Ten years ago today: C. J. Huff "retires, $300,000 + buyout package

Ten years ago today, C. J. Huff "retired" as Joplin R-8 superintendent.

I broke the story on the Turner Report. Later that day, the following news release came from the district:

During a gathering with principals and administrators this morning and in a letter to staff, Dr. C.J. Huff announced his plans to retire from Joplin Schools effective June 30, 2015.

"This has been a difficult decision for me to make," Dr. Huff said. "But, it's time for me to step aside based on two primary factors. First, I love my family dearly and have missed them greatly. They miss me too. It’s time to be a dad and husband again. Second, I’ve had many opportunities in recent months to visit with my principals, as well as with many, many teachers and support staff. It is crystal clear, Joplin Schools is on the right track. I've seen amazing work going on in classrooms and buildings across our district, and I will leave knowing that our kids and our community's future are in good hands. I am proud and honored to have worked with this team for the last seven years."

Dr. Huff began his career with Joplin Schools in 2008. During his tenure, the district has experienced more than $325 million in construction projects and facility improvements. These include the completion of three new middle schools and the reconstruction of several schools, including two elementary schools, a middle school, a high school and a technical school, after half of the school district was damaged or destroyed in the May 2011 tornado. In addition, renovations have been completed at nearly every school in the district and thirteen community safe rooms have been constructed across the district with a final safe room scheduled for completion in October 2015.

Upon his arrival to Joplin Schools, Dr. Huff was tasked with improving a dismal graduation rate. In 2008, the graduation rate at Joplin Schools was 73.3%. That rate has improved to 87.5%. Dr. Huff has also led the district through a devastating natural disaster - the costliest tornado in the nation's history, as well as the worst economic disaster since the great depression and the controversial and most significant national education reform movement in decades. Dr. Huff has served 19 years in the education field as a teacher, principal and superintendent.

“We have seen a great deal of change over the last eight years, and that has taken strong and dedicated leadership," said Board of Education President Jeff Koch. "Operating at a sustained peak for such a long period of time can make the work/life balance unequal. We will continue to draw on Dr. Huff’s expertise over the coming months and know that with a steady foundation, there can be a smooth transition. We appreciate Dr. Huff’s guidance through many challenges and accomplishments and wish him the very best in the future."

By the time the one-year anniversary of Huff's "retirement" arrived, the Turner Report had already confirmed that the exact wording of that news release was part of the deal made between the board and Huff.

Early on the morning of his announcement, Huff sent the following e-mail to employees:

Last night I spent two hours staring at a blank piece of paper trying to figure out what to say to the most amazing group of people I’ve ever had the privilege of serving. Over the next few days, the rumor mill is going to fire up. We’ve seen it time and again. I want you to hear from me first these words that I have so struggled to find up to this point. In short, it’s time for me to step aside.

At the Board meeting Tuesday night, I submitted my retirement letter to Joplin Schools Board of Education effective June 30. I was not fired, disciplined, given an ultimatum, or asked to resign. This was my decision, and one that I have been considering for the last several months based on two primary factors. First, I love my family dearly and have missed them greatly. They miss me too. It’s time to be a dad and husband again. Second, I’ve had many opportunities in recent months to visit with my principals, as well as many, many teachers and support staff. It is crystal clear, Joplin Schools is on the right track, and, without question, you’ve got this.

Over the last seven years, I have been witness to unprecedented acts of determination, compassion, faith and love…not only for our children, but also for one another. To say the last four years have taken a heavy toll on all of us would be an understatement. We’ve been through a lot together. I can’t imagine a school district anywhere in this great nation that has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. You stayed the course. You never waivered in your commitment to the children of Joplin Schools. That has been your focus…no matter what.

Simultaneously we have faced the most costly tornado in our nation’s history, the worst economic disaster since the great depression, and the most significant AND arguably the most controversial national education reform movement in decades. It was no small task by any measure, and the bottom line is we got through it together.

I’d ask that you t ask that you take a step back this summer, take a deep breath, and look around you. What we have done together can never be taken away. Nor can what you have done individually - the sacrifices you have made, your collective commitment to excellence under extreme circumstances, your willingness to take risks, your patience, your understanding…always hopeful, always looking ahead, striding towards the finish line of a recovery effort that has been a marathon at a sprint pace. We’ve crossed that finish line.

More important than the construction we have all endured that has resulted in many beautiful buildings and additions is the programming we have put in place. The joining together of JHS/FTC and the unique programming opportunities is truly a one-of-a-kind learning experience for our kids. This along with the strong partnerships we have created within our community ensures the long-term continued progress towards our vision of college, career, and civic ready graduates. From a systems standpoint, everything (and I do mean everything) from the great work of our support staff, to the work of our Parents As Teachers program, to our preschool, through the work of our elementary and middle schools is lined up with our expected outcomes for our graduates. I’ve seen it first hand. What you have done and are doing is amazing.

Karen Evans, Joplin Schools 2015 Teacher of the Year, sent me an email yesterday that says in a two sentences what it has taken me this long to articulate (Karen…forgive me, but it’s worth sharing).

“When you look back over the last four years, you can see how all the changes to our district, good and bad, are all working towards the good. I always remember that the hardest things I go through result in the best thing that ever happened to me.”

– Karen Evans, 2nd Grade at Kelsey Norman

I think we would all agree these are wise words and a good reminder to us all. To my Joplin Schools family, I want you to know that, as an educator, you have all been the best thing that has ever happened to me. In closing, I love you all. Thank you for the many words of encouragement, the hand written notes, emails, phone calls, etc. We propped each other up when we could have easily fallen apart. My family and I are committed to Joplin. My children attend the best schools in the country and are taught by the best educators in the world. I can assure you I will be there every step of the way cheering you on.

Stay the course.
CJ

The June 1 Turner Report made it clear what a bunch of nonsense the statements by the school and Huff were. I posted two articles that day, beginning with the one that revealed just how much Huff was being paid to "retire."

C. J. Huff's quarter of a million buyout package

So much for C. J. Huff's "noble" decision to be a husband and father.

That decision came at a price of $262,912.50, a year and a half's salary, plus $50,000 in consulting fees to help the incoming superintendent.

The decision was made on a 4-2 vote with Board President Jeff Koch, Mike Landis, Randy Steele, and Lynda Banwart approving the payoff, while Debbie Fort and Jennifer Martucci voted against it.

C. J. Huff recommendation letter: Joplin is "unengaged, apathetic community"

C. J. Huff is not only leaving the Joplin R-8 School District with $262K, plus a $50,000 consulting fee, but the separation agreement calls for the district to provide Huff with a glowing letter of recommendation,

And not just any letter of recommendation, but one that was provided by Huff and once again praises his "heroism' following the May 22, 2011, Joplin Tornado and refers to Joplin as an "unengaged, apathetic community."

"The district will provide to Superintendent, within seven days after the revocation period in paragraph 13 has passed, a letter of recommendation signed by the school board president in the form set out as Exhibit B." (The letter is shown in the photo accompanying this post and can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The letter reads as follows:

To whom it may concern,

I am honored to have this opportunity to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of the Joplin Schools Board of Education for Dr. C. J. Huff. I have known Dr. Huff since his arrival in Joplin in July of 2008.

When Dr. Huff was hired as the superintendent of schools by the Board of Education, he was hired tackle several challenges the District had yet to overcome. The primary issues included an unacceptable graduation rate that hovered between 72 and 75 percent and an unengaged, apathetic community that was not intimately involved in the life of our schools. Within a few short years, Dr. Huff successfully tackled both challenges through the development of a comprehensive dropout prevention program resulting in graduates rates exceeding 86 percent, as well as a nationally recognized community engagement framework known as Bright Futures that has been replicated by 35 communities in seven states across the country.

Unfortunately on May 22, 2011, Dr. Huff was suddenly thrust into the national spotlight as a part of the recovery effort following the most costly tornado in our nation's history. On that day, Joplin Schools lost seven students, one staff member, and six school buildings. Four other school buildings sustained damage. Over the course of 87 days, Dr. Huff led his team and the community through an amazing recovery effort resulting in the scheduled opening of school on August 17, 2011.

Through that incredibly challenging time, his focus on what was best for our children, our families, our teachers, and our community did not waiver (sic). His commitment to the rebuilding effort and the personal sacrifices he has made to see our school community through this unimaginable disaster has resulted in state of the art school facilities for our children, but more importantly, 21st Century academic programming that has been recognized as a model of innovation for the state and national level, as well.

It is without hesitation Joplin Schools Board of Education recommends Dr. C. J. Huff for a position in your organization. He has consistently demonstrated he is a capable leader and a man of commitment, character, and integrity.