This was on Pierre’s author website:

“Pierre’s response to a Potomac News’ article
Posted on 04/07 at 01:03 PM
Kudos to Ricardo Juarez for leading the hispanic community toward voicing their immigration concerns! However, I agree with the Potomac News’ contention that another way to engage civic responsibility is by contacting our congressmen/women or writing letters to the editor. I have no doubt that Ricardo Juarez will equally support the call to our hispanic youths to resume their educational responsibilities. Manes Pierre Teacher Freedom High School Woodbridge
manesmpierre ”

And from a PWC school press release dated 5/24/07:
“Manes Pierre, ESOL teacher at Freedom High School, presented at a conference organized by the Association of Haitian Professionals and held at Howard University. The event focused on the wealth of published material available to educators in French, Haitian Creole, and English. Pierre also discussed his book, The Man and His Thoughts, published by Dorrance Publishing in Pennsylvania.”

I have no doubt that is happening but…it is probably because of SOL concerns most likely, not esol specifically. You did not mention the level. Schools must pass math and English to satisfy the conditions of the No Child Left Behind Act. In order for schools to show annual yearly progress, the sub-groups (special ed, economically disadvantaged, minority, and esol) must show a certain percent improvement.

The above is a great oversimplification of what goes on but that is the gist of what is driving all of this: overall improvement of SOL scores.

But like someone who KNOWS how to win elections (she won her last with 65% of the vote, more than ANY other politician on the ballot), Ms. Lucas is NOT out there protesting outside Mr. Pierre’s house, rather, she is out knocking on doors NOT talking ANYONES vote for granted.

Very interesting about the bonuses. How about for the shortage in math and science? Speech is also another critical shortage area. Any bonuses there?

Do some research on the truant officer at one of the county high schools (actually, more than one). There’s one, well-known, who was hired to do one thing: Coach men’s basketball. But, he does a crappy job doing what he was hired to do - making sure kids that don’t come to school are disciplined for their actions. Too often that’s what these local schools care about the most: Athletics. Of course, what else is new?

Pierre is not listed on the Freedom High School website as one of their teachers. I’m guessing he’s no longer there (?).

It might not be right, but when the need for ESOL teachers is exploding, you have to expect that standards will suffer somewhat.

This would not be the first time a teacher was let go at one school and ended up at another.

It is also a fact that the School System hides many things that go on. I wonder if this is one?

The information that is out on Pierre’s in the paper and his traveling to Manassas to speak before that anti american group is enough to tell us “where there is smoke,there is sure fire” that something is wrong.

Let’s get the facts out there on this man.

It is also my understanding that he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with MSF, WWC and Unity in the Community.

What I’d really like to know is if he was “fired” at Stonewall, why is he teaching at Freedom?