State Science Cirriculum Developer Fired
Velma Itamura, state science curriculum developer for the Utah State Office of Education was fired April 17 for “failing to complete an acceptable master plan,” though she turned in more than 10. Associate superintendent, Brenda Hales, upholds that proper procedures were followed in Itamura’s termination, but could not comment further for reasons of confidentiality. Now, educators are saying the firing was political. Salt Lake Tribune:
She [Hales] said the science specialist position is currently vacant, and wasn’t sure whether it will be filled in light of state office budget cuts of 20.5 percent. She said the vacancy won’t affect science teachers working on endorsements because the state’s teacher licensing department is handling the majority of endorsements.Still, some science educators say the firing is suspicious.
Barbara Gentry, past president of the Utah Science Teachers Association, said in a letter to State Board of Education members that Itamura is part of the reason Utah students excel in science.
“This is a gross injustice to Velma and the science community of this state,” Gentry wrote. “Velma is competent, reliable, knowledgeable and personable. I believe she has been terminated for political reasons by her superiors who have consistently revealed that they know little about science education.”
Glen Westbroek, current president of the association and a science teacher at Orem Junior High, said he’s not sure why Itamura was fired but said it seems odd.
“I think the perception has been that she’s done an excellent job for students and teachers,” Westbroek said. “I guess it’s just a shock she has been let go so unexpectedly.”
Several stories cycling the past week about this all consistently report that Itamura was doing well in her position, according to educators, students, and parents. The assertions that the firing was political, not performance based, may be little more than opinion, but it’s worth asking what constitutes “an acceptable master plan” in science curriculum development, until more information becomes available.
Leave a Reply
Apr 24th 2009 • 18:04
by Former Specialist
I was once a curriculum specialist for USOE. I worked with Velma and found her to be one of the stronger curriculum specialists working in the department. Like Velma, I was “young” compared to the other specialists. I had not retired from any district nor had I gotten the job because I was sick of dealing with kids. I wanted my position because I cared about the direction education was moving in this state and I felt I had the education and experience to bring new, innovating ideas to the table.
There were a few others “like us” while I worked in the curriculum department. I felt each of us experienced pressure to leave, resign, etc. Our new, innovative, and research backed ways of teaching were always challenged. Because we were young, I felt we were perceived as less knowledgeable in our content areas. I lost count of how many times I was asked “whose secretary are you?”.
Taking that curriculum specialist position was frustrating and a hugely disappointing career move. I left that job on my own accord, and I wound up leaving education all together. I also left with this new perspective that the majority of problems in our schools can be blamed on the politics at the State Office of Education.
I have no doubt Velma’s dismiss was purely political and as a result the state’s students and the science programs in our schools are going to suffer. It is quite sad and I wish Velma the best moving forward.
May 14th 2009 • 23:05
by Happy Former Specialist
I agree with the “Former Specialist.” I too am a former curriculum specialist at the USOE. I was very experienced and found that all of the specialists in their positions were extremely effective and worked well with districts throughout the state. Velma was extremely effective in her position and well liked. She resisted the continuous pressure, negativity and complaint sessions which she was pulled into. Things asked of her were very unreasonable, even having to check in and out to go to the bathroom. She had to ask permission to leave the state office to visit a district and had to justify her leaving. It was obvious for over a year that they were trying to get rid of her. I know she even went to the HR department about the treatment she was receiving. It was disgusting to watch, but she remained the ultimate professional and continued to hold her head high. Kudos to her for having the will and the strength to face this adversity and continue to remain professional in the field.
Her ability to leave the state office “walls” made it impossible for her to offer support throughout the state, that districts needed. I also found this department to be the most political department in the state office. Check out the attrition rate in that department in the past three years. Politics runs rampant in the curriculum department and the superintendents office, and I can see why legislators want to shut down the offices and demand justification of time spent. The problem is that the secretary’s and specialists are the true support for districts. Secretaries are bumped from one specialist to another every few months. Just when they learn their jobs, they are pulled for no reason and given to other specialists. Instead, look at the coordinators in the curriculum department, the director and the assistant superintendent and see if they truly help districts when it comes to training, support and best practice.
The state office of education curriculum department has the reputation that it truly deserves and unless there is some outstanding leadership hired in the superintendent’s position, it will continue to remain the joke of the state in the districts eyes. When I went to work at the state office, people asked why I would take a step down, both in salary and in reputation. When I visited districts, I was told that they were so happy to finally have support and someone knowledgeable in my position, but that they knew I would not stay, as great people add to the attrition as they cannot take the politics in this office. They were right. I fell to attrition and have never been happier being away from the control, the politics and the lack of support that I felt from my coordinator.
Velma, I wish you happiness and success. You are better than what you received and you were not supported, encouraged and you still made the best of it. At the end of the day, you can look at yourself in the mirror and know that you are a great educator, so leave the losers behind with the low paying jobs that they must retire to afford to work in, and begin looking to shine in your own capacity. The districts truly know you and they know the curriculum department, so hold your head high, move forward and keep smiling.