Friday, June 26, 2015

Failed McKinley Elementary principal could have been acting superintendent

Joplin R-8 Executive Director of Elementary Education Jennifer Doshier, whose disastrous tenure as McKinley Elementary principal ended with the departure of nearly the entire faculty, would have been named acting superintendent if Jason Cravens had turned down the offer.

Minutes from Tuesday night's closed session show that Cravens was selected by a 6-1 margin, with Jennifer Martucci casting the only dissenting vote.

The next vote was on whether to offer the job to Doshier if Cravens decided not to take it. That vote was 4-3 with Lynda Banwart and the three Jasper County Commission appointees, Gary Nodler, Sallie Beard, and Ron Gatz, voting for Doshier. Jeff Koch, Debbie Fort, and Martucci voted against her.

The idea that Doshier, who was promoted to upper administration with a hefty pay increase after the McKinley Massacre, was the second choice for such a key role gives an idea of how much departing Superintendent C. J. Huff surrounded himself with unqualified people.

If Cravens and Doshier had turned down the job, would we be seeing Curriculum Director Sarah Stevens as acting superintendent?

In other actions, the board set Cravens' salary, providing him with an additional 10 percent of his base salary until the time an interim superintendent is hired.

Two teachers, Donald Carey and Keisha Young, were hired, though board documents do not specify what or where they will teach.

One administrator, Brenda Olds, was hired.

Resignations were accepted for seven people, though their positions were not specified in the board documentation- Bethany Bolton, Chelsie Brooks, Amy Carr, George Cowin, Courtney Dinwiddie, Edward Miller, and Amanda Welsh.


11 comments:

Education Matters said...

I just cringed, thew up in my mouth when I saw that Mrs Doshier was that close to being in charge of all the students in Joplin, even if for only a month. That woman has no place being in the role she is in now at the bunker. She is a waste of space and was never around when needed at Mckinley. She would routinely have "meetings" and not be available. She was even gone on the first day of school one year because she had to see her daughter off to college. Granted that is an important time but your job is to make sure the students You are responsible for are taken care of. Especially those in kindergarten who are usually very scared. No picture from Huffy was going to make that go away. This woman who was paid a very nice salary plus extras had the nerve to take money to repair her automobile collected and donated to her from the staff then not even get it fixed. She would not allow a referral to be turned in, citing we can't have that it will not help us get an award for having no bad behaviors. According to her and Ms Hart, there are no bad behaviors at McKinley. Spend some time there. Really looking around and you will see. The only reason she was promoted is because she did the bidding of old CJ when a teacher had an issue and took it to Tina Smith. Noe she has a much bigger salary and can get even more perks. GO AWAY DOSHIER!!!!!!! and take Tina Smith, Sarah Stevens, Paul Barr, Norman Rouse,Banwart with you.

Anonymous said...

Oh for the love of God...scary.

Anonymous said...

Any central office personnel, unless they are tenured district teachers, need to be removed as soon as possible.

We only need a superintendent, two assistant superintendents, special education director, and a financial director. Leave the support personnel as they do the heavy lifting.

Yes, no Human Resources area either......Joplin did this before and they can do it again.

Anonymous said...

I've been reading through this blog lately for the first time. Seems to be a lot of hatred and complaining but not a lot of suggestions or solutions.

Anonymous said...

What was the McKinley massacre?

Randy said...

Sorry about that. I should have explained the McKinley Massacre better. Here is a link to the first post I wrote about it back in 2013. http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/11/angie-besendorfer-and-massacre-at.html

Anonymous said...

And yet you don't offer any suggestions or solutions yourself.

Anonymous said...

Really ? I'm just trying to wrap my head around this . So , Doshier pretty much disrespected her teachers at McKinley , threw them under the bus , had a mass exodus ( most were fired) , was PROMOTED to a position at the admin. Building , and now she had a chance to have the interim superintendent position ?? These people are ridiculous . Oh and the principal who came on at McKinley after Doshier ...SO not qualified for that position . I've seen her as a teacher and principal . So not impressed .

Anonymous said...

8:36
Asked and answered!! You said exactly what I was thinking! Those who live in glass houses,shouldn't throw stones!

Anonymous said...

836 904

1150 offered a great suggestion

Anonymous said...

Amen.