E4E Captain Of Chaos Natalie Harrington Writes An Email On DOE's Dime

Something, and no one knows how, but something came across one of the desks of a member of the crack team here at the SBSB news room. It seems that an operative of the officially recognized Jugendgruppe of the New York City Department of Education, Educators4Excllence has sent out an email on school time, probably on a school computer, to come and fawn over and be fawned over at tonight's Jugendgruppe rally starring Sock Puppet Dennis Walcott.

The E4E captain, er, I meant, Hauptmann in question is Natalie Harrington of the New Day Academy, PS 245 in the Bronx. A 6-12 school with only 345 students! Natalie teaches grades 10 and 12 ELA. 


So just who is this follower of cult figure Little Evan Stone? Natalie is a child of privilege. She prepped at Friend's Academy and graduated from one of the elite Ivy League schools, Brown, where rumor has it she was a legacy. So much for E4E's meritocracy theories. 


Looking at Natalie's background, one would be hard to imagine that Natalie had ever come across a minority or a person of color in her upbringing. Well, except if mummsy and dada hired one for some menial task on the estate. Or the summer home on Block Island.


So why is it that a 24 year old neophyte from the North Shore, the Hamptons, Park Avenue, and Block Island thinks she knows what is right not only for students of the Bronx, but for teachers in general? Let's examine her email, with my thoughts in red.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Natalie Harrington <nataliebharrington@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 11:16 AM <<<<------Lookee here! 11:16 AM today! During the school day! Is this allowed? I thought DOE computers, wireless, etc... were only to be used for official DOE business.
Subject: Educators 4 Excellence
To: staff@newdayacademy.org <<<<<<-------Lookee again! Using business email to perpetuate someone's personal beliefs. 


Hello New Day Staff,

I wanted to let you all know that I am our school's team captain for Educators 4 Excellence.WOW!! Educators 4 Excellence (E4E) is is an organization of education professionals who seek to provide an independent Independent? How so? All the ideas are of E4E's own? Is E4E allowed to go against sugar daddy DFER and ERN's policies? voice for educators which educators? TFA educators? Elitist educators? You guys, and I use that term loosely don't share my voice, nor the vast, vast majority of NYC teachers in the debate surrounding education reform. E4E's mission is to unite the education community wrong, it is to divide and conquer, M'kay? around a shared set of goals, principles, beliefs, and actions, I share nothing with you, neither do my colleagues which place student achievement first. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!! In order to achieve this mission, E4E hosts various events throughout the year  You mean Youth Rallies? when will the win a date with Sydney Morris event be held? aimed at bringing teachers together to discuss what is going on in their classrooms. That is if you only sign the pledge card, give a kidney, and $275 and promise you will advance to OT IX If you have any questions about this organization you can come see me in Room 230 is this to be done on school time? or check out their website http://www.educators4excellence.org. You mean southbronxschool.com  I have included a flyer below for their first big event, a Q&A session with Chancellor Walcott. I will be attending this event so let me know if you want to come along!  Does this mean that you will be taking teachers in the sports car dada bought you, or will dada send a limo?

Best,
Princess Natalie

My Open Response To AJ Duffy's Response

Last night I noticed that AJ Duffy, former president of the UTLA and now current charter school management organization front man, left a comment on the posting I wrote on September 2, "Et Tu, AJ Duffy?" The crack team wishes to thank AJ for taking the time to respond so politely and succinctly. However, I still have some opinions about what he wrote. What did you expect, me to keep my mouth shut?

What you are about to read is my account to clarify the facts surrounding my move to become Executive Director of Apple Academy Charter Public Schools (Apple Academy teachers will be union members). 

Fact clarifying is good. One thing troubles me. And I might be wrong. All I have for Apple Academy is a blog page. No website, no further information. Is Apple Academy new? I want more information.


One thing I do have a problem with is Apple using the word public. Please, as there is no "i" in team, there is no public in charter schools. But AJ, since you insist on calling it public, than full disclosure should be in order. How much are you going to be paid? Who approached whom first about the position? When was the first contacts made? Before your term ended, or after? What is the length of the contract? 

I want Apple Academy Charter Public School teachers to have something, most if any charter school teachers don't have--tenure.

Got no problem with that.

Yes, teachers will have to recertify every few years, but each time they recertify they get more tenure added on in years.

Recertify? Exactly what does that mean? More tenure added onto teachers? Sounds like Scientology to me. Perhaps some teachers will reach OT, oops, I meant, Tenure Level 1, then 2, then so on....? Would this not pit teacher vs teacher? What happens if teachers don't go for this in negotiations? Also, who decides which union will represent these teachers? Will you be OK with UTLA? Seems as if you are not only the executive director for the teachers, but the negotiator, and union rep as well. What would you do if teachers want to attain tenure through traditional means?

That together with quality professional development will give Apple Academy Charter Public School teachers the environment to be involved in a process of constant improvement and honing of their skills.

Quality professional development? Please define. No, not quality, but professional development. At least here in NYC, PD is now few and far between. What with budget cuts, extended day, and apathy and hypocrisy at Tweed.

I want Apple Academy Charter Public School teachers to have something charter school teachers don't have--binding arbitration as a final step in a grievance process.

Binding arbitration? So that means that a teacher, if he or she truly feels they were wronged, will not be able to pursue the case in civil court? Is that not a right teachers, and all workers should have? Where do these arbitrators come from? Who pays for them? Again, if teachers fail to agree to this and want the traditional grievance process, will you accept this?


Now this is just for contract grievances? If a teacher wins in arbitration, what will compel you to comply with the arbitrator's decision? Will teachers be allowed to grieve letters in their file for passing gas in the non proscribed manner?


And yes, the arbitration process should be expedited. From start to finish it should be fair but quick. No more than 20 days not 10 as reported.

I guess I was incorrect. So 20 days instead of 10? Why not 19? Or 18? Or 21? Do we as a county demand that criminal cases be completed in a certain amount of time? Of course not. However long as it takes to present the evidence, that should be how long it takes to finish an arbitration hearing. M'kay?

What will make it fair and quick? Describe please.

 I want Apple Academy Charter Public School teachers to have a central role in their school--to create their evaluation system (not based upon standardized test scores), PAR programs, teacher driven lessons and curriculum, and the ability to have a central role in other areas of school decision making.


No problem with that. Furthermore, how about no administrators in these schools. But to get back to the levels of tenure, this still seems that some teachers will be more equal than other teachers.

I want to re-professionalize the teaching profession by building a model at Apple Academy Charter Public Schools

Re-professionalize? In my opinion not one single teacher has de-professionalized teaching. It is the media, the politicians, the hedge fund mangers, the billionaires, Michelle Rhee, TFA, etc... The list can go on and on forever.

I want to bring to your attention that the teachers were union members at the disbanded Crescendo Charters. The schools were closed because the teachers refused to cheat on state standardized tests as directed by their Executive Director and 4 of the 6 principals. They will continue to be union teachers supported by their local union and paying dues. 

So you can guarantee that any teacher will not be written up, charged with infractions, etc... if that teacher speaks up when something wrong is being done? That teacher will never face retaliation? 

I believe unionizing charter school teachers is the wave of the future. 

I disagree. Within ten years the hedge fund managers, the billionaires, the foundations will be bored and not making enough money with education and move onto bigger and more lucrative things (Healthcare, the military, or prisons in my opinion). The whole charter movement needs to be changed. Torn down. Rebuilt with zero public monies. YOu mention Albert Shanker's hopes for charters. He is rolling over in his grave now at what his vision was. He never envisioned the $$$$, all to make some rich, white people satisfy their white liberal guilt and to have the tax write-offs. Oh, and the profits as well.

Being involved at Apple Academy Charter Public Schools will be my attempt along with my board of directors


Please share who is on the board of directors. Where is the money coming from?

will be my attempt along with my board of directors and the dedicated teachers who are working side-by-side with us, to create a model to show the world that charter organizations and their teachers can work with progressive management to create world class education for students.

In theory it sounds nice, but reality usually creeps in. What will the work rules be in the schools? What will the hours be? Of course all this must be negotiated, no? Will teachers that are over 40 years of age be hired and/or be able to keep their jobs? Will there be creaming? Will there be students with IEP's, not just for speech or guidance, but for true special education issues? 

AJ, I really believe there was so much more you could have done after you left UTLA. You could have joined forces with Diane Ravitch. You could have been a voice to counter the deformers. You could have started a foundation that advocates for children and families in poverty. But you didn't. You chose to go to the Dark Side. I have nothing against you personally. I like you. I am appreciative you came on my radio show. But professionally, I question your loyalty, and look to the ground in disappointment. There was so much more you could have done to affect true change in education.

Now, if you truly wished to run a charter you could have got in touch with me and run my charter school that I am still attempting to open.

Value Added Dating Goes With Standardized Testing

Back in my single days, long before I met my wife, I had many rules on dating. Not all were hard and true, most were guidelines, but there were some rules that I felt that were non negotiable.

One of these rules that I always adhered to was concerning the first date. The first date, if dinner was involved, never at any time was to take place at a pricey, high falutin' restaurant. Nothing more than, well I am going back to the early 90's, $40. And even at that price, it was expensive.

Now mind you, I did not do this because I was cheap, but rather it was all about expectations. If I took my date to some expensive, fancy place, what would happen if on the next date we went to the Ground Round? You see, you would start as near the bottom as possible. For instance, TGIF's, where I am sure that are many a date that would be pleased with that and which just happens to be the perfect place.

When starting from the bottom, and not the top, you deny the date the expectation that big bucks would always be spent on her. When starting at the bottom, or at least near the bottom, you have no expectations to live up to. Which would make me look so much better when the nice dinner, like the Chart House, was our place to dine.

Now why do I bring this up? I'll tell you why.

We just got my son's state scores in. We are quite proud of him, even though I do not need to know these scores to know what a good student he is and how smart he is. But rather, I am bringing this up for I am concerned about his future teachers. Yes, the value added crap.

Last year, when he was in 3rd grade, he scored a perfect 4. His scale score was a 770. He got every single question correct. Now, I am not bragging, but just stating a fact.

This year, or rather in 4th grade, he still got a 4, but the scale score was a 737. He didn't get every question correct. Statistically, he had no place else to go but down. That's just a fact. Not a low expectation.

But what about his 4th grade teacher? If we base her performance on VAA, and just using my son's score and the fact that he actually went down, does this mean that she was ineffective, that she missed something, or did something wrong?

This year he is in 5th grade. If he misses another question, yet stays a 4, that will show he has not made progress 2 years in a row. This unfortunately can reflect poorly on his teacher.

To be honest, and I am going to be quite frank here, who gives a shit? he gets a 4, so what where it falls on the scale? Same with ELA. He got a high 3 this year, which in fact was higher than last year, but really, who cares?

Worse, they keep on changing the tests, the scoring, the strategy, etc... how can you keep up and use VAA? Hell, this years tests will be a month earlier than last years. That means the students have one less months knowledge than they did the previous two years. So how can you compare, contrast, and value add any tests?

What needs to be done? Every student in America should get a zero on their first ever standardized test. That way, the only place to go is up. How is that for value added?

Educators4Excellence Structure And Financials Revealed

We here at SBSB pride ourselves at being at the forefront of information. We leave no stone unturned to find the truth. So it was with great pride when the crack team recieved some inside information on how Educators4Excellence was formed, its directors, financials, and by-laws. The crack team has just scratched the surface in what is known about the secret society that is Educators4Excelllence, but rest assured, the crack team will not give up.
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First up are the by-laws of the secret society of E4E. Not only are Princess Sydney Morris and Little Evan Stone the co-founders and officers of E4E, but a little known person is as well. Her name is Anne-Margoriet Crousillat. Little is known about Anne-margoriet Crousillat, except that Princess Sydney and Little Evan taught with this person at PS 86 in the Bronx.

Next up amongst the paperwork on E4E is the Registration Statement for Charitable Organizations. When reading this we see that there are three officers listed. Little Evan; Co-President, Treasurer, and Director. Prnicess Sydney; Co-President, Developmental Chair, and Director. And that mysterious person again, Anne-margoriet Crousillat, Secretary and Director. But there is one name on the form that got us to thinking, Sharon W Nokes. Just who is that? It seems that that Ms Nokes of the prestigious Washington DC law firm of Caplin and Drysdale;

provides comprehensive legal advice to tax-exempt organizations, including some of the nation's largest private foundations and publicly-supported charities, as well as educational institutions, hospitals, medical research organizations, supporting organizations, and social welfare organizations. She counsels these clients on a variety of tax, corporate, and compliance issues, including executive compensation, domestic and international grantmaking, structuring charitable and unrelated business activities, lobbying and political activities, transactions with for-profit organizations, and corporate governance. She has considerable experience with the rules governing private foundations, supporting organizations, and donor-advised funds, and also provides guidance to donors regarding their charitable giving alternatives.

Now just how to little nebbishes like Princess Sydney and Little Evan, oh and of course, Anne-margoriet Crousillat, who claim that one day they were just sitting around the kitchen table not only are able to retain such a firm as Caplin and Drysdale, but pay for their services as well?

Next up, E4E's Tax Exempt Form. In section IX, on page 9, the financial date is listed in for tax years, 2010-2012 including expected monies. In each of those years E4E will receive from gifts, grants and outside contributions $600,000, for a total of $1.8 million dollars. We know that DFER and Education Reform now had channeled approximately $500K to E4E, but that will leave into question where the other $1.3 million dollars came from. And we all know DFER and ERN's connections to E4E.

As we still explore section IX we see that in the years 2010-2011(with years 2011 and 2012 as anticipated), membership donations will total $50K, $100K, and $200K, for a total of $350K. I am proud that of my three memberships, not one dollar was given by me nor any of the crack team here at SBSB.

So all together in just three years, E4E will recieve $2.15 million dollars. Now the $64,000 question. Where does that money come from? What organizations, charities, groups, and educators do they get that pile of cash? We here at SBSB call on E4E to reveal its donor list immediately!!!

But of course we here at SBSB do realize that any organization needs people to run it and of course these people should be duly compensated. In the years 2010-2012, the officers, directors and trustees of E4E will be paid, $198,900, $208,845, and $218,290 for total of $626,035. No wonder Little Evan and Princess Sydney left teaching. There is money in them thar  educational non-profits!!! In the same years, 2010-2012, expenses for other employees will be $201,900, $231,955, and 266,710. Office rent was $37,500, $41,250, and $43,375. Seems as if E4E spends a lot of money just on themselves.

What is interesting, is on pages 22-25, E4E attorney, Eli Greenberg answers some of the IRS's questions. Some of the answers seem quite amusing;

The marketing/recruitment of member cost listed in line 23 is detailed as follows for year 1: $15,000 is designated for Q&A meetings with policy makers, $31,000 is designated for teacher networking events, $27,000 is designated for panel discussions on specific issues (as an example, see agenda for value-added panel attached as Exhibit 7), $12,000 is designated for a large end of the school-year event, $15,000 is designated for the organization's policy teams (see agenda attached as Exhibit 4), and the remaining $10,000 is designated for recruitment materials. All of these recruitment activities are designed to increase awareness and exposure about the organization and the opportunities it provides for teachers.

Hmmm...... But let's not leave out this confusing part;

The general public will not in any way be confused as to the different activities of Educators for Excellence, Inc. and Educators for Excellence Advocacy, Inc. The advocacy organization will engage in very different activities as it will engage in the advocacy to influence legislation and public policy in the area of education. It will clearly use its full name so as not to cause any confusion with any related entities. In fact, the general public will not be aware of the directors or the addresses of the organization and their similarity will not provide any cause of confusion.

I didn't know the two were separate.

But one last thing, on Page 5, section VIII. E4E is asked;

2a Do you attempt to Influence legislation? If "Yes," explain how you attempt to influence legislation 0 Yes 1 No

E4E chose no. But, and if I recall, E4E was at the forefront of repealing LIFO, or rather, seniority rights from teachers.  Wasn't Assemblyman Jonathan Bing leading the charge to repeal seniority rights? So why then was Little Evan photographed with him? In fact, Assemblyman John Flanagan went so far as writing the new seniority law with input from E4E.

There must be a formal investigation of Educators4Excellence immediately. At the very least, it is we here at SBSB call on E4E to fully disclose all its funding immediately! We also call on Michale Winerip of the New York Times to look into E4E. Also, readers of this blog, it is time to contact the New York State Attorney General's office and let them know there might be irregularities involved with E4E's tax exempt status.

BREAKING NEWS!!!! God Saves E4E Crew!

Whew! If there ever was a time to sit down, think, and praise God, now is the time. Except if you are an agnostic or atheist.

It has been reported by Educators4Excellence on their official Facebook page, that all members of E4E are survived Hurricane Irene! The official statement;

The E4E team survived Irene and we're back in action! Check out how NYC public school I.S. 136 sheltered evacuees from the storm

Of course we wish to thank the Lord Almighty, Adonai, YHWH, Mike Bloomberg, or whatever name you call God, for sparing and looking over the kids over at E4E.

It was God, and God alone, that made sure that all the E4E team was safely ensconced safely at home and not out in the Hamptons, the Vineyard, or Cape May.

But one thing does come to mind which has been much discussed by the crack team here at SBSB. Why does E4E think they are that self important that they need to not only say they all survived (which statistically they should), but announce it as all of mankind cared?

More curious, why the link to the New York Times about an article on how IS 136 was used as a shelter? There was no mention of any of the E4E kiddies, and we all know how much Little Evan and Princess Sydney enjoy interjecting themselves in any way possible. So what gives?

What gives is the depth of the megalomania that is creeping into E4E, and in particular, Little Evan Stone and Princess Sydney Morris. This seeming need to inject themselves into what has been a tragedy, a storm in which people lost their lives and lost their homes, turns into some flip "look at us," statement on Facebook.

Ray Fontana of Milford CT had the front of his house blown away, but is tickled pink that the E4E crew survived Irene.

We are sure the family of the man that was electrocuted trying to save a boy from flood waters in Spring Valley NY are just delighted that Little Evan and Princess Sydney survived the storm.

Certainly these yeshiva students are happy that they survived Irene, but irked that God was busy saving all from E4E.

How about these people in North Carolina? They lost their house, but gosh darn when they read that E4E survived it was if all their problems paled in comparison.

We can go on and on and on and on. But we shant. The point has been made. It is appalling that someone would not only post that on the E4E Facebook page, but give the OK to post it. This just further goes to prove that your club and yourselves is what comes first.

Little Evan and Princess Sydney it is time to look inward at your little club. The more you open your mouths, the more you show your faces you lose more and more credibility. But keep it up, please.

One more thing, here are some real survivors. Or have you just forgotten your heritage?

Et Tu, AJ Duffy?

One of least endearing OCD habits I have is as soon as a wake up I reach over to the night stand and grab my iPhone and check all my email. Yesterday, when I awoke at 10 AM I checked my phone and saw that I had email from a groupie. The email saddened me. AJ Duffy, former president of the UTLA, having left office in July, is planning on opening up a charter school.

I feel not only surprised, but hurt as well. In fact worse than hurt, more like stabbed in the back. It was just over a year ago when in light of Jason Felch and the Los Angeles Times exposing teachers Value Added Assessment data that I wrote extensively about, but a teacher, Rigoberto Ruelas killing himself because Jason Felch deemed him an ineffective teacher. I even reached out to the UTLA and asked for AJ Duffy, which he graciously and unconditionally accepted, to appear on my Internet radio show.

So it seems that AJ, who was quite vociferous in railing against the Los Angeles Times and its use of VAA, but seemed to genuinely wanted to fight for his teachers as opposed to Randi Weingarten, has now pulled a Randi Weingarten. He is sleeping with the enemy.

Like Randi, he is now an opportunist, a person who sees not only dollar signs, but the power he can have, and perhaps never truly had.

Duffy wishes to make it harder for teachers to earn tenure protections and wants to lengthen that process. He even wants to require teachers to demonstrate that they remain effective in the classroom if they want to keep their tenure protections.

Why is this now the way Duffy wishes to go? Why, the change of heart? Why not put his money where his mouth was and show that a school, that is unionized, that treats its teachers with respect and dignity can succeed?

And if a tenured teacher becomes ineffective, he wants to streamline dismissals. The process now in place can stretch out for several years, even with substantial evidence of gross misconduct. Some union leaders, notably Duffy, have defended this "due process" as a necessary protection against administrative abuses.

Again, let's go back to that old argument. What makes a teacher effective or ineffective? Will Duffy now accept the use of VAA's? Will Duffy have in place measures to stop administrative abuses? The hypocrisy is quite explicit here. How can someone who has spent the last six years fighting for the rights of educators do a 180 and now be against teachers?


"I would make it 10 days if I could," Duffy now says of the length of the dismissal process.

If ever a statement deserved a face palm, this is it.

Duffy had a chance, a great chance to join the ranks of those out there who are opposed to the obscene measures being put on students, parents, and educators by the deform movement. He could have lent a credible voice, a supportive voice to those who are fighting tooth and nail at has become a system that is not serving its neediest children, but rather a system of education that one sees as a place to make a dollar.

Instead he has chosen a path that will, at least he thinks, bestow power, money, and what he considers prestige. Greed, it seems to Duffy, is good. Fighting the good fight, struggling, is bad.

How can Duffy look himself in the mirror and see what he likes? How can he when everything he has fought for, everything he has stood for is now all just moot? Duffy is no more than just a politician. His, and only his, best interests at heart. The families and students of Los Angeles as well as the teachers have just been told by Duffy to F*** Off! So has the rest of America. Shame on you AJ Duffy

Hypocrisy Alert! E4E Is Reaching Out For An Outreach Director With Experience

Outgoing E4E Outreach Director Beth Doctor

Educators4Excellence, that bastion of lackeys, sycophants, and boot lickers is looking for a new outreach director. Apparently, Beth Doctor the current and/or former outreach director wasn't outreaching enough. Or perhaps she was called back to the home planet. Who knows? But, we here at SBSB, in the spirit of togetherness and civility, have decided that we will post the position here and share with all our loyal readers the qualifications that der Präsident Evan Stone wants in a new outreach director.

Passion for students, improving education, and closing the achievement gap

In my opinion, this could be 99.99% of the teachers in NYC.

Deep commitment to the values of E4E and an understanding of education policy and
the education reform movement, both locally and nationally

Perhaps you can hold off for a year and hire Ruben? He of course seems to have a deep, deep, deep commitment to E4E and he will have his own understanding of education policy one year from now.

Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of professional experience, either in education,
education policy, or community/campaign organizing

OK, a college graduate that makes sense. But I am curious. Why does one need experience. Certainly, no one from E4E had any experience before that 5 week, 50 hour TFA propaganda and indoctrination camp. Why, when surely a trained primate can perform this function, is experience needed?

Empathy, understanding, and respect for and of the teaching profession; previous
experience in a classroom strongly preferred


I guess this disqualifies Unlce Mike, Sock Puppet Walcott, Cathie Black, Bill Gates, Joel Klein, and almost all E4E members. But yet again, why is experience required? Experience does not seem to be required of principals who have never been in education, or an elitist from Tulane University to sit on the same panel as Diane Ravitch. Where is the experience when some elitist Yalie has his ass kissed on FOX Business? Just asking, that's all.


Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience in preparing and
delivering public presentations

Hmm, I see that Ruben is out of the running. Seriously, all communications, presentations come already pre-packgaged from Rhee, DFER, ERN, etc... Oh, and Uncle Mike. So in actuality, no skills are needed.

Proven team player with appropriate interpersonal skills in a variety of settings


Team players? What does E4E see as a team player? Is knifing other teachers in the back being a team player? Is whining like Ruben a team player? Is the insidious method that Little Evan Stone attempted to seperate teachers from their direct deposits being a team player? Hey E4E people, there is no "i" in team.

A self-starter with exceptional organization and time management skills; ability to
design a work plan, prioritize and meet goals; entrepreneurial

Again, 99.99% of the teachers in NYC.

Grace under pressure and a good sense of humor

The applicant must have Grace Under Pressure?? I don't know. Though I like the album, I find it to be not one of Rush's best efforts. Alex Lifeson almost left the band during production, and besides, the keyboards are way to heavy. How about one must have Permanent Waves?


As far as a sense of humor, I am sure one will be developed working there seeing what a joke E4E and Little Evan Stone is.


Must be willing to travel throughout the five boroughs and have the ability to work
non-traditional hours, including weekday evenings and weekends

Translation: Those with families, lives, and brains need not apply.

Look save yourself trouble Evan, go to the Bronx Zoo, go to the Monkey House or Congo exhibit and find yourself the new outreach director. It'll be cheaper. Just a few bananas a day.