News
Opinion
ENLARGE
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The former principal at Incline High School has expressed concerns about the method and pace of International Baccalaureate's implementation at the Incline campus.
John Clark, IHS principal for the previous eight and a half years, said the Washoe County School District should slow implementation and concentrate on collecting buy-in from teachers and parents. Clark's retirement from IHS and the WCSD became official on Wednesday, June 30.
“I have my reservations regarding IB,” said Clark during an early June interview. “I think it's being rushed here.”
Clark said he has had numerous discussions with officials from the International Baccalaureate Organization and they have told him implementation should happen incrementally with as much support from teachers, administrators and community members as possible.
“You don't want to rush into things,” he said. “It's important to lay a proper foundation so all the money spent does not go down the drain.”
Clark called IB “the most expensive program I've ever seen.” He said he recognizes the merits of the curriculum, and he praised the district's commitment to making the schools in Incline better, but said he is worried about growing resentment among the teachers at IHS.
“I don't know if you'll ever get 100 percent buy-in,” he said. “But, no one asked the teachers if they wanted the program, and the teachers are the biggest strength of this district. You can implement the most elaborate programs, but if you don't have good teachers, those programs are worth nothing.
“The majority of teachers do not like IB. They do not want it.”
WCSD Assistant Superintendent Pedro Martinez said the district recognizes there was initially a communication disconnect between district officials and teachers at the high school, but the district is working to repair those breaches.
“I know that many teachers at the high school level were nervous about IB from the beginning, and we could've done better with communicating to the teachers,” Martinez said.
Martinez said the arrival of new K-12 administrator and IHS principal Stacey Cooper will help alleviate lingering concerns.
“Stacey will work with teachers to resolve concerns here,” he said.
Martinez said once the schedules and other specific logistics become finalized in late July/early August, teachers will have a better idea of what they are facing come August 23 — the first day of school.
John Clark, IHS principal for the previous eight and a half years, said the Washoe County School District should slow implementation and concentrate on collecting buy-in from teachers and parents. Clark's retirement from IHS and the WCSD became official on Wednesday, June 30.
“I have my reservations regarding IB,” said Clark during an early June interview. “I think it's being rushed here.”
Clark said he has had numerous discussions with officials from the International Baccalaureate Organization and they have told him implementation should happen incrementally with as much support from teachers, administrators and community members as possible.
“You don't want to rush into things,” he said. “It's important to lay a proper foundation so all the money spent does not go down the drain.”
Clark called IB “the most expensive program I've ever seen.” He said he recognizes the merits of the curriculum, and he praised the district's commitment to making the schools in Incline better, but said he is worried about growing resentment among the teachers at IHS.
“I don't know if you'll ever get 100 percent buy-in,” he said. “But, no one asked the teachers if they wanted the program, and the teachers are the biggest strength of this district. You can implement the most elaborate programs, but if you don't have good teachers, those programs are worth nothing.
“The majority of teachers do not like IB. They do not want it.”
WCSD Assistant Superintendent Pedro Martinez said the district recognizes there was initially a communication disconnect between district officials and teachers at the high school, but the district is working to repair those breaches.
“I know that many teachers at the high school level were nervous about IB from the beginning, and we could've done better with communicating to the teachers,” Martinez said.
Martinez said the arrival of new K-12 administrator and IHS principal Stacey Cooper will help alleviate lingering concerns.
“Stacey will work with teachers to resolve concerns here,” he said.
Martinez said once the schedules and other specific logistics become finalized in late July/early August, teachers will have a better idea of what they are facing come August 23 — the first day of school.
