Post Tagged with: "Craig Witherspoon"

Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Craig Witherspoon makes a point during Friday's press conference. Behind him are, left to right, school board Vice President Sherman Collins Jr., board President Randall Woodfin, board member Sandra Brown, and board member Lyord Watson. Photo by Dan Carsen.
Alabama / Audio / Multimedia

Birmingham City Schools Taken Off Accreditation Probation

by × on May 3, 2014 at 1:13 pm × 0 comments

The international accreditation agency AdvancEd has released a report based on their team’s March visit to Birmingham City Schools. Although the report noted many areas still in need of improvement, the agency upgraded the school system from “probation” to “accredited, warned.” In response, school leaders called a press conference. Our Alabama reporter Dan Carsen recorded it and broke it down for listeners. The story also includes links to background information and a previously broadcast interview with AdvancEd CEO Mark Elgart.

Birmingham and Alabama Teacher of the Year Alison Grizzle. Alabama State Department of Education photo.
Alabama / Audio

INTERVIEW: Alabama’s Outspoken Teacher Of The Year

by × on January 8, 2014 at 10:37 pm × 0 comments

Alison Grizzle isn’t your typical teacher, or even your typical Alabama Teacher of the Year. The Birmingham City Schools math instructor is known for being very outspoken, even on third-rail issues like standardized testing and the Common Core State Standards. We thought we’d share her thoughts on those issues and more as staff and students return to school routines. Our Alabama reporter Dan Carsen recently caught up with Grizzle at an education conference where she was giving talks. But it turns out this award-winning teacher almost didn’t become a teacher at all.

Challenging work brings out a range of emotions in a technology class at Phillips Academy in downtown Birmingham. Photo by Dan Carsen.
Alabama / Audio / Poverty / Race / Special Coverage

Birmingham Schools, Takeover To Today, Part 3: Turning A Corner? Looking Ahead

by × on December 18, 2013 at 11:56 pm × 2 comments

Birmingham, Ala.– The Alabama State Department of Education’s intervention team has left Birmingham City Schools. ALSDE staff are approving local board agendas and monitoring finances from Montgomery. A year and a half after the state first took the reins, the local board is quietly going about its business. As 2014 approaches, [...]

State schools chief Tommy Bice (center right), Birmingham Mayor William Bell (lower left) and other area leaders look on with concern at a contentious April 2012 board meeting that helped trigger state intervention. Photo by Dan Carsen.
Alabama / Audio / Poverty / Race / Special Coverage

Birmingham Schools, Takeover To Today, Part 1: The Run-Up To State Intervention

by × on December 16, 2013 at 10:26 pm × 4 comments

The Alabama State Department of Education’s intervention team is now monitoring Birmingham City Schools from afar, a year and a half after it first took control of the city school system. The district had been facing major challenges, including a board so dysfunctional it made national news. But that’s only part of the picture. In this first of a three-part series, our Alabama reporter Dan Carsen delves into the complex and often painful situation leading to state intervention.

Photo by K. T. King, courtesy of Flickr.
Alabama / Audio

Carsen Talks Birmingham BOE, Montgomery Cheating Scandal

by × on October 8, 2012 at 4:39 pm × 0 comments

School Superintendents of Alabama is set to announce the state’s Superintendent of the Year, and embattled Birmingham schools chief Craig Witherspoon is among the nine people up for the honor. Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen tells WBHM News Director Tanya Ott about that, some moves toward new tests for the state’s graduating seniors, and a grade-changing scandal in Montgomery high schools.

Carsen Interviewed About Birmingham Board Of Education On APTV’s “Capitol Journal”
Alabama / Video

Carsen Interviewed About Birmingham Board Of Education On APTV’s “Capitol Journal”

by × on August 10, 2012 at 2:29 pm × 0 comments

Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen recently appeared as a guest journalist on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” a highly-regarded program that analyzes the biggest stories coming out of that state. Dan was brought on to discuss the state takeover of Birmingham City Schools, a fast-moving, far-reaching story that continues to unfold.

Alabama schools chief Tommy Bice (center right) and other key figures in the battle over Birmingham Schools look on with concern at the April school board meeting that triggered state involvement. Two board members pleaded with the state to investigate. Photo by Dan Carsen.
Alabama

Testimony Ends In Latest Birmingham Schools Battle

by × on August 3, 2012 at 1:20 pm × 0 comments

One round of testimony is over, but the long road to legal closure in the battle over Birmingham Schools is not. At least not yet. After two sometimes arcane, sometimes fiery days of testimony, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown on Thursday extended two temporary injunctions against the Birmingham Board of Education by 10 days or until further notice. He could make a permanent ruling next week.

Birmingham Schools Chief Operating Officer and momentary Interim Superintendent Samuetta Drew assumes the seat recently vacated by Craig Witherspoon, who'd just been voted out and asked to leave. But the story doesn't end there. Photo by Dan Carsen.
Alabama

Birmingham Board of Education Violates State Directive, Fires Superintendent

by × on July 19, 2012 at 4:56 pm × 0 comments

Tuesday night’s Birmingham school board meeting made national news, prompting many observers to think the action and emotions involved had reached a peak. They were wrong. In the following few days, things escalated even further. Changed locks, security guards, and the courts were involved. The SED’s Dan Carsen was at Tuesday night’s meeting and has this web-exclusive story.

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