Whoa whoa whoa, slow down here... Donovan says,

"I don’t think there is a better person to get us through this down time. He is the best for Collier County. He is the best candidate I could have brought here. He has brought down costs, he has controlled spending and he has increased achievements in reading and math.”

FIRST- YOU brought him here? I was under the impression that this was a school board decision? Self-implication?

SECOND- Thompson has been here since August, and thusly, it's hard to say he has single-handedly raised anything except the tension level across the county and the number of teachers, principals, and staff being fired or resigning. In addition, to my knowledge, FCAT results are released in late MAY, so how could we know that "he" has raised anything?

Repeat after me... "duh?"

I am so gravely disappointed. Personal agendas and opportunistic behavior have no place in education. Don't even GET me started on the intention to bring in principals from Rockford.

AMEN TEACHINDASUN!!!

Welcome to Rockford by the Sea, a result of carpetbagging.

Perhaps what Mr. Donovan means is that of all the candidates interviewed, Dr. Thompson was the best. And, although any credit for rising tests scores should go to the teachers and students, I will credit Dr. Thompson because it might mean I'm not such an bottomhat.

Considering there were no interviews even that statement wouldn't be true.

What are the legalities of interviewing or not interviewing for the top spot in a school system?

Changing horses in the middle of a raging river was not a good idea, Mr. Donovan. Turning over Naples' public schools to the "professionals from Rockford" is treason.

So, principals, should we bear the oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune?

Or by opposing, end them?

The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes only goes so far.

You are courting disaster with your smug self-righteousness.

And you in the school community who are complicit with your silence are grievously erring by allowing your fears to overwhelm you.

teachindasun, youdaman!

Every time Donovan opens his mouth he displays his complete incompetence and arrogance. If he truly cared about CCPS he would resign his position so a replacement could be elected in November. I’m sure his ego and his advanced degrees are telling him how great he doing so I highly doubt that will happen. I can only hope. Has anyone noticed? When Donovan opens his mouth, can you see light coming in from his ears? I’ll have to watch for that at the meeting today.

idiots - both of them, all of them - all double talk with smoke and mirrors - dixie chix talk - more double talk - all of them are a bunch of bozos - how embarassing to be them - how sad for the students and members of this community who have a brain - Mr. Donovan - you would be best suited to zip it sir

what's Steve gonna do when he is no longer on the school board, loses all his " power" and becomes just a run of the mill commoner like the rest of us? I don't see a political career in his future ( even though I think he does).

"with no agenda, Thompson and Donovan held the floor as community members asked them questions"
Oh, there's an agenda, there's always been an agenda!!!
"He is the best candidate I could have brought here."
Me and I are Steves 2 favorite words. Plus, Abbott and Calabrese now thank him for admitting it was him that did the dastardly deed in the dark of night.
;-)

Of course, it takes a well-informed person like me to bring this group of bloggers back to reality. Let's talk about "agenda's." Teachers only care about one thing, Money, Money, Money. Oh wait, there is something else teachers care about, placing the blame for their problems on everyone and everything else, besides themselves. Show me just one teacher that cares about the education of the county's students and I might change my mind. Problem is, there is none.

The condition of this School Board has been out of control for so long it is now seen as "the norm".
Both ends of the issues need to find a way to meet in the center, let reality sink in Dennis L. Thompson is not going anywhere!
Many of the comments concerning Steve Donavan are totally true, sad fact is WE CREATED THE MONSTER!
People like RadioNews with the type of comments in #14 simply need to be ignored. Some might have perfect spelling and grammer but no ability to think! Whatever the profession both GOOD and BAD will always exist, to group everyone together.....well.......ignorant seems to be a fitting word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am bothered by the number of outsiders coming in however, once again we created the MONSTER! So many wanted to believe all we needed to do was replace Ray Baker and "all would be well with the world" well..............ignorant seems to be a fitting word!!!!!!!!!
Now for those of us who actually care it is time to go to work and deal with the mess WE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, teach let's ignore all the opinions that we do not agree with. Let's burn all the books we don't like reading. Let's get rid of all the people that are not the same color and creed as us. Spoken like a true teacher, I am sure you ignore your students as well.

RadioNews quote: "Show me just one teacher that cares about the education of the county's students and I might change my mind. Problem is, there is none."

Where are you getting your info on that? I'm not a teacher nor do I have any students in CCPS...but That is a pretty blasteding indictment.

I hope you are not just another kid who was picked on that blames your teacher.

Can you back up...and I quote YOU again, "Problem is, there is none."...that not one teacher in Collier County cares?

Or are you just another disgruntled liberal that has to revert to name calling and outlandish accusations and proclaimations?

Thompson comes from a military background. He knows the value of surrounding himself with loyal troops who will do what they are told to do with no questions asked. If in battle, your leader tells you to " take that hill", that's what you do- take the hill even if it costs you your life! Thompson will replace the majority of vacancies at the admin level with loyal followers from Rockford. It will be interesting to see the percentage of vacancies that are filled with people from Rockford!
Dr. Bill Gray has his hurricane predictions; I have mine- Dr. "T" and his 2 Chicks will NOT be here for the start of the 2009- 2010 school year!

Why yes I can, "back it up!" Have just one teacher say they care more about teaching than the money, just one and I might change my mind. By the way Naples High, Class of 74, back when teachers were teachers and not greedy whiners. Oh, and a Republican as well!

I repeat, with some the only thing that works is to ignore! Weak minded people can not deal with being ignored! Do not honor selective ignorance, my proof being I am sure RadioNews will respond to this.........read what RadioNews responds with...........that will prove my point!

There is not a bus short enough for Radio.

Donovan is a dunce - and watch as the Rockford Files will continue with the addition of the next principal of Barron Collier coming from Rockford, and his wife is going to Lely High School as the VP.

Overall - anyone in working for Collier County Public Schools should be getting certifcations for other states to get out of this mess in Collier County & Florida that's only going to steamroll.

It's going to get even worse...

When the November vote allows the ability for taxpayers to pay no property taxes that go to schools - MAJOR changes will be necessary to replace the statewide 16 billion dollar shortfall. All those Grandmas who no longer have children attending school will be voting for more money in their bank account and not for educating our children.

Ray Baker will be glad as he still collects his large paycheck and doesn't have to eliminate his friends and extended family he's accumulated over the last 30 plus years in local education.

Thompson is arrogant, and will have no problem continuing to drop the guillotine on your neighbors that have dedicated their life to education in our community.

AND an important sidenote - our community needs to have a direct say-so as who will be school superintendent - give us the powers to vote for that position, and take the powers away from these tempermental, silly school board members.

If the public perceives the superintendent isn't doing their job, the public should be able to vote them out. Not leave it to a bunch of turkeys with political aspirations and whimsical convictions.

Post #14: 4 kids (mine) X 12 years = 48 caring and professional teachers in the life of my family. I have 4 VERY successful kids out of CCPS, and although their father and I can pat ourselves on the back for that, so can the teachers of CCPS; we didn't do it alone! Thanks to all of you that helped me shape my kids into the wonderful, productive, well-educated, young men that they are today. Radio, they are a testament to the fallacy of your contention.

Well my work is done here for today, have fun bashing and blaming while I sit back, read, and laugh!

I like Thompson, and can't wait to see what he's going to do. I am looking forward to the big mix up, and think the influx of his family members and former employees into this school system is just what CCPS needs. It's a smart move - put key people who you can trust into these positions and then he can make the decisions he wants WITHOUT opposition. If that doesn't work, at least they have enjoyed the winter.

Radio,
You are driving the bus brother. What you see here is the vocal minority. Aren't these people supposed to be teaching? Why are they in the blogs this morning?

RadioNews,

I wish all liberals wwere as ignorant and short sighted as you...Oh wait they are.

Quote radionews, "Have just one teacher say they care more about teaching than the money, just one and I might change my mind."

Done. My neighbor is a teacher, retired businessman, with more money than I could make in 2 careers.

But he chooses to spend his retirement everyday "helping his students do more with their lives"...his words not mine.

Radionews' quote, "Have just one teacher say they care more about teaching than the money, just one and I might change my mind."

Well there's one of what I'm sure are many more. Good to see you can admit when you're wrong Radionews. And we all accept your appology.

Now if we could just get more liberals to see the light.

PS. I'm sure radionews will respond, because liberals can't keep their ignorant one-sided opinions to themselves...even if they have already promised to do so above.

"Teachers only care about one thing, Money, Money, Money."

That obviously can't be true, considering they make horrible pay for all the crap they put up with.

Everyone on here seems to keep talking about "outsiders." Why is this? WHat is so wrong with bringing in a fresh face with fresh ideas? WHy is evryone so opposed and rigid in their beliefs that only people who were born and bred in Naples should be allowed to hold important positions? This seems close-minded to me. Open your views and let's all try to listen instead of rolling your eyes and huffing like an elementary school child everytime someone, not born and bred in Naples, shares their ideas on how to better the school system and community.

#30 what crap are they putting up with and from whom? The students or because they didnt get the raise they wanted?

If teachers had any legal rights to the raise they are demanding, they would have it by now. magistrates ruled against it..its done.

Everyone has an agenda, admin does as do teachers. Its about the money and for anyone to claim otherwise is ridiculous because its plain to see. I dont blame anyone for fighting for more. Cant hurt to try I suppose, but what gets me about it is the teachers dont seem to know when enough is enough. Continuing to fight is not getting them anywhere good thats for sure.

If Thompson would have given the teachers the raise they wanted he would be the golden boy now. He didnt so he is mud. Its that simple.

Whats old is that every move the board makes or Thompson makes is slandered and put down and all brought back to the teachers plight.

It has nothing to do with whether people support one side or the other..its just so transparent.

Until the teachers get their raise there will be no peace, stirring of the pot will continue, tensions will escalate, personal attacks will continue, morale will sink lower on all sides.

It never ceases to amaze me how accepted it is on here for people to personally attack Admin and the board, the name calling and what some think of as cute and sarcastic little nicknames, yet let someone call a teacher a name or even insuate they arent as dedicated as they want us to believe and feathers get ruffled instantly yet in their ruffled posts they think nothing of the insults they are so liberal with towards others.

We all know what thats called.

Response to #31........... It gets real old having people shoving down our throat how it is done up north! Like us stupid South Florida people should kiss everyones ring (haha) that shows up teaching us the right way to do things.
At times it might sound rude and I honestly apologize however those of us that have been around a while tend to be thankful for the north lanes on 75!

"Show me just one teacher that cares about the education of the county's students and I might change my mind. Problem is, there is none."

I do, and so do several of my teacher friends. AND I DON'T care about the money. I spend quite a bit on my class, and I enjoy it!

Now will you please go away, and take your "holier than thou" attitude with you.
You are not all that.

You don't know 1/8 of what you profess to know.

Oh, and Steve, how can you change your mind when you don't use the one you originally have?

SERIOUSLY.

Firefly, I am a student. I think I would know better than you. My teachers put up with a lot of incredibly immature students that parents throw into schools to be babysat.

My teachers reach out to students like this, help shape them into young adults that will hopefully go somewhere with their lives.

I can't speak for other schools, but I will back my school and my teachers.

They are impressive, and I applaud them.

Ok, I'll bite. I'm a product of both worlds. Southwest Florida and New England. Even I have to say that the schools in the north east are better than they are down here. They were when I was in school and they are to this day. All I can say is focusing less on policits and more on the students would benefit all.

politics!

The School Board needs to stop sending Donovan out to speak in public. He is the most inarticulate speaker I have ever heard. It is time for him to BE QUIET!!!!!

RochnFla- check out Newsweek's recent list of the top high schools in America- Barron Collier is ranked in the top 2%! Not too bad! We also offer over 24 AP courses here at BCHS! No wonder all the private school kids end up enrolling here!

#35 I commend you for your love and respect for your teachers, thats as it should be. You are there to learn and they are there to teach you.

I too had teachers I loved and respected when I was in High School. I have been where you are. Hopefully one day you will be where I am too. Out of High School , past University , career person,taxpayer, as well as the parent of a student who also loves most of his teachers and treats them all with respect.

I can appreciate your passion , but there is more involved in giving teachers raises than the sad fact that they have to put up with "crap" from ill behaved students.

Radio.....You are by far the most pathetic one!! For your information sir, 99.9% of ALL the teachers here in Collier love ALL their students and care a great deal whether they make it or not!! Many of these teachers spend their own money and time outside of school getting their classrooms stocked and ready for a productive school year!! You sure as hell don't see these school board members or "Thompson's clan" putting up any of their money they are making to better the learning experience for our children do you??!! I have many many friends, including both myself and my mother who are teachers here in collier county!! My suggestion to you Radio, is keep your mouth shut until you ACTUALLY know what the hell is going on!!! Oh and by the way, Radio.... I can say I know at least 40 teachers who care more about their students, then the money!! It's the simple fact that all of these teachers deserve a fair salary!! It has nothing to do with how they feel about their students !!! You are a very ignorant person Radio...

DONODUMB continues to display his 8th grade education.

Thompson is the puppet master and Donodumb needs to sit on Denny's knee. And now we hear Denny the fraud is going to bring down some of his Rockford fools and make them Principals.

Order of magnitude: First stop Thompson from getting his automatic extension. Second is vote out Linda/Charlie from office. Third: Vote out Donodumb, Tiny Calabrese, and just because we can, Cathy and Pat need to go as well.

Can't wait to hear later today how many millions these idiots cost us taxpayers because they couldn't wait a few months to get rid of Baker and bring down the Fraud.

Perhaps radionews is the love child of joespizza and fatladysings.

wow Radio, you certainly riled them up! Your comments are more commented on than the article itself!

#40 wow, your rant amazes me. Thank goodness I know its not representative of all the teachers in this county or I would be scared.

Your rant isnt doing anyone any favors least of all the the public who isnt quite on board with you yet.

I hope you arent teaching kids about freedom of speech because you obviously forgot what it is. It doesnt only apply to your rants you know.
I also hope you arent an English teacher.

Isn't it great!
It is sure nice that NDN gives teachers and students something to do during the school day. BTW, I support the good teachers too. Having been a teacher myself, I understand burnout and why these people feel the need to blow off steam. They are frustrated when it doesn't seem they are making a difference. The truly good, respected teachers won't be blogging here. Thompson is closing in on these bad apples and they will soon be complaining here about not having a job. Firefly, Post #32 is right on target.

"Show me just one teacher that cares about the education of the county's students and I might change my mind. Problem is, there is none."
Radio

Are you involved in the CCPS or do you have children in the system? If you do you would know that your statement is completely untrue. I will list a few teachers for you that do care. I am sure that there are many others as well.
Tish Kubacki
Marsha Bergquist
Karen Purvis
Leigh Greco
Melinda Mansfield
Jonas Rockhold
Allison Smith
Diana Harmon
Tara Bounamici
Harold Lawson
Milagros Lee
Dale Hutcherson
Christine Newton

Pardon my rambiling.....

The real question that I would ask is why did they make all the deans and ap's reapply for their job, put them through an interview process and than rank them according to their talents and than allow the principals to hire whoever they wanted whether or not the met the criteria of the district wide interviews, and alot of the new hires have little to no experience in administration.
Why tell two schools that they cannot rezone because it is not the right time but than bus kids 10 miles away to an overcrowded school when they can spit out their window and hit a closer high school.
This district has become a joke, it has lost what little respect it once held and our school board is a joke. Even if clueless is ousted in novemeber, save yourself some time and don't apply, we will probably be going through this all over again. I am all for a publicly elected super.

I'm a teacher, I love teaching, more money would be nice, better benefits would be great, but regardless of all those things I love what I do.

Just reread the article.......it doesn't mention anything about teachers salaries.
Thought maybe I missed something.
;-)

lots of complaints from lots of people. I hope you aren't the same ones that voted linda Abbott in? There will be an election this fall, if you are unhappy, show it with your vote. Elect one of the people that oppose Dr. Thompsons plan to eradicate local teachers and their programs. not everyone goes to school for math, some go for the electives.

Dr thompson "has a plan"...some bad people in world War II had a plan also. many lives changed then, will many change now?

Insinuating Hitler or Stalin into the same sentence with Thompson has to hit the tops for the most whackiest and insane post yet!
wow some of you sure digress!

Hey Radioidiot: I dare you to walk into any school spouting that crap. The kids will be the ones to tell you who cares about them. Parents won't be the first words out of their mouths; most likely it will be teachers. You're so pathetic.

Wow, 7 hours later and the hits keep on coming! Now that the School Board is taking the Baker thing to trial, and the teachers salary decision is coming up on Friday, I am sure the "cry-babys" are lining up for Baa-baa time!

You know, Radio.... when you care more about the job and don't care about that money, it's called "charity work". Anyone with a brain who lives in Naples HAS to worry about the money.

There are Golden Eagles, those who want to be Golden Eagles, and a few who the Golden Eagles wouldn't claim. You shouldn't have mentioned your alma mater. For shame....

why does anyone bother to waste precious time even responding to radionews - he is self-promoting and it is not worth engaging in his game.

I do not like Dennis Thompson because he brutally harassed a successful teacher in Rockford with lawsuits.

She was using a reading program which resulted in great success for her students
which may or may not work for everyone,
but was working for her and her students.

For her great success, she was fired
by Thompson, over the objections
of many parents.

This tells me: Dr. Thompson, who never
spent 5 minutes teaching in a K-12
classroom, knows absolutely nothing about running a K-12 school district.

Here is a compilation of articles about this matter, though it seems to me they forgot to include the right's Thomas B, Fordham Foundation article, which also strongly criticized Thompson.

Thompson is the only superintendent with a national reputation of disgrace. But, CCPS hired him, without competition, and at a higher salary.

Now, Dr. Thompson gets to collect his retirement pension from the army, as well as $200K plus, without knowing a thing about teaching in K-12 classrooms.

The first thing any school board in this country should do, if it cared at all about students, is to pass procedures for hiring a superintendent to ensure this tragedy does not happen again.

Step #1 in procedures: Take a look at what other school districts do, as many require 3 years K-12 teaching experience before they will eve look at a superintendent's application.

Dr. Thompson has ZERO years teaching experience in K-12, ZERO months, and ZERO days.

Thanks, CCPS School Board. I do not look forward to reading about the next Tiffany Parker lawsuit in this district, all because, as Dr. Thompson put it, she wouldn't "obey" and change her success in one reading program to his reading program, which, by the way, is a terrible program for many students. (And, is used widely in this district, which has terrible reading scores in comparison to other districts in this state with far less money.)

http://www.parentadvocates.org/index....
.

Charts showing the success of a teacher who used the direct instruction reading program in Rockford as compared with other Rockford students. The direct instruction program was then forbidden by newly hired Thompson:

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?...

And, from the Thomas B Fordham Foundation, also strongly criticizing Thompson:

http://www.fordhamfoundation.org/FOUN...

Who’s in charge?

Two related stories this week touch on issues of school leadership and reform, in particular, who's in charge of setting school policy and who should be. In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) school district, Superintendent James Pughsley wants principals to have the flexibility and autonomy to run their schools as they see fit. Toward that end, he hopes to institute a new plan to draw stronger leaders to struggling schools by offering incentives—in the form of pay and increased autonomy—to take on these high-risk positions. According to the Charlotte Observer, the district would use "national headhunters and hefty signing and retention bonuses to recruit principals for high-poverty schools" and would give these new school leaders the flexibility to replace a "high percentage" of the staff, by firing ineffective teachers or transferring "decent teachers" who aren't succeeding in that type of school. In addition, the plan would offer incentives to teachers who choose to work in these schools. By contrast, in Rockford, Illinois, Superintendent Dennis Thompson seems hell-bent on consolidating power for himself, rather than affording successful principals the freedom to set policy for their schools. Specifically, he decided to transfer Tiffany Parker, the principal at an elementary school with a student body that is 80 percent nonwhite and 85 percent poor, because she dared use "direct instruction" and phonics instead of the district's mandated "balanced literacy" approach to teaching reading. Never mind that, on a reading test, Parker's third graders trailed only those third graders from a district school for the gifted, or that parents and students welcomed Parker's approach. According to Samuel Freedman, "instead of serving as beacons for what is possible, the school and its principal have been portrayed as impediments to progress." In fact, Thompson admits that "this is not a curriculum issue along with [Parker]. It is a leadership issue. Good leaders need to be good followers first." Read that sentence again and ask yourself: is this the thinking we want from the top of our school systems?

"A fight over reading instruction in a district weary of change," by Samuel Freedman, New York Times, February 2, 2005

It's too bad no one who writes education articles for the local newspaper in this town knows how to do research on a computer, no on on the school board knows how to do research on a computer, and the only one who bothers to find out anything of value about this new superintendent is me, an unemployed teacher in this district, and unemployed for more than ten years.

My lack of a criminal background, my 4.0 GPA, and
my Masters degree in elementary ed,
along with years of successful teaching as a sub
for students in this district, and my outstanding personal references, and outstanding teaching references, are just not enough to warrant an interview for me in this town.

I am now losing my home over this.

The onlyu thing I don't have is an internship in primary grades, which was denied to me, because here in Collier, when I was at USF in Ft Myers, the CCPS "ran out of certified teachers to supervise student interns."

So, I have the wrong grade level internships.

And, thus - I am ineligible for an interview since 1997.

All my qualifications mean nothing here.

I am tired of watching the idiots who run this district and do the hiring.

Very tired of it.

PS This is the SECOND home I have lost over this.

My savings and my parents simply do not last forever.

Thanks, Naples Daily News, for your decade-old refusal to ever do a real investigative news story on what actually goes on in this school district.

OH well flcertifiedteacher, 7/11 is hiring. At least you will know how to make change. There are cut-backs all over, I am sorry, but like the rest of us you will have to suck it up for now!

nice work, flcertified. My friend knows the woman you are talking about (that was fired) and it was a HUGE deal. He is a true piece of work. I KNOW FOR A FACT he's a basal Q/A sort of mind. He has no idea what teaching is about. The board, abbott mostly, wanted this yahoo many, many years ago and she finally got what she wanted. Now she will be gone, but we still have this guy leading the district and the children will be the ones that suffer. That makes me sick to my stomach.

I MUST respond to flcertifiedteacher!!!! I taught in CCPS for 10 years! I now teach for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District here in North Carolina. First of all, there is a NEW superintendent as of LAST year, and his name is Peter Gorman. He is awesome. Check out the Charlotte Observer article on the front page regarding tonight's Board meeting by going to charlotte.com

I know many teachers who are trying to leave CCPS and a few who will probably end up here. This District, (CMS) is one of the larger urban districts with plans for 58 schools to be built over the next 10 years. Growth and opportunity are plentiful.

All of my years of experience transferred, I received a signing bonus of 3k, a 5% raise AND my experience step. For the 08/09 school year we will receive a 5% raise, and experience step increase. Health benefits are Blue Cross and Blue Shiled of North carolina AND health insurance is provided at retirement unlike in Florida.

Charlotte is one of three cities in the nation to see property values RISE this quarter. Gas is 20 cents less per gallon than Naples and my home here which I paid 150k for is much nicer than my Lely home that I sold for 380K with a 180k profit. (Was lucky)

I have been very impressed with this District and it's leadership. I just returned from visiting my parents in Naples, and had a great time being a visitor. Being only 37, I'll move back to Naples when I retire in 19 years.

Personally, I would be embarassed to work for CCPS at this time. But, I certainly came to Charlotte qualified and experienced. I was hired within 15 minutes at the District job fair last April for this current school year.

CCPS teachers would be welcomed here with all the professional development, technology background, and experience.

OH well flcertifiedteacher, 7/11 is hiring. At least you will know how to make change. There are cut-backs all over, I am sorry, but like the rest of us you will have to suck it up for now!
-------
Yeah, well, in that case: USF and all colleges of education in Florida should clearly state to 2nd career job changers who want to help kids by becoming elementary teachers that MAYBE you will get your supervised teaching internship as required by your degree. MAYBE yes and MAYBE no.

You see, it's really all a crap shoot, when you go to a college of education. But I didn't know that, and I didn't see that stated anywhere in the student guides.

I did not know that paying my tuition money, going to grad school for three years fulltime, plus summers, to become a certified teacher would lead to 100% unemployment for me in this county because Collier does not see itself as having any onbligation to working with USF, and apparently, USF does not dare ask the district silly things like "Do you have enough certified supervising classroom teachers for our interns/" No, it's like walking into Vegas, in a crap shoot. Maybe yes, but maybe no in terms of you getting what the degree requires.

And, no, I wasn 't counting on 10 years of being ineligible for interviews.

I think CCPS is an embarassment. And, I won't say it detroyed my life, but I do tell people what happened to me, especially if they are thinking of becoming a new teacher in their 30's like I was.

You can lose your home, your ability to make a living, and everything else because of the uncaring BS attitude this district and others have toward new teachers.

I guess it's the same attitude they have toward kids who get left behind, too.

Thanks for all your comments. And, as for NC, maybe yes, maybe no. I really have soured on teaching. Even though I was the best in my class, and no, I am not bragging. It is just a fact.

Too bad it didn't matter to anyone in this district in charge of hiring.

Wow,
It seems someone had their wheaties pi**ed in. Thank GOD almighty that this "teacher" does not have contact with our children. It appears that like many people who are highly educated, some have never grasped the reality and the absolute gravity of life. In actuality, there are always two sides to every story. Even the media plays one side, then the next to stir the readers, and sell the ads. Remember that because certified is anonymous, we don't know who is trying desperately to stir the pot here. I can see after the above diatribe, that the district's hiring decisions are just.

The article was originally posted last evening right after the meeting with the Civic Association. I have been watching the responses since that time.
I was at that meeting. I saw how Thompson can speak well, which is in circles. And for Donovan, that is the saddest case of lack of knowledge and I question “who the heck voted for this guy”. The man almost put himself to sleep while talking.
Sad, sad, and sadder.
I watched Thompson demean a substitute teacher on several occasions. The teacher was in front row, right in front of Thompson. Thompson went directly in this gentleman’s face and told him that he already addressed the subs concern. Well he did not. All he did was give the man his best circle jerk.
Commissioner Henning was allowed only one question which was about the real estate tax compared to the sales tax. All other questions from Henning were totally ignored by Thompson. The best part is, he did not know how nor, did he answer the question.
Thompson is rude and carries himself as if he is GOD. He continually ranted about how he is here because of the financial crisis we are in. THAT is his BIGGEST CONCERN. Yet, he never gave a direct answer.
When asked about why he was recruiting his little clones, the Rockford Files, and how was their pay to be scheduled, was it going to be like his, an over exorbiant amount? Comment was “they will be paid commensurate of their experience and competency, within the school board guidelines. Well, we’ve seen firsthand what good the School board rules do for the community.
And, what’s wrong with the principles we have now? He said he was not replacing anyone but filling vacancies, six at that. Where? All the schools that are currently here have a principal. NO direct answer to that though.
The *$#& did not stop flying from this man.
Then for the finally.. Drum roll please…
Donovan speaks, what a joke. I certainly hope that all his brown nosing keeps his job, because he certainly does not know what his job is, nor is he COMPETENT, as Thompson persistently stated throughout the evening.
I hope that all us bloggers out here become more active in our plight to dispose of these idiots. Don’t just blog b*%$h, get out there and get active. We’ve seen turmoil in our county before and we survived by hard brotherly work. We will survive again and we will still be here and see our day of glory when the idiots are gone. They are stealing valuable money and time that should be projected into the children of this community, not their pockets.
Life in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Collier County, is too short for these jerks. Please remember how to vote this year and get them OUTA HERE!!!!!

Thank GOD almighty that this "teacher" does not have contact with our children.
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Really? Tell that to all the parents who have written to me over the years in other districts where I taught other subjects, and thanked me.

Really? Tell that to all the students and teachers around the world who regularly visit an award-winning free educational website I created for them.
(And, no, the Naples Daily News will not publish its URL, even though it has been in existence for a year now.)

And, by the way - I have spent lots of time in Golden Gate Estes, and have friends on both sides of the political aisle.

What I did in my posts above is not "stirring the pot" -- but educating a community which so far has been asleep.

IMO, you can thank a local media for this, as the local media here does not see its job as ever doing anything remotely like "investigative journalism" -- even when it's the community's children who suffer as a result (along with talented teachers such as myself and others).

Thanks for your comment. Go back to sleep now.

I can see after the above diatribe, that the district's hiring decisions are just.
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If after reading the info from all the URLS I posted above about Dr. Thompson -- from parents, teachers, media, and educational think tanks on both the right and left -- all agreeing
that something is very wrong with Dr. Thompson, then you did not "see" anything. IMO, you are blind.

The hiring decisions made in this county are not "just." Dr. Thompson would not be eligible for a superintendent job in any county in this country which requires 5 minutes of teaching experiences in a K-12 classroom.

Nor would he ever make the cut if anyone else, alive and breathing, were in competition with him, because most superintendents do not have national press on both sides of the political aisle detailing a troublesome, sad and sorry history as a local schools superintendent.

Just my opinion. And, I am entitled to have one.

The *$#& did not stop flying from this man.
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Dr. Thompson is full of "*$#&" -- as are the people who hired him.

You are correct. You have the right to your
opinion. I woke up long enough to tell you that. You didn't even understand what I was saying to you. Case-in-point.

You are correct. You have the right to your
opinion.
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Ditto.

But it's too bad the relevant info about Dr. Thompson in all those URLs I previously posted here -- from the right as well as the left -- is apparently beyond your grasp. Too bad. Seriously.

Because it's people like you who really need to wake up to the reality of the sham that has happened in this school district.

And, no, this isn't the first sham, by far. This district leads the way in shams. It's Number One in that regard.

Whether you like the former superintendent, Baker, or not, one can only hope he gets his job back via his on-going lawsuit -- and a jury trial. Anyone would be better than this Dr. Thompson. Even you.

This is my 35th and FINAL year with CCPS! I started teaching at NHS in 1973! This is absolutely the worse mess I have ever seen! I have never seen such anymosity between the Board, Superintendent, and the teachers/ support staff! Everyone tells me how lucky I am to be completing my years of service and " moving on" to better things! I'm gettin' out while the gettin' is "good"!

See, I knew it!
"certified" says - Whether you like the former superintendent, Baker, or not, one can only hope he gets his job back via his on-going lawsuit -- and a jury trial. Anyone would be better than this Dr. Thompson. Even you.
I was right on target, stirring the pot as it were.
Unfortunately you must have diminished capacity, or you are Baker or his family. "Certified", I am a former teacher and actually know what happened here. Unlike you, I worked in this district until I retired. There are two trials coming up. He cannot win the first, and we will see how the extreme public backlash affects the second. You have wasted my time and insulted all of our intelligence.

I just realized something. We have been had. You couldn't be a teacher with the credentials you claim to have and not use correct grammar and punctuation.

LOL...yeah, you're right: no one typing quickly online ever makes a typo.

And no, I am not Baker or his family. I don't even know the guy. How can I? For 15 years I can't get an interview in this school district based on my outstanding application.

But I will write a book about my real experiences here, and let it be a lesson to all those people considering becoming a teacher, including the students of today. It is better for them to know how badly a corrupt school district can operate BEFORE you invest your time, money, hopes, and dreams into helping kids. Instead, plan on this: make some money doing something other than teaching. Because teachers get no respect in this town; that's for sure. And my 15 years of grief here prove it beyond a doubt. I don't publishing my credentials for the world to see. Not at all.

I meant to type: I don't mind publishing my credentials for the world to see. Not at all.

And, 15 years ago, before I ever set foot in a local college of education, I still had better credentials than many people who make 6 figures in this district, but can't, for the life of them. ever do otheir job.

The District's Executive Director of Human Resources is an excellent example of a person ill suited for his work, because he personally allowed my situation to continue endlessly. And, he knows it. How many other new outstanding teachers who are certified and he turns away I don't know. But it's sad. Very sad what goes on in this district. I don't know why he even has his job. Or why his "job" exists.

This is absolutely the worse mess I have ever seen! I have never seen such anymosity between the Board, Superintendent, and the teachers/ support staff!
--------------------

That's because there is no real press in this town investigating or asking questions; people are left to fight it out on their own.

And, it's because teachers are not actually considered "essential" personnel in this town. I know I was treated like garbage. So, it doesn't surprise me this district would now go out of its way to hire a superintendent like Thompson -- with a well-publicized, history of treating teachers like garbage. And, this is a fact in the eyes of both the right and left.

He is probably the only superintendent in this country with a national reputation so disgraceful -- as the links I previously posted explain in detail.

Good luck, kids!

FLCertified: You must have a black mark with the District or teaching in general. This district will hire ANYONE...know that. It has ticked off more than a few good teachers. If you can't even get an interview than something is wrong. CCPS has been short staffed for over 9 years now. They would grab you for MMS, MME, and out in Immokalee. I just can't see you not getting an interview. You had to have upset someone off or you have a bad recommendation from another District. I'm sorry for you. But you wouldn't want to work here now anyway. Just look what's going on. I'd love to see your web site!

No, I cannot get an interview based on my application for 10 years. If having a perfect grade point average, outstanding references and teaching evaluations, and no criminal background all constitute a "black mark," then, yes, that must be the reason I can't get an interview based on my application in a decade.

With all due respect to you, I think you are a little naive, because: there is so much nepotism in this district. This district hires a lot of relatives of people, and needs to leave a lot of openings for those people, qualified or not.

In addition, based on what's happened to me, it often seems to me: this district couldn't care less about the students. That's why the district does not bother getting in a car and going to any local campus to recruit the best qualified new teachers each year. Basically, this district tells new teachers to go to hell.

And, believe me, their uncaring attitude can indeed make one's life hell.

But, thanks for your concern. I would love you to see my web site, too, but the Naples Daily News won't publish the URL, because then someone might say: "Gee, since this web site has won accoclades from high level educational professionals AROUND THE WORLD, why isn't this teacher getting any INTERVIEWS in this district?"

And, the Naples Daily News doesn't want to ever ask that question.

BTW, I am not the only teacher from my graduating class who never had a career in this district, despite living here. Other new teachers left teaching long ago.

Thompson is trouble w/ a Capital T. Our principal submitted 20 new duties she'd like the staff to take on next year since her staff has been cut. These duties are not a one time affair either. They are on going through out the year. I volunteered to give up my lunch and planning to help out!

certified,
Here we go again. IT ISN'T ALL ABOUT YOU! This is the reason you aren't getting a job in the district. All of the crap you posted here is only sour grapes. BTW, Naples Daily knows you and won't give you the publicity and bully pulpit. From your lack of grammar and punctuation skills, I'm sure that's why your application didn't get through HR.

FLCertified: I just don't get it. I knew no one and was recruited for 3 years from up north. None of my friends I worked with knew anyone either, but this was pre Baker; Dan White era (and I happened to enjoy teaching in CCPS back then. I have since left).

Maybe it's for the best. This place is extremely messed up. I can tell you that you can contact Debbie Terry in HR and she is a fair and honorable person. Explain your situation and see what she says. If you don't contact her then you have only yourself to blame. Take the chip off of your shoulder and perhaps brighter things will happen.

WHy can't you just post your link in here? NDN will allow it. It seems you have a bit of the "paranoids". I know ccps and they hire justs about anyone (God help the children). I'm just thinking here and I believe you did something to urine someone off.

FreshFace, I posted my link on the Naples Daily nhews site and they removed it. And, you can tell my classmates who also left teaching that CCPS hires "anyone." They, too, lost their homes and were highly qualified teachers.

I am too busy losing my home for the 2nd time to continue to respond to this thread, but I am trying to scrape up the money and sue. Accredited colleges of educations should not be acting as though getting the required student teaching assignments for your degree is akin to a Vegas crap shoot, and nor should CCPS. And, believe me, I have personally spoken with Allun Hamblett, for a long time, on the phone, and took many notes - he couldn't care less.

Who knows, maybe you will read about my lawsuit in some newspaper someday.

As for the rest of the teachers here, sometimes I feel very sorry for them, having to put up with all the crap that goes on in this district.

And, Dr. Dennis Thompson's national reputation for treating teachers like garbage has got to be the worst thing that's happened here since the head of the school board committed suicide in the park after his computer was taken and the allegations he sexually abused a student were made public. It's not a proud history here, in this school district. I sometimes think what happened to me and others is just par for the course.

You make your own luck.(period)

I have to be honest here flcertified. I spent my career in CCPS and was involved in teacher interviews for many of those years. I understand you are frustrated but after reading your comments, I would be very concerned about you in a classroom. It may be unfair to make that connection based on your blogs but I have interviewd many people that I would never want to see in a classroom. Some of them had very impressive portfolios and resumes and GPAs but that did not translate into them being fit to be in a classroom. I understand your bitterness and frustration is coming through here but maybe it also came through to those to whom you spoke.
This system is filled with many dedicated, caring and hard-working people. The people that write in this blog that all teachers are crybabies and just want money are not indicative of how most parents feel about the teachers in their child's school any more than a few bad teachers are indicative of the entire profession.
Teaching has always been an honorable calling but it is not for everyone. If you are truly determined to be a teacher then continue to pursue it but your current state of mind will not likely be a positive asset for you. Please re-assess what has happened and honestly evaluate whether it is all someone else's fault.

beenthere,
Very eloquently put.

I have interviewd many people
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It is good that you are interviewing people.

It is quite another when someone can't get an interview.

My application and me are two different
entities. Rejecting my application without cause is something that should concern all teachers and educators. Especially when I am an outstanding teacher.

I have re-assessed what has happened over the years and the refusal of this newspaper to ask any questions. I have my own theories, and I look forward to my day in court.

Thanks for your comments. We will see if a person such as myself deserves an interview, or if some deliberate wrongdoing has been going on in that admin center for more than a decade now.

it is quite disturbing to me that this local newspaper will not even ask one question about the hiring process in this district for teachers. Not one. But, after a decade now, I have my own theories on why this district can't assign thie required internships to student teachers, and why those same teacher applications seem to then disappear into thin air for a decade.

Maybe if you had ever seen my application you would have interviewed me, too.

BTW, this thread should not have been about me. I am losing my home for the second time in this district because of very wrongful conduct by hire level people in this district and a newspaper that won't ask one question of the people who run this district.

Meanwhile, this same situation continues for everyone else - this district "hired" a superintendent who wouldn't be eligible for an interview in any county that spent five minutes doing computer research on him, as per the links I posted above.

But the newspaper does not publicize his actual background. The school board never discusses it.

It is a disgrace what goes on in this district by those in charge.

A disgrace.