Moore maintains innocence
Ex-principal requests leave of absence from N.C. curriculum position
The Post and Courier
MiShawna Moore
The Post and Courier
Under former Principal MiShawna Moore (above), standardized test scores soared at Sanders-Clyde Elementary.
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Read the Moore letter
Former Sanders-Clyde Elementary School Principal MiShawna Moore says she didn't do anything unethical or illegal with standardized testing at the school.
Moore maintained her innocence in a letter this week while requesting a 30-day unpaid leave of absence from her position as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Halifax County schools in North Carolina.
She asked for the leave so that she could "address and be available to have face-to-face conversations with the appropriate individuals in Charleston, S.C.," according to a letter from
Moore to the Halifax County School Board. The request was granted.
The state released Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test results last week that showed massive drops in test scores at Sanders-Clyde, a high-poverty downtown school previously recognized for its students' impressive achievement. The test score decline coincided with stringent district oversight of the school's testing, a first for the school.
Charleston school officials asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate after seeing the scores plummet this year as well as a higher- than-average number of student eraser marks on 2007 tests and improbable academic gains among students in 2007. SLED has opened an investigation.
The Post and Courier has repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to reach Moore for comment. In her letter, obtained Thursday by the newspaper, Moore says that she did not respond to the newspaper's requests "mainly because I was unable to contact anyone that could give me an official explanation of what was going on other than what was being reported in the media. To date, I have not been contacted by any official with the Charleston County School District."
Schools Superintendent Nancy McGinley said neither she nor anyone in the chief academic office has heard from Moore or tried to contact her. The information about Sanders-Clyde has been turned over to the state, and McGinley said the district wasn't going to interfere with the state investigation.
Moore left Charleston in June, a few weeks after PACT testing ended.
Jennifer Timmons, a spokeswoman for SLED, could not comment on whether the state had asked Moore to return to South Carolina.
Moore explains in her letter to the Halifax County School Board that before leaving Charleston, she prepared information from her testing coordinator and teachers that would answer any questions about testing procedures at the school.
While it's unclear what information she's referencing, McGinley said the district received a packet from Moore that described school employees' concerns about the monitors' effect on the school during the 2008 testing period. The roughly 20-page document included a narrative and several e-mails from teachers that detailed the way district monitors disturbed the testing environment, such as the number of times monitors entered and exited classrooms and the impact of the strangers on children used to familiar faces, McGinley said. Some felt the monitoring would hurt test scores, she said.
Moore said in her letter that she believed her submission of that information was the end of any questions about what happened this year.
"If I believed otherwise, I would have never taken a chance in bringing you or the district discontent or uncertainty about my credibility," Moore wrote. "Please accept this as confirmation that I was not involved in any unethical or illegal activities, as it pertains to the administration of the state test at my school."
Halifax County schools Superintendent Geraldine Middleton said she wasn't concerned about the investigation at Sanders-Clyde because nothing has been proven. Middleton supervised Moore in Charleston, and Middleton said she hired Moore in North Carolina because of her knowledge of curriculum and instruction. Middleton does not believe Moore was involved in any wrongdoing.
"I believe, that based on her work and knowledge, that it's not true," she said. "We will await the results of the investigation."
Reach Diette Courrégé at dcourrege@postandcourier.com or 937-5546.
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Comments
ironhorse (anonymous) says...
She got away with it because Geraldine Middleton was willing to look the other way.
Now, as the Halifax County schools superintendent, she is doing the same thing.
September 19, 2008 at 5:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
I'll with hold comment until the verdict is read on this one. But I believe their all guilty of this at some level.
September 19, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
It sounds like some suspicious goings on. The testing is ridiculous and flawed. Not all people have the same capacity to learn, think, speak or do math on a standardized level. The tests either "dumb" down the learning abilities or put them over the level of those students that don't have the abilities of others. It's not picking on anyone, it's how it is. So IMO, learning and test score increases like the one mentioned here, are great for Hollywood movies. Unfortunately, life isn't a movie.
September 19, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
10216340 (anonymous) says...
Moore, you are grasping at straws to blame the presence of test monitors for the DRASTIC drop in scores. You are guilty of so much more than test tampering. You have dealt a severe blow to the academic confidence of those children and their parents.
September 19, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Moore had concerns about the monitors' effect on the school during the 2008 testing period. The roughly 20-page document included a narrative and several e-mails from teachers that detailed the way district monitors disturbed the testing environment, such as the number of times monitors entered and exited classrooms and the impact of the strangers on children used to familiar faces,
The state released Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test results last week that showed massive drops in test scores at Sanders-Clyde, a high-poverty downtown school previously recognized for its students' impressive achievement. The test score decline coincided with stringent district oversight of the school's testing, a first for the school.
This says it all.
Yea,, I can were a little oversight would cause problems with business as usual.
September 19, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
RW:
No, according to her, the kids got dumber by way of intimidation from the State monitors looking over their shoulders as they took the test.
I smell cheating...
September 19, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
I hope she winds up in jail.
It is one thing to do what she did, but to continue to lie about it?? TERRIBLE!!!
And what makes it even worse it that she seems to have profited from her dishonesty by getting somewhat of a promotion in a North Carolina school system.....
September 19, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ironhorse (anonymous) says...
Halifax County schools Superintendent (Geraldine Middleton) office phone: 252-583-5111
September 19, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Unfortunately for Ms. Moore, perception is truth for the many she left behind.
I hope this gets resolved quickly.
But I won't hold my breath.
September 19, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
Early,
You are correct. This problem was known years ago within the district and the concerns were sent up the chain where, of course, nothing was done by the leadership. When the heat gets turned up, you'll see everyone running for cover.
September 19, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MsPiggy (anonymous) says...
EARLY!! HAHAHA!!! That is so wrong, yet so funny.
Was it bad to laugh at that comment?
I kind of thought of Randy Jackson when I saw her face.
September 19, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nappyd (anonymous) says...
This sounds like that South Park episode where Cartman encourages the kids to cheat, but that was making fun of that Michelle Pheiffer movie from the 90's...
Either way, still pretty dumb of her to try it in real life.
September 19, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
Why care? Standardized testing is just a waste of time for these kids. These kids are living in poverty with drugs and crime all around them. They have alot bigger problems in life to overcome than a stupid meaningless score on a test they took in 3rd grade. Trying to keep them alive (see other article in todays paper about Fatal shooting in downtown for example) and/or avoid prison.
September 19, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
MsPiggy sed: "I kind of thought of Randy Jackson when I saw her face."
She didn't do it, dawg!
September 19, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
Ashley- I agree to an extent about the standardized testing, etc...... But by no means can you EVER "not care" about such blatant dishonesty and cheating by the very people who are supposed to be setting an example for our children.....
September 19, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justus1017 (anonymous) says...
My daughter goes to Sanders-Clyde now. She told me that the monitors were in and out of the classrooms slamming doors. So yes every time the door opened their eyes were on the door. Adults do the same thing. Wow I want to know who gets paid to count eraser marks on the test scores. I need a second job to keep me off the corners from selling drugs and killing people. God knows how "damaged" my child is from all this stupidness. She scored aboved level at Charleston Progressive and Summerville Elementary. I don't expect anything less from Sanders Clyde. POVERTY DOESN'T MAKE CHILDREN ANY DUMBER, than those who do pay for education and get by because their parents are rich.
September 19, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
If she did do this does it warrant jail time? Her job stability depends on her raising scores on a score that has been stanardized to whom? Her school is in a low income area that gets substantially less support from that community, and from the district.Compare her school to the funding that the district gives Buist Academy which is less than 2 miles away.How could she get the grades up compared to them? I would cheat too! Anyway,how could she have changed so many answers without someone else participating or someone else(the teachers, faculty, and staff) knowing. I think it would have been impossible but yall go ahead and convict this lady like yall do whenever someone is charged in the media.Give her the death penalty right?
September 19, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
Kontact-
Are you kidding me???? When things get tough you....cheat??? What kind of message would that be sending to our kids (white, black, rich, poor, etc.....)
I certainly hope: a) you have no kids of your own
b) you don't work in or around our
schools or children
c) you don't work at 75 Calhoun
September 19, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
POVERTY DOES MAKE CHILDREN DUMBER...because you are fooling yourself if you think poor people are getting the same education as the rich. Thats not saying those same children would not have the potential had they been born wealthy.
September 19, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justus1017 (anonymous) says...
POVERTY DOESN'T MAKE CHILDREN DUMBER....NOT GETTING THE PROPER EDUCATION DOES. TEACHERS ARE ONLY GIVING AND SHOWING THE CHILDREN WHAT ARE ON THE PACT TEST. NOTICE I DID'T USE THE WORD "TEACHING". THEY EXPECT THESE KIDS TO GET IT FAST. GO BACK TO THE OLD WAY OF TEACHING WHERE THE KIDS HAVE MORE THAN TWO DAYS TO LEARN THE MULTIPLICATION TABLE. THEY FORGET ABOUT THE BASICS. SO WHO MAKES THEM DUMBER? THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
September 19, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
I am going to wih-hold judgment and hope for the best. But, it is interesting to note that many of those who want a pound of flesh from Ms. Moore thought that too much was made of the fact that a number of parents lied about their places of residences in order for their children to get into Buist. Some of these same people defended the amount of oversight exhibited by CCSD regarding address verification. And no one is calling for either the discharge or a SLED investigation of Dr. Rose, who oversees the Buist lottery, the Buist entrance testing, the sex-ed evaluations at Brentwood, and testing at Sanders-Clyde.
September 19, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realintheus (anonymous) says...
I wonder why the district hasn't contacted Ms. Moore yet? Could it be that they want time to build a case that they already knew about? Someone is trying to pass blame here! Could it be thats why they wanted one person to run both of those low income schools?
September 19, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonpride (anonymous) says...
scienceguy...you don't know what you are talking about.
September 19, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
Teach777whatever--I was just kidding about that part--Not about the rest though-I dont condone cheating at all and if she did do it then she needs to be held accountable for her actions because it doesnt show the kids the example we need for them to follow. I do believe the funding with the istrict is eveidently biased against the lower economic schools. Sounds like your a teacher -if you are then you would agree with me unless you work at Daniel Island Intermediate or one of the schools in Mount Pleasant.
September 19, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
charlestonpride:
Am I misinformed about Dr. Rose's duties?
September 19, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Teach7775 (anonymous) says...
Kontact- I teach at a low income school in a critical needs area.
Funding??
I think sometime too much emphasis is placed on funding. I do agree that it is very important. Is funding going to make a parent (rich or poor) read with their child, do homework with their child, or make sure their child is not running the steets at night???
September 19, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justus1017 (anonymous) says...
Early I agree to a point. My child goes there, I work for the city of charleston, I receive Hud housing and fortunately have an education. I live in poverty. I was raised like this "it's doesn't matter where you live it's how you live". I am a single parent with a 19 year old and a 10 year old I've been blessed with after I've been told I couldn't have anymore. Anyway, I am involved with her learning as I have been since the moment she was born. I sent her to a daycare that I know along with me teaching her to learn more stuff than the average child wouldn't get before kindergarten. We as parents need to step up as teachers to our children because they truly need it. Have afterchool studies at your houses to help children you know who parents don't care or less educated than you. I do. Try to make a difference instead of trying to find fault. All these children need is a real chance. I don't know if she's guilty, don't care. HELP OUT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING HARMED BY THIS.
September 19, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realintheus (anonymous) says...
In my case Early, no. I am a single mom. I grossed $57,795.86 last year. My daughter has A&B's, my son is always on the honor roll. It takes a healthy mind to want more than what you have. You must also want more for your children. Anyone can take responsibility for their children, but you have to have the mind to get out of your situation.
September 19, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
Teach77-I must admit i do agree with you-We need more parental involvement in these schools. It wont happen if we dont educate the kids we have now on this level because there are too many kids out there having kids which promotes this culture.I had a child at a very young age with my girlfriend in high school. Fortunately I was blessed by God to know how I had to break that cycle with me (with assistance of my parents).These kids now dont have that guidance. After schoo programs can do so much but i think its a start in the right direction to help these children out.
September 19, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonpride (anonymous) says...
Dr. Rose is in charge of the entire department that Buist falls under, but registration, which includes providing proof of residency is done at the school level. Testing also falls under her dept., but there is another person that is in charge of that area.Dr. Rose also has nothing to do with Brentwood.
September 19, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
scnative4ever wrote:
"I've even heard them call their children the N-word."
That's because it's "their" word. They've laid claim to it. I guess Webster's gave them that word. THEY are allowed to say it, but nobody else can say it.
Stoopid.
I lay claim to "Honkey", then.
September 19, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Haven't heard that one since George Jefferson used to use it!
Can everyone imagine if All In The Family was on today? That or The Jefferson's?
September 19, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
THIS IS FOR scnative,doamm,and whoelse ever participates in racialintolerance -NEW WORD FOR THE DAY IS :I-G-N-O-R-A-N-T=YOU
September 19, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bunting (anonymous) says...
With regards to poverty and its relation to student achievement: Ruby Payne. Enough said.
September 19, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
charlestonpride...Dr. Rose is the director of the assessment and accountability office within ccsd. The office handles research, data collection and reporting. So she does collect and analyze data from all schools, including Brentwood. It was actually some of her staff that knew of these of these problems years ago and reported it but it was buried by MGJ.
September 19, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
charlestonnative:
Dr. Rose "oversees the Buist lottery, the Buist entrance testing, the sex-ed evaluations at Brentwood, and testing at Sanders-Clyde." There have been problems in all of these areas.
I do not know who either created or runs the address verification system in CCSD. It's not a very good system though. My friends in Dorchester School District 2 have indicated that address verificatins are more thorough there.
Because you appear to be interested in CCSD, you may want to ask where Jerry Adams is these days. You may also want to ask how Heritage Community Services managed to place an employee on the Committee that decides whether Heritage teaches its program in CCSD.
September 19, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Yo Dawg,y'all are so wrong. I mean, now lookin' at her...dawg...she looks just like Randy Jackson. Y
September 19, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
From the mouth of a teacher...
I find it sickening that anyone would try to tamper with test materials. I bust my butt every year for this one set of tests that actually only prove one thing....kids in wealthier areas perform better than kids in poorer areas (in general). I value my test results every year. I want to see if my kids made gains or not. I use the data to guide my instruction. Now PACT doesn't give us an intem analysis but other data is also used.
If I thought for a minute that someone tried to mess with my test scores I would be pissed!!! This just gives those of us in the CCSD schools an even worse name and an even taller hill to climb.
September 19, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
clisby (anonymous) says...
shoelaces: Maybe you can answer something I'm really curious about. Does anyone track discrepancies among PACT scores, MAP scores, and classroom grades?
I realize any individual child might show discrepancies: a bright child might be bored stiff in class and make Ds, but have high PACT/MAP scores; a bright child might have good classroom grades but be really bad at taking standarized tests, or might be sick on test day. An average student might not do great on PACT but with a lot of hard work might do pretty well in grades. But shouldn't somebody notice if, for example, PACT and MAP scores were way different for a lot of kids? Even now, at Sanders-Clyde, what are the kids' classroom grades like? If you have a whole lot of kids scoring below average on PACT but getting As and Bs on their report cards, that sounds to me like a possible problem with classroom grades, not just a problem with the PACT.
September 19, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tues_nite (anonymous) says...
Why does McCain want the head of the FEC to resign?. They are not on Wall Street.
September 19, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charlenehughes (anonymous) says...
This is another sad chapter during the reign of Mcginley. Dr. McGinley I am told offered Ms. Moore a position as an Assistant Superintendent to stay even though she was well aware of the rumors. What does that say about her. In addition she is running off to key members of her Superintendent's cabinet because they they don't do the bobble head nod like her Chiefs and communication's errand boy do. She is running off Black principals at poor performing schools but white principals at the same type schools get to stay. Lastly she sold her soul to the power base in Mt. Status( oops! I meant Mt. Pleasant).
September 19, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CCSDISTHEPLACEFORME (anonymous) says...
Here is a suggestion, why not make it a requirement that National Board Certified teachers come into schools like Sanders-Clyde and teach for five years in order to make the extra $7500 especially the ones in Mt. Pleasant. Since the district seems to think that the teachers downtown are not doing enough, why not bring in the best and the brightest. I'd love for a National Board certified teacher from Charles Pinckney or Laurel Hill to come downtown. Taeching in Mt. Pleasant, may not be easy, but it is a cake walk compared to downtown and North Charleston. It's so unfair for folks to always knock the teachers in high poverty schools. They bust their behinds EVERYDAY, they teach in classrooms that are constantly interrupted with visitors from the school district and the state department, they stay afterschool to listen to "experts" in the field who know nothing, and they have to deal with the disrespect from parents. But in spite of all of that they still come to school to teach those children. Not because they have to but b/c they love those children. And they know that at least the children have a fighting chance with someone in the classroom that is not quick to suspend them or have them placed in special education classes.
September 20, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Straighttalk (anonymous) says...
Amen. Run off the black principals and let the white principals slide. Just take a look at who's gone or been moved and who is still on the ship. Dr. McDevily is ridiculous.
September 20, 2008 at 8:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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