Long Island High School Principal Quits Over Common Core Reforms
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island high school principal is taking her fight against Common Core standards to a new level.
Dr. Carol Burris, 62, is quitting her $218,000 a year job as principal of South Side High School in Rockville Centre to fight what she says are harmful education reforms.
"The high stakes testing, the Common Core standards, the evaluation of teachers by test scores -- they are working together to undermine public education in New York State and I love public schools way too much to stand idly by and see that happen," Burris, who was named New York State Principal of the Year in 2013, told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.
Long Island High School Principal Quits Over Common Core Reforms
In 2012, Burris wrote a book supporting the Common Core standards but later reversed her position. She said the state's recent push to make student performance count for half of a teacher's ratings provoked her move, Newsday reported.
She contends the standards aren't developmentally appropriate.
Long Island High School Principal Quits Over Common Core Reforms
Burris will now dedicate her time to fighting Common Core.
"This is the fight that has to be waged," she told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs.
Burris plans to work with similarly-minded education advocates, as well as write and make speeches against the reforms.
She has been the school's principal for 15 years.
"I don't have the heart to stand by and see 15 years of good work be threatened by these reforms," Burris said.
Her last day will be June 30.
"I just couldn't do it, I knew that I could not come back into the school next year and be part of that system," Burris said. "All good things, they say, must come to an end, well I believe all bad things must come to an end, too."
One of the high school's assistant principals, John Murphy, will take over on July 1.
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