
According to the CFT's report:
Three of the teachers dismissed this year are veteran teachers.
While the CFT's grievance committee can contest the peer review panel's recommendation, none will be challenged this year.
Teachers are also evaluated through a separate review process, but that one resulted in no dismissals this year.
In 1985 CPS became one of the first school systems nationally to embrace peer review. The concept has gained wider acceptance in recent years. Last summer, the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, agreed that teachers should be allowed to rate the performance of fellow instructors and aid in their dismissal.
Cincinnati's peer review program is operated by both the CFT and district administrators. A long-time teacher is assigned to work with new teachers and with veterans judged to be having difficulties in the classroom.
A peer review panel made up of five teachers and five administrators ultimately recommends whether teachers should be retained or fired. Those recommendations are turned over to the superintendent for action.
