I really don’t know what to
do with myself.
I don’t want to admit that.
It feels like a declaration of weakness and, in all likelihood, will be seen as
such.
Ever since I was escorted out
of East Middle School Monday, April 8, by our school’s police officer, moments
after being told I was being placed on paid administrative leave, I have spent
hours and hours wrestling with how to handle this situation.
I have joked about it on
Facebook and in a few conversations, simply because that is the way I deal with
setbacks. I don’t want to let people know that I am worried to death about
losing a job I love and worried that the steps that have been taken against me
could end up marking the end of my teaching career.
Though I feel like a young
man, let’s face it- I’m 57 and I have a pacemaker. Schools aren’t going to be
lining up to add me to their faculties.
More than anything I am
frustrated about the steps that have put me into this position.
I am frustrated that the question-and-answer session that led directly to my being placed on leave was
barely more than five minutes.
I am frustrated that I was
never even asked if I had made a profit off Scars
from the Tornado. A more careful investigation would have shown that I have
not and that I have made every effort to be open and honest with my students,
their parents, and the taxpayers of the Joplin School District about what I
would like to see done with that money.
I am frustrated that a book
that says so many positive things about the Joplin School District and should
be one that any school district should be proud of is being treated like it is
part of a criminal activity.
The frustration extends to
the accusations centering on my book No Child Left Alive. I wonder why a few
more moments couldn’t have been taken by the human resources director to hear
my side of the story. She clearly says I will get my opportunity to tell my
side, but should that opportunity have to wait until my job is on the line at a
do-or-die hearing? Room 210 Discussion is not a classroom blog and I have not
talked to my class about it for years. It mentions East Middle School at the
top only because, for a brief time three years ago, I considered trying to set
up a discussion blog. I did not do it and I have not pointed my students in the
direction of that blog.
An investigation that was
seeking the truth would have found that out rather quickly.
An investigation that was
seeking the truth would never have led to the Board of Education and a vote
that is clearly not in the best interests of the Joplin School District.
One of the people who left
comments on my blog said some kind things about me- things that I deeply
appreciate.
It is true that I am usually
one of the first ones to arrive at work each day and one of the last to
leave. In 36 years of working, I have
only missed four days. Three of those came last year and it took a pacemaker implantation
procedure to pull me out of class those three days. When I am working at a job,
whether it be at newspapers, where I worked 22 years, or the last 14 as a
classroom teacher, I have never cheated my employers. I show up, I do my job,
and I do it well.
I have always considered it
to be part of my job to help younger teachers deal with the day-to-day problems
they face. Young teachers, like the students who sit in their classrooms each
day, are the hope of the future.
In the 10 years I have spent
in this district, I have probably done as much as anyone to emphasize the
positive, whether it be on my Journalism Club website, my Mr. Turner’s Corner,
which is the only classroom website I have, or in The Turner Report.
In 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado and Spirit of Hope: The Year after the Joplin Tornado, I wrote stories
that specifically pointed out nothing but positive things about the Joplin
School District.
In 10 years in this district,
I have never once received a bad evaluation. My fellow teachers thought enough
of me to name me one of the first two teachers at South Middle School to
receive the Golden Eagle Award, something that is given to the top teacher, as
voted by his or her colleagues. There are others I thought were more worthy,
but of all the honors I have received in my years in journalism and education,
the Golden Eagle Award is the one that means the most to me.
That year, I was also a
finalist for the Joplin School District’s Teacher of the Year Award.
For 10 years, I have done my
best to be a positive force for the children of the Joplin School District. You
will find few people outside of those who have brought this action against me
who would disagree with that assessment.
For all of that, I deserved
more than five minutes with someone who clearly had already decided the outcome
of the interview.
For all of that, I deserve to
have this hearing canceled and be put back into my classroom,
Instead, my time as a teacher
may very well have ended with a police officer leading me out of the building.
Can this really be the
message the Joplin School District wants to send?
15 comments:
It is unfortunate that this situation has occured and brought grief to you and embarrassment to the district. It reflects the level of respect for teachers--they are judged guilty until they can prove themselves innocent, and they better not expect representation by their union reps, either, because even that was taken away by admin, who don't even respect the Board enough to go through the procedure for policy changes. . They used administrative procedures to do it. That is usually used to do housekeeping like deciding ordering procedures or safety procedures. It isn't a policy-making tool. For most districts. It kind of makes me wonder what other changes they have made that aren't known to the public or staff. They are not very transparent in their transactions. Fear and intimidation are not good motivators and they do not make good teams. They cause people to want to leave. And I doubt that it helped one bit in ridding people of the desire to read that book. In fact, I am going to go download a copy right this minute to see if it was worth all of this fuss and bother. Good luck!
Feels a little different being on the other side of the fence, doesn't it?
Just horrible-don't know you but myself and many I know have dealt with the whole guilty first attitude our administrator's rule by. It is is shameful and sickening that this profession has turned into such a horrible fight that just isn't worth it. Keep writing and put your passion into that. Maybe that's where you will get some respect.
Dear Randy, you poor dear teacher; I don't know what cloud you've been sitting on for the past several years of your teaching career, but, here's the reality (and, of course, you know this because you've written in your blog about it), teachers are not respected in this society, and, sadly, no one really cares if a teacher is fired (people have weighed in on your behalf, but, soon, they will forget because your cause will no longer be scintillating; there is always some new violence or injustice to catch the attention for the momentary blip of time; as a nation, we all have ADD). I am not saying this to depress you or to fog your cause. I just see the way the waves of news roll in and out, and in this world, even the most huge and horrible national news stories last barely less than the human heartbeat. We have become a country of sheep needing anyone to lead us and control us.
Isn't one of the district's goals to "attract and retain highly qualified staff?" I wonder if this will help. I don't get it but maybe that's because I'm not smart enough. It must be one of those 21st Century visions that I'm too old to understand.
Good luck to you, Mr. Turner. And good luck to all of you who will be continuing to serve the district. I know you want to do all you can to help the children in your care. I have all faith in the teachers of Joplin Schools. They deserve the highest respect, working through and around some tremendous obstacles the last two years.
Randy, I am so sorry you're going through this. You have been in my thoughts since I read your first post about this situation. I will continue to think of your students, too, and of what they must be going through---because I know that's a main concern of yours as well.
This situation is shameful. Joplin schools need dedicated teachers like you and ought to be fighting to keep you. And cities need newspapers with reporters who actually investigate and report on injustices such as this. Seems like Joplin is failing on both of those counts.
Maybe a new city would do you good? (My life sure improved when I moved from Joplin to KC two years ago.) In any case, I wish you luck and will continue to follow your story as well as look for opportunities to help you.
In a court of law we get to face our accusers. We are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the burden for which is on the accusing side. We have the right to not speak. It amazes me that schools do not model their own procedures on the laws of the land. Maybe they haven't studied the law, though.
I learned this a long time ago. Didn't even have to Google it. I think we read it in textbooks, which my kids no longer have.
Become an advocate for teacher's rights, Randy. This is your calling. Campaign to repeal the worthless NCLB and other unfunded mandates that make compulsory education feel like Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Any public institution is becoming so standardized and corrupted that it's become sickening. I suggest to research what every student should utilize in each and every classroom, google "Trivium" (not the band, either).
This is yet another example of the district railroading good teachers out of the classroom over trumped up misdeeds. It has been going on for years. Hopefully, the public input in this case will help.
I guess what i'm trying to say is that administrator is trying to dump you out of the public schools without being able to draw a pension and only get Social Security for retirement. They know how to hit a guy when he is older and can't get another job. Get a good lawyer and fight them.
I had no idea of what was happening to you or what was being done to you. Sorry--very sorry--to hear.
It seems America loves throwing things away. People and buildings, both, at minimum, prematurely. I hope that's not what happens here, naturally.
Hoping and wishing for the intelligent and logical and truthful, good things to happen to you here.
Best of luck. We'll be watching.
Best to you.
You and so many others have been treated unfairly but this is the pattern which makes one think of unstability when someone goes after others destroying lives the only people that need to go are cj huff and angle b this district has gone down hill since the hiring of huff he has done nothing but self promotion since he came he hasn't taken care of his real job- preparing kids for the future and not just providing daycare. He has supported all of these poor decesions which makes him responsible he could have stopped all of this Power hungryAngle b should have gone long ago she wore her welcome out as she did every where else she has been we in this district were once proud now we are looking over our shoulders for a b or her spies why is the school board hiding in the sand they represent the students families and education not to protect huff and besendorf time to go
I think that it about time that NEA and MSTA joined forces and probe every teacher that has been forced to resign since Dr. B has been employed with the R-8. I was recently bullied to resign because I REFUSED TO BE A ROBOT. I refused to teach the exact same way as everyone else and I told them NO!! God gave me a brain and the ability to use it. I got to a point that I was no longer going to be bullied and threatened by this district. I personally know that a school board member, recent school board president, knows what is going on. It is time for a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DISTRICT AND BOARD OF EDUCATION. Every time my representative called Dr. Huff he was told he was to busy, call Dr. B.
Tina Smith, HR minion, told a group of educators, in the middle of one emotionally crying, that she hoped te meeting was over soon, she had a hair appointment. That is bullying, unprofessional, disrespectful, and disgusting behavior. It is grounds for immediate termination.
They promoted the failing principal at McKinley to head of elementary education. This person, for almost an entire semester showed up at 8:30 with 4-5 Sonic drinks after being dropped off by her daughter. She pent days in end at school without an automobile. The same principal had a staff take up a collection to repair her car. She also had a former secretary run personal errands for her several times during the school year. That secretary transferred out of the building. This is he same principal that has spies in the building and bases "write ups" almost solely on hearsay. Because she is so out of shape she cannot care for her building.
The TLC, teacher learning coach, who was recently promoted to curriculum director, comes in every morning at 8:00, after dropping off her child. Then leaves again around 10:50 to pick the child up. This same building had 2 first year teachers fail. With a TLC, you should never have a first year teacher fail, unless for morality issues, or the TLC is not doing their job.
TLC's are Dr. B's puppets. They make a little more then a classroom teacher and are worthless. There have been some teachers out of the buildings on PD for a calendar month. The unimaginable amounts spent on the PD and subs is unbelievable.
Better wake up soon SCHOOL BOARD, YOU WILL BE REPLACED.
I need to check and see if I understand this correctly. The big brag of this bunch is that they are creating a high school like no other high school in the whole country. Then they hired a person to put in charge of curriculum development who has all of four years teaching experience. In ELEMENTARY schools. That's some good decision making there. I can see why this district is running like a well oiled machine with that kind of strategizing. Good grief. Can I have my tax dollars back?
I believe that some people need to get their facts straight. Also, have you ever heard of spell check? Grammar check? Maybe you should reread what you are about to post. Glad my child won't be having you as a teacher!(854)
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