Sunday, April 21, 2013

How did KOAM scoop me on this one? Randy Turner suspended

Word leaked out late last week that I have been placed on paid administrative leave by the Joplin School District.

KOAM/Fox 14 had a well-balanced report last night, interviewing students and parents who supported me and also presented Superintendent C. J. Huff's prepared statement. The report accompanies this post.

Though The Turner Report was scooped on this story, I understand it has a better chance of getting the teacher's first statement on the situation. (If I get scooped on that, I might as well give up.)

At the moment, I am being told not to talk about the specifics of this. Hopefully, that will change later today, as I am in the mood to do a lot of writing (even though it seems that's what gets me into trouble.)

KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg

13 comments:

Jonathan Dresner said...

That was a decent report, though I would have expected that they'd contact you, at least to include a "Randy Turner declined to comment". Looking forward to more detail; hope it turns out to be nothing major.

Randy said...

They did. They mentioned at the end of the report that I would be commenting after I got the go-ahead form my MNEA representatives.

Angela said...

I'm shocked and sorry to hear this. I hope you can share information soon and also let us know if we can help.

Randy said...

Thanks, Angela. Hopefully, I will get the go-ahead later today. I have already written it; I am just waiting for the word.

Anonymous said...

Randy, You can reach me at abgame65@aol.com or read my blog at ansonburlingame.wordpress.com. Nothing yet on my blog as I don't know enough, yet, to make a public comment.

As you may be aware, I am deeply interested in public education and have written, in blogs a lot, and occassionally in columns in the Globe on such matters.

I have no idea what is really going on today with you and R-8 but am deeply interested in such matters. I have said exactly that in a private email to the chairman of the local BOE calling for speedy resolution, in public of the charges and rebutals to each one.

I am sure you as a long time writed in public will make your case and I for one will listen very carefully and respectfully to both sides.

Obviously, you have been accused by someone of being a "rogue teacher". Who made such accusations, I have no idea nor the substance of them, either.

but I for one will be watching carefully and closely as this matter is resolved.

May the "right" side win in the coming fray is my only wish.

Good luck as you are for sure going to be fighting against "city hall" of a sort.

Anson Burlingame

Anonymous said...

I hope you never get another job anywhere else!

Anonymous said...

Don't feed the troll.....

Worn slick said...

Randy, even when you are right, sometimes you are persecuted. Now that you have some free time and maybe in need of a laugh, I can give you one. Drive by my previous residence prior to the tornado at 2120 Mississippi in town. You will notice a city notice that says this property is a dangerous building. When I questioned the building official why he posted it he said the driveway is a dangerous building and if I must demolish it. I protested this in Sept 2011, and was told by the city manager that if I was rebuilding and reusing the driveway that the ordinance did not apply. My intent to rebuild had not changed, but the city managers word did. Just saying even when you are in the right, sometimes you get crapped on. Keep up the good spirits, and let me know if I can help. Best regards...

Anonymous said...

You are the No. 1 reason why my kids WILL NOT attend Joplin schools. If the district is willing to hire an individual with your background, who else will they hire? I do not know the specifics behind this situation, but I know what happened in Carthage. It took Joplin long enough to take action. Proof is in the photos Randy, photos don't lie.

Cindy Riachi said...

I have followed this blog before and always found it well-written. Your recent opinion piece on the teaching profession probably embarrassed an administrator. Guess what, administrator! Public school teaching has become an embarrassment to many. No surprise. Nowadays, we find the students with the lowest ACT scores in any given college are the ones who enter the teaching profession. The few teachers with high ACT scores who even enter the profession are the first to exit the profession, on average(I stand by my stats). We are left with a few bright stars(such as Randy)who eventually burn out, so to speak, and a bunch of dimwits.

Anonymous said...

Call me a coward weasel all you want, but a true coward uses a public blog to point to all the wrongs (and just how many things that are right?) in the world (media, education, politics, any subject he deems to subject the world with his view of wrong, again seldom identifying what is right) all the while censoring which comments he wants posted for the general public to read.
Do what's right, post ALL of the comments left on this post. And once and for all, tell us, have you ever been wrong in your life and if so, when and how?
With so many things you (claim) to have been wronged in your professional career, how is it they are all the fault of others and not your own?

Anonymous said...

Hang in there Randy!

CindyNDiamond

Bonny Buffington said...

Your main problem is not realizing that they want teachers to work for minimum wage, tow the line, and get the kids to fill in the right bubbles. Can't have all this dangerous thinking going on.