Meet a Few MPS Teachers Being Forced to Reapply for Their Positions

Last month, the new superintendent announced she was excessing 41 teachers and forcing 140 teachers out of their positions without cause and falsely told the media, members and the public that all of the positions were being “excessed.” It turned out that Cassellius knew all along that she was maintaining 140 of those positions. There has been no reassignment of these 140 teachers and they have not been excessed. Instead, they have been forced into a punitive re-interview process to keep their own jobs. What Cassellius is doing does not conform to any process used in past and MTEA believes the decision is disciplinary in nature and likely outside the bounds of the superintendent’s authority without approval by the school board.

We learned this week that the reapplication process for these members will culminate with sham 20 minute virtual interviews with people who have no background or expertise in the positions being considered.

Shamefully, the superintendent’s poorly thought out plan also included unilateral salary cuts for these positions that were unauthorized by the Board. The superintendent claims this was done in error. MTEA worked throughout the week to get the Administration to correct these workers’ salaries.

The stated goal of this move by Cassellius was to fill teaching vacancies. There is no reasonable way to think this move would result in filling vacancies. Instead, affected workers are considering resigning or retiring, and attacking workers will have a chilling effect on future recruitment. It is likely that the chaos created by Cassellius’ move will have the long-term effect of creating more vacancies.

We’re highlighting several MPS teachers who are being forced by the superintendent to reapply for their jobs. The superintendent’s hasty proposed central office restructuring plan is unnecessary, cruel, and wasteful. She states her plan would cut Central Office positions, but the truth is these teachers are working in schools providing direct services to some of our most vulnerable students.

Lisa Schermerhorn – Vision Teacher – Milwaukee High School of the Arts

Laurel Heebsh – Bradley Tech Transition Coordinator

Ralph Anzivino – Riverside Transition Coordinator

Shawn Gleesing – Milwaukee School of Languages Transition Coordinator

Chris Hansen – Home and Hospital Teacher

Cara Slingerland – Literacy Coach