Yesterday, I used the Tampa Tribune article along with the public comments that were available yesterday to make a few points about the situation at Alafia Elementary. Find all the links here:
Public Education - Politics, Business and Education: Ellyn Smith, Ashley Smith, and a "Miffed Elia" - Relationships are ImportantSince yesterday, there have been several more public comments.
Here are a few that suggest that this situation comes from the top. My own humble opinion is either this principal is being protected by the higher ups or she was sent to the school to disenfranchise the parents. My guess is as good as anyone's.
Posted by ( RalphM ) on 10/08/2008 at 10:54 pm.
Take note that Smith was "appointed" by the Board shortly before Lennard's departure. There were a number of likely candidates that were under consideration, but all of the sudden Smith is appointed and those in the queue swept aside.As for the area director, she had no say in this decision, and has been essentially powerless to do anything. If she kept any sort of record of the complaints and calls regarding Smith I'm willing to bet there wasn't a day that went by without one. That being said, she probably feared some sort of retribution from downtown as well should she try and escalate things.I find it ironic that Otero and others were already aware of problems - of course they were - mainly due to the substantial number of complaints that *had* to be making their way downtown. They just chose to ignore them, for reasons we may never know.As for the media, I personally knew of a number of parents who contacted local media outlets, both newspaper and TV, only to be blown off.Someone downtown is covering up for her, I suspect, but the overwhelming crush of complaints has probably gotten to the point where they know they can't be ignored. Maybe it has something to do with her husband's departure from the district?It's about time. It's only taken 4 years, and that's no fault of the parents - they have been trying to get this resolved since almost day 1.
Posted by ( Ateacher ) on 10/08/2008 at 11:35 pm.
I am a teacher who was under ES at a different school. Because I disagreed with her on some personnel and educational issues, I became the vindictive target of ES. She actually told her AP's to "get the goods" on me (they have told me in these very words!). They all told her -as did the people she sent from "downtown" - that I was doing everything that was expected of a good teacher. She made every effort she could to get me to leave and to fire me. Eventually, she knew she was not going to be able to remove me, nor would I transfer to make her happy. Because my students consistently scored above the county and school average, she was unsuccessful. I could write a book on the cruel, uncaring and unprofessional comments and actions committed by ES. It was common knowledge (although, in all fairness, never substantiated) that she was made a principal in order to get her "out" of the downtown administrative position she held. Her professional and personal life was making it uncomfortable for those downtown.Despite her hate for me, I will give her credit for being very intelligent and being a quick study. However, there are personality flaws and social disabilities, which make her unfit to be a principal. The people downtown have known of this for YEARS. I believe they think it is too much trouble to remove an ineffective, misanthropic principal than to step up to the plate and do what is best for the teachers and students.
Posted by ( ConcernedTaxpayer ) on 10/09/2008 at 05:26 am.
Even with all this, are you still only looking at the tip of the iceberg? If the Sikes, Otero and Elia have known of problems all along, why would they suddenly be capable of dealing with them now? Where would you go for help if they are incapable of dealing with some serious issues, the legislature or the governor? Where is the accountability to the families who pay taxes and thereby pay their salaries?
Posted by ( lwb250 ) on 10/09/2008 at 08:26 am.
Concerned Taxpayer:You have to understand the way the District works - Mrs. Sikes is a wonderful, caring area director, who (I believe) was (and is) genuinely concerned about the goings on at Alafia. However, from what I could see, there were things going on above her in the administration that more or less prevented her from doing anything about the situation.Someone is protecting Smith at the Board or higher levels of the administration, and if you rock that boat, you're going to pay.I think it is clear to most citizens who have observed the workings of the school board that those who challenge authority are either forced out or pigeonholed in a job that is either unpleasant or unlikely to allow for future progression professionally. Those who find favor with the upper echelon progress rapidly, or are "awarded" jobs of little substance with ridiculous compensation.The faculty was devastated by this woman, and what was once a true "A" school in every respect has been reduced to a group of dedicated professionals who have to divide their efforts between educating our children and preserving their jobs for fear of retribution. Alafia was a community at one time, now it's a fractured bunch of individuals who are mainly concerned with self preservation (and I don't say that in a way to be critical of the faculty - they are all caring professionals, who unfortunately are under siege.)Hopefully (although I doubt it will happen) the Board will act swiftly and remove her so that Alafia can regain it's former place as a true "A" school.
Posted by ( ConcernedTaxpayer ) on 10/09/2008 at 08:57 am.
lwb250You may know Mrs. Sikes, I personnally have never met her, but have followed the goings on at the school very closely. Do you know who recently made the comment, "My job is to look out for the principal." What happened to: Let's look out for the welfare of the school, the neighborhood, the school system, the children, the parents or the teachers? I am not in position to question those in authority, or the decisions they have made, but I strongly encourage those who are to take a long hard look at this whole fiasco, and to make the facts known to all, and bring the school, teachers, and students back to where it once was. Why should students, parents and teachers have to leave in fear of the school administration or the school board. A problem like this should never have occurred, but it did. Now someone needs to address it. Let's do what the system usually does, keep the problem, just transfer it to someone else. Those who have allowed this situation to go on and on and on should be held just as accountable as those who may be the problem. I am not trying to throw stones at anyone, I just want a very serious situation corrected before too many others are harmed.
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