We hear through the higher education grapevine that Robert Felner crony and confidant Natalie Bolton (Stiglitz) is ready to move on from the University of Louisville. Bolton, whom we tied to JCPS Supe Sheldon Berman through late night “runs” and the infamous Robert Felner through telephone records, reportedly had a closed-door interview with Dr. Cindy Meyer Gnadinger, the Dean of Education at Bellarmine University last week.
The meeting, we hear, went well, but no one at Bellarmine expects her to be hired. Sources reveal to us that after Bolton left the meeting, Sheldon Berman sent an email to Gnadinger containing Bolton’s resume and a letter of recommendation.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out. If Bolton doesn’t move to Bellarmine after the Felner scandal, will Berman hire her at Jefferson County Public Schools?
Another interesting rumor/note: Sheldon Berman sits on the Board of Making Meaning, a company that pushes a K-8 reading comprehension curriculum to schools around the country.
In his position, Berman faces a difficult ethical dilemma. He’s trying to bring the Making Meaning curriculum to JCPS, especially at Western Middle School. But usually, educators and professionals avoid crossing lines by encouraging their employer to purchase programs and materials from organizations they’re not directly affiliated with. Right?
How will it all play out?
UPDATE @ 2:40: A spokesperson from JCPS called us to declare up & down that Berman didn’t send an email. But he did – from his personal email account. We can post it if need be. But thanks for the damage control.
We’ve been assured that Berman isn’t on the board of Making Meaning. And mysteriously, his name has been removed from the website since our story went live.
Very interesting.
10 responses so far ↓
1 John Ramos // Apr 20, 2009 at 2:15 pm
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090420/NEWS01/904210302/JCPS++Berman+seeking+divorce
2 Novena // Apr 20, 2009 at 2:34 pm
“We Interviewin’ Today, Bobby?”
When you say Natalie met with the Bellarmine dean behind closed doors, I hope this does not mean that BU faculty never met with her. Disallowing CEHD faculty from interviewing prospective faculty was a common Felnerite practice, one contrary to accepted principles of academe and affirmative action. Felner liked to cart prospects around town while disappointed, disgruntled faculty waited endlessly for interviews that never were. Hope the Bobster himself has similar experiences in The Big House. (But who will visit The Little Man?)
3 Always Amazed // Apr 20, 2009 at 4:17 pm
That’s not the only conflict of interest. JCPS School board has approved contracts with Natalie Stiglitz (what? is Bolton her maiden name?) for work with One Community, One Nation which is based on Berman’s Care for Kids curriculum he developed while in Mass. Who smells keynote speaker fees and them going together to conferences in nice locations on our dime?
He also had the school board approve a contract with VHS Inc., a virtual high school company for which he is a board member, when JCPS is already using another KY based virtual high school platform and has many courses already developed for that platform.
As far as his now public divorce, comment in the CJ is very interesting:
“It’s very disappointing and I am trying to do this as quietly and privately as possible, and I hope people will respect that,” Berman said today.
I’m sure you are trying to do this “quietly”, who knew that annoying Felner dude was going to make this whole thing blow up in your face. And, um, I don’t think your house was ever on the market, did you really want everyone living in the same city?
Bellarmine, why do you want Felner fallout in your house? This stuff is a hot mess.
4 Le Gardien de but // Apr 20, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Why would Dr. Gnadinger, the Dean of Education at Bellarmine University, hire Natalie Stiglitz Bolton?????
One reason is that she will be bringing research $$$ to BU. DUH…..
If she can generate big time $$$, Natalie will be welcome many places…
5 Novena // Apr 20, 2009 at 6:48 pm
“Quasi-Apology to AERA”
I checked the AERA website. It chose Felner as a Fellow in 2008, about a month or so before his s**t house of a scandal hit the fan. So, my apology on that one. I still think it is an organization that has never really achieved its promise, partly due to the likes of Felner, one of its grand Fellows. Maybe he can teach a course on community psychology for inmates in his next job and do some real research for a change.
6 Eric Schaps // Apr 20, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Making Meaning is not the name of an organization but is rather a reading comprehension program published and disseminated by our non-profit Developmental Studies Center. We are delighted that JCPS is adopting Making Meaning in some of its schools, as well as our Caring School Community program. Sheldon Berman has never served as a trustee of DSC. As to his name being “removed” from our website http://www.devstu.org, it has never appeared there. I await your correction and apology.
Eric Schaps
President
Developmental Studies Center
Oakland CA
7 jake // Apr 20, 2009 at 7:51 pm
That’s total bunk – Berman may not have served on the board (as we corrected), but his name definitely appeared on the website. Otherwise I wouldn’t have included the link.
Berman spent the entire day having his secretary call me to complain. Then at 4:20 P.M. she called me back admitting that he had, indeed, sent the email.
8 Wait a Minute // Apr 21, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Interesting that Mr. Schaps jumped right into this story from Oakland, CA. I suppose Berman or Natalie warned him.
Gnadinger of Bellarmine got her doctorate at UofL ‘s Ed School not too long ago. Maybe she and Natalie are friends. If she were smart she wouldn’t go there.
9 Concern // Apr 21, 2009 at 11:08 pm
You said two…. is Alanta in the picture?
10 jake // Apr 22, 2009 at 8:33 am
Two. Natalie and Sheldon.
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