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8/6/2019 Kathy Augustine Statement to DeSoto ISD
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8/6/2019 Kathy Augustine Statement to DeSoto ISD
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What angers me most of all is that professional educators
cheated students who, I know, were already making progress—
according to a full range of state and national indicators.
But after the shock . . . the sadness . . . and the anger, I've also
become increasingly grateful.
I appreciate the w ork of the governor of G eorgia and the special
investigators, who had the resources and the subpoena power to
conduct a more in-depth investigation. And even though I have
moved on, I am relieved to see that the new administration of
Atlanta Public Schools is taking swift and certain action.
Because the allegations are so egregious, how ever, I cannot
move on without looking back.
Let me assure you that in my 12 years of service in Atlanta, at no
time did I have any know ledge of widespread cheating on state
standardized tests in 2009 or any other year. And I want to be
clear that I was neither involved in—nor aware of—the kind of
behavior that's been uncove red.
I am and have always been supportive of any investigation that
would assist in assessing the functioning of our school district. I
have cooperated w ith the investigation, and have made myself
available at all times when requested. I have never knowingly
8/6/2019 Kathy Augustine Statement to DeSoto ISD
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8/6/2019 Kathy Augustine Statement to DeSoto ISD
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I'm a lifelong educator second , a mother first—and that's a
statistic Iwould never accept.
So countless professionals and I went to work—crisscrossing the
country to study proven education reform strategies, setting high
standards, employing research-based teaching practices, and
providing intensive professional deve lopment for teachers and
principals. As a result, student ach ievem ent began to rise. In
2010 and 2011, when state monitors and tighter testing protocols
were implemented, still, the significant gains in student
achievement over 1999 were apparent.
And when allegations of cheating first su rfaced, there were
several external investigations conducted , including that of the top
testing security firm in the nation (Caveon) and the nationally
known consulting firm of KPMG. W e also started a con fidential
hotline for employees to report suspicious behavior.
The reality is . . . that a fter a ll that w e did . . . it was still not
enough . For that, Iwill be forever reg retful. Nothing in my
experience prepared me for the possibility that professional
educators would cheat students.
It is my sincere hope that the difficult lessons learned in Atlanta
will be applied to school systems that have and are grappling w ith
cheating scandals all over this country, including Texas.
8/6/2019 Kathy Augustine Statement to DeSoto ISD
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Here in DeSoto ISD, that means testing protocols must reflect air
tight, best-in-class security measures that include ethics training
across our schoo ls. The superintendent's responsibility is not
only to set high standards for all, but also to be vigilant in
monitoring the adherence to processes and procedures.
Testing and assessment are among the most important things we
do in public educa tion. Through assessments, we are able to
show our students and the world that they can com pete and besuccess ful in any environment. I know what our children can do.
No one has to cheat for them .
To the board of trustees, I thank you for this opportunity to
publicly address the allegations and report findings. From the
very first time w e m et, I have endeavored to be honest, open, andforthcom ing about the ongoing investigation, as we ll as Atlanta's
12 years of academic accomplishments according to national and
state measures.
Please know that I understand your need for thoughtful
deliberations about my appo intment. Accordingly, after mutual
consideration in light of the recent release of the CRCT
investigative report in Georgia, and more importantly, in
consideration of the interests of the DeSoto ISD students and
community, I will be taking paid leave effective July 12, 2011.
8/6/2019 Kathy Augustine Statement to DeSoto ISD
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Again, thank you to everyone for your time today.