It's not dissatisfaction with the Joplin R-8 Administration that is driving teachers out of the school district, according to Superintendent C. J. Huff.
In an interview with Judy Stiles on MSSU's Newsmakers program, Huff makes no mention of dissatisfaction or the culture of fear that he and Assistant Superintendent Angie Besendorfer have created in the school district as being reasons for one of out every six teachers leaving.
It's the teachers' spouses that are causing the change.
Huff says, "We have a lot of spouses whose jobs are changing and they are moving out of the area." He also notes a sizable number of retirements.
All of that experience leaving the faculty will be no problem, Joplin's Annie Sullivan told Ms. Stiles:
"We have an exciting, dynamic group of new teachers."
Other topics addressed by Huff include the district's emphasis on social media, its redesigned web site, and the preparation for moving into new school buildings.
25 comments:
Hmmmmmm. Well, if you want to sell a decrepit building, you have to build an attractive facade for it, right?
Is Huff completely nuts? I left because I couldn't take another year of no materials to use in the classroom, because of the lack of discipline and expectations for the students, and because it's just horrible now. I loved teaching in Joplin when I first got there and was very proud of the progress we made. It started going downhill when Besendorfer got there and Huff came in and completely killed it. I've had enough of fighting with the kids about their phones and staying on the right computer page and getting jack for support from asst. principals that make twice as much as me and don't do anything to help. I'm tired of seeing all of those stupid TLCs and career path people with time to waste decorating their offices and downloading their music while I busted it all day with kids who never thought they had to do anything.
That's why I left, Dr. Huff, and don't any of you ever forget it. The tornado didn't destroy my school--administrators did and the Board let them do it.
Quite frankly, that doesn't say much for the city of Joplin if that many people are taking jobs elsewhere.
Thanks for blackening the eye of the city, Dr. Huff, in addition to destroying the district.
What would it take to get you to take a job elsewhere? Name your price, and we'll see if we can find someone to match it. Just take your whole troop of clowns with you.
Couldn't have said it better myself: "The tornado didn't destroy my school, the administrators did and the Board let them do it.
I feel like our school system is crumbling before my eyes, and it makes me ashamed.
Yes--they transferred as far away as Webb City, Carl Junction, Carthage, Neosho, Avilla, Riverton...
Huff, please don't insult us anymore. No one is buying your story anymore.
Huff must be lost in a world of virtual reality. Back in the real world, we know why the teachers left. They left because the Joplin School District is in horrible condition after five years under Huff and his accomplices. My friend left because he was quite simply tired of trying to teach in a room with no books and in a building with no sense of order.
And yet, the Board remains silent and the same miserable conditions will be in place next year. I will be in the Next 100 to go. Maybe we'll make it 200. Of course, that will put you in a bind since you haven't found enough dynamic replacements for the openings you have already.
I left because my job position was closed. It was closed not because I did a bad job, but because the money used to pay me was needed more to pay the most worthless pack of parasites ever hired in Joplin. Don't you ever say I left because my spouse was transferred. And this blog isn't where the liars and cowards are.
The truth is already coming out about all the illegal, immoral, and irresponsible actions taken in the last few years. I will be more than happy to testify about the actions of that building full of frauds.
It must be getting close to time to play Truth AND Consequences. Consequences is a relatively new word in Joplin, but the students can learn it from watching it in a real-world setting.
It's been a while since I had high school English. You know, back when the kids read books so they could learn by example, so correct me if I'm wrong about this. Didn't Dante save his lowest ring of Hell for corrupt politicians and civic leaders? Yes, ranked them lower than rapists and murderers. Because if the people at the top have no standards, then all chaos will occur and whole communities and civilizations will collapse. Is our district a microcosm of Dante's lesson? It sure feels like Hell a lot of the time.
I didn't leave because my spouse moved. More lies.
Looks like we are down 100 whiners.
I bet that none of you will be missed much.
Retiring is why I officially left but that doesn't mean much. I retired because the job became unbearable after decades of good work. If that kind of dedication makes me a whiner, then I'm proud to be one.
11:46--
You'd be a great candidate for an administrative position under the Huff and Besendorfer reign, if you're not one already.
That kind of attitude is why people left and will continue to do so.
7:00-
I think we saw just this week what happens to decrepit old buildings. They collapse and make a horrible mess for others to clean up. Poor structure can't be disguised for long with cheap decoration, can it. The house of cards is about to fall.
Are you kidding me! Is he that out of touch ...oh, my, he can't even look in the camera because he knows he is lying
I suppose there might be another "hiring opportunity" at the Middle School.
If being a whiner means caring about the direction your school is headed and taking it personally when you hear of the corrupt leadership we have at our administration building, then I will wear that badge proudly. Get out of Joplin Bessie and Huff. You are ruining my school- I work here, I live here, and I went to school here.
Retirement and spouses moving is why 100 Joplin teachers left? Really? Huff, why don't you get off your high horse at Modot, err, newly remodeled building, and join the ranks of your faculty. You wouldn't last very long, though- lack of power in your classroom wouldn't suit your style. No silencing the masses. No discipline. Yep, I would LOVE to see you spend a week at each school doing the jobs of every type of staff member. Wear thick skin, though- crying won't get you very far!
Can't hardly wait for our "Mandatory" opening ceremonies of listening to the lies about how great our district is. Just a warning though, if CJ cries at this one I will puke. What a fake.
I wonder if Huff and Bess ever regret having opened up this fine kettle of fish. In their zeal to discredit Mr. Turner on trumped up charges, they've opened up Pandora's box and all of the dirty little secrets and furies are going to be released for the whole world to see.
You can't save this situation with more lies. I bet Mexico is looking like a good place to live for more than one person in the MODOT building. You reap what you sow.
I got my welcome back letter today. Sorry, huff. I don't wish to travel with you where you're headed. But thanks for finally acknowledging that we exist. Too little. Way too late.
Oh, where to begin. If you can't leave because your husband didn't get that new job and you can't handle another year doing what you know isn't right, you just keep on keeping on. Other districts are shying away from hiring people who have been in Joplin. I want to work with kids. I don't want to fear walking in the doors of my biilding every morning. My kids love me and I them but admin is making life miserable. Kids are scared because of lack of disapline, so are teachers. Let's reward the behaviors and not recognize those who do right daily. What happened to honor roll? And special events for those that accomplish what is asked. I say asked becaise we aren't allowed to expect them to do anything any more.
Let's not forget who is really responsible for the problems in the Joplin Schools. Yes, the charges against Mr. Turner were ridiculous, but seven board members, knowing they were ending his teaching career, voted to fire him. Nothing was done to Huff or the others who had no difficulty ruining a man's career and reputation because he embarassed CJ Huff by accurately portraying him as a narcissistic empty suit in No Child Left Alive. Fortunately for Mr. Turner, he lives in a community that has long since realized that there is no substance to CJ Huff and Mr. Turner is a man of great substance. I look forward to Mr. Turner's new venture and I look forward to the day CJ's wife gets a job out of town so that we will have seen the last of the biggest embarassment to ever hit this town. CJ Huff is not the hero of the Joplin Tornado. He is the con artist and opportunist who has cashed in on the Joplin tornado.
This was Huff's evaluation year. Let's review: We are on the very edge of being unaccredited. If we are accredited, it will be a result of some dubious number massaging. We have a record teacher turnover. The district is operating in a deficit budget, but the spending for everything but classroom material (excluding technology, of course) goes on unchecked. The public opinion of the district does not reflect a satisfied patronage. Distrust runs rampantly, and a teacher's reputation was wantonly destroyed in order to protect the corrupt leadership of the district. Cronyism continues unabated. And yet, Huff is rehired. 7-0, I would guess.
The Board has mistakenly applied the aphorism, "United we stand, divided we fall." It's perfectly acceptable for school boards to not vote unanimously. If the vote is so perpetually going to be 7-0, it might as well be 1-0. It will be April before the issue of the Board can be addressed, but there's nothing to keep the rest of us from continuing to point out the issues that are destroying the district. It truly is a civic duty to protect the public entities that maintain our civilization, particularly those that concern our most vulnerable citizens, our children. Do not let them become the latest victims of greed, corruption, ambition, and egotism. Voice your concerns and provide evidence, if you have it, of wrongdoings. It's your duty.
From "Hero" to "Zero" in a few short years is standard operating procedure for the "New Age" fake it till you make crowd.
It should concern everyone in Joplin that the district is perilously close to being unaccredited.
What should concern Joplin more is that the whole 4 state area knows!
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