There, I said it. It's out there. I feel better now that I got that off my chest.
*sigh*
Okay so that's not really true. And I'm a little bit sorry for saying it.
Lots of people like her. She has a family and friends who all think she's great. She probably has some co-workers and acquaintances who think she is all right too. So saying "nobody" likes her, isn't really fair.
But the truth is a very large part of Pasco who are well acquainted with her (namely teachers and parents) are not at all happy with the way things are going in Pasco School District. And by "unhappy" I mean down right furious. Torches and pitch forks angry. Going on strike mad!
(I would like to add that the torches and pitch forks are metaphorical. Nobody even owns pitchforks anymore and I certainly wouldn't want people using them for anything besides good, old-fashioned straw chucking.) Ahem. Where was I...
Last winter when Ms. Hill announced her retirement there was a considerable amount of rejoicing. When we learned she wouldn't be leaving for another 18 months, there was a little less rejoicing. When we heard that Michelle Whitney was to be her successor, there was confusion.
We all like Ms. Whitney. We really do!
She is nice. She is very approachable. She is a great listener and a great teacher. She is intelligent. She appears to be sincere and thoughtful in every way. But.... she's an insider.
When the district conducted a survey to find out what everyone wanted in a new superintendent, you know what people said? They wanted someone new. Someone different from Ms. Hill.
When asked: What qualification do you believe is important for a new superintendent?
"Willing to do differently than what has been done before."
"I highly recommend we get a new pair of outside eyes. Please do not hire anyone from Booth Building. We need a new look on things. There has to be some very successful supers out there in the wild."
"Bring new and fresh perspective to Pasco that will rebuild trust and between leadership and certified staff and the community."
And when asked: What do you see as the greatest challenges a new superintendent must be prepared to address?
"Continuing to do processes in the same way."
"An absolute mess of administrators with no leadership skills and no decision making power."
"A willingness to shake up the status quo and align stakeholders to a common vision to do what is best for kids."
Now we find ourselves in a rough spot. Parents and teachers are demanding curriculum. The district keeps trying to say we have it, or we're getting it, or we're going to see if we have it, or we might get some in the next five to six years, or, or, or. Saundra Hill and the PSD bargaining team are refusing to come to the table and bargain in good faith. The teachers have just voted to strike. Teachers are forced to choose between spending time out on the picket lines in front of the Red Lion or going to their classes to get lesson plans ready. Parents and students have no idea when school will begin. What Pasco needs right now is a real leader.
 |
| Michelle Whitney, Pasco Parents needs you to stand up for Pasco's kids! |
Will the real superintendent please stand up?
Ms. Whitney, we are begging you. This is your chance. This your your moment. You can stand up and be the leader we need. The leader our children and community deserves.
Saundra Hill is refusing to come to the bargaining table.
Ms. Whitney, don't be like her. Come to the table. Talk to the teachers' union. Find a solution. Do it with or without a mediator. You can do it.
Saundra Hill isn't worried about a teacher strike because she thinks she can get a court injunction to force teachers back to work. But you don't want that. You know how much that will hurt teachers to have to go through with a promised strike. You don't want to be the leader of a district who filed charges against its own teachers. So tell Saundra Hill, and the PSD bargaining team, and the school board that enough is enough. You can do it.
Saundra Hill says we have comprehensive, district adopted curriculum. You know this isn't true. You know it. We know you know it. Stand up and say it. Admit that we are lacking adequate text books for some grade levels and some subject areas. Tell us the truth. You can do it.
Saundra Hill says it will take five to six years to study and assess the curriculum we have and improve it. You know our kids can't wait that long. You know it has to be done now.Right now. It will be hard. We understand that. But you can do it!
Saundra Hill hasn't been in a classroom in years. She doesn't really know what's going on in there. But you do. Stand up for our students. Stand up for our teachers. YOU CAN DO IT!
This is your chance. This is your moment. Not only can you be the leader Pasco needs, but you can put to rest any doubts that you weren't the right person for the job. If you are going to be the future leader of Pasco schools, prove it now. Not in small ways. In bigs ways! Not in strategic plans or in lunch room discussions. Do it in public! Do it out loud! Do it in a way that lets everyone know things are changing in Pasco, the status quo isn't good enough anymore, and you are going to put Pasco's kids first! YOU. CAN. DO. IT.
There is a school board meeting next Tuesday at 6:30. What will you do? We'll be watching.
Will the real superintendent please stand up?
* * *
The teachers quoted above were not alone. This is only a small sampling of the teachers who, while answering the superintendent search survey, begged for a new leader, one who didn't stick to the same methods and models. You can read more of them by clicking here.
* Sadly, the regularly scheduled school board meeting was canceled. Instead an early morning meeting was hastily scheduled in an attempt to prevent parents and teachers from speaking out. I guess we'll never know what Ms. Whitney would have said.
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