March fifteen twenty 22 Uh before we have protocol, I have an invocation by mister Mike Lagarde, please and pledge allegiance. Lord, support each of us in this meeting tonight. We ask your divine help in a difficult task ahead of us as we
Represent others. The issues we will address tonight are many and there are many solutions but there may not be easy. Dear god, help us as we serve this school board parish and as elected officials and be with us for the right thing tonight
Forever. Amen. Amen. Amen I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Uh thank you mister Lagarde. Um Adam,
Before we have roll call please, miss Brunei. Mister Michael LaGorne. Here. Mister Gregory Horning. Here. Mister Matthew Ford. Here. Missus Debbie Benoit. Here. Missus Stacy Soley. Here. Mister Clyde Hamner. Here. Mister Roger Dale Dehart. Here. Doctor Maybell Trauhan. Here. Mister Dane
Vaughn. Here. Mister President, you have a quorum. Thank you, miss Brune. Madam pertaining to interview of applicants for the new superintendent of Turbo Parish School District. We have five applicants tonight that are present with us. Uh good afternoon candidates. Ladies
And gentlemen, I would like to thank the candidates for applying to become our next superintendent of the school district. We have over fifteen 000 students, about 2000 employees, and 34 schools. I will also like to thank the general public for coming out
Today to be part of this moment in history. Tonight, we will interview five candidates who’s wishing to become our next superintendent. Each candidate will have a five-minute opening, a 20-minute questioning and answer session, and a five-minute closing. Each
Board member will have a chance to ask one question to each candidate That question may change with each candidate if he or she choose to do so. On March 22nd 2022, the board will hold another meeting here in this
Boardroom at 6 PM to select our next superintendent. Between that time, if any board members have a need for clarity of any questions that was asked or answered at that particular time as an individual board member, they can reach out to
Each one of these candidates. also on March 2-second twenty-two, East Board member will cast their voice vote for for who they choose to be the next superintendent. I always start with a roll-call vote. It takes five vote which is majority become our next
Superintendent. After each board member have cast their vote, our direct miss Brunei, Doctor Yarba, who’s a who’s our personnel director, and our attorney end of all will tally up the votes. If there is a tie or no candidate have the
Majority of vote which take the top two or top three and vote again until we have a majority. The candidates tonight, I’m going to introduce mister Cory Butler, Mister Aubrey Doctor C Michael Robinson. mister Mark Talbot, and mister Clyde Washington.
Thank you gentlemen for taking out your opportunities, your time to invest in, interested in being the next superintendent of Turbo Parish. Once the applicant interview is complete, the applicant will have the option to sit in the audience, return to the lounge,
Or have the option to leave the meeting completely. Refreshments will be provided and the board conference room and light refreshment for the applicants in the launch. All applicants was informed and advised not to have any cellphones in their possession
Of iPads, etcetera. Them to the interview. Once the applicants are introduced, mister Jan Blanchard, administrative secretary, will escort the applicants to the loans for refreshments. As the first interview will begin. Upon completion of each interview, Doctor Youngville will escort
The next applicant to the boardroom for the interview and the process will continue such until all kind of just have been interviewed. So, at this particular time, the first candidate, y’all gotta escort him out. Mister Harden, why are they
Moving? Can I ask you a question? Yes, sir. The agenda says five to 5 thirty. We done used 6 minutes ago. Well, we’re going to we’re going to extend that time. She’s a. She’s the clock keeper. That’s right. I took about 5 minutes off.
That’s fine. Thank you. Okay. I just want to be fair to everybody. Right. Uh the first candidate is mister Cory Butler. Good evening. You good? Okay. Hello, everyone. Uh thanks for having me. Um as one of the criterias for this particular opportunity
Each applicant was obviously asked to submit a video. Um I had the opportunity to submit that to you guys. So, you guys had an opportunity to see that and I mentioned a few things in terms of goals. What are my vision is for this particular
District? And what I’d like to be able to do at this point in time is to issue out what that looks like strategically as far as it a 90 day plan. Can’t hear it. It’s concerned. Mister Bolt, could you speak a little
Louder? Doc can’t hear you. Can you hear me? Alright. Alright. Alright. Alright. Um during the course of my interview, I was able to pinpoint and be able to identify various goals, my vision for Turbo Parish School District and then the development of of a
Comprehensive strategic plan for our district. So, in doing so, what I’d like to be able to do at this point in time is to be able to issue each one of you my ninety-day plan to support that particular vision and those goals. If that’s okay
With you. Thank you. If you have any questions, I’ll give you a few minutes to peruse it. Uh be willing to take any questions pertaining to the strategic plan and we can go from there. You ready for the question session? I’m ready. Okay.
Alright. Uh at this particular time, I’m going to start to my left. mister Dan Faizan. Thank you, President Harding. Thank you, mister Butler. How you doing? Good to see you. Um my question, I would like you to focus on the morale of our
Educators. Teachers have a huge influence on children’s lives. They have been feeling overwhelmed and unsupported even before COVID and Ida. Teachers are continuously being asked to add to their plates. We need to encourage teachers to inspire students. Teachers have the to impact students’
Lives positively or negatively. Teachers can motivate students to achieve great things. If you are our next superintendent, how would you address this very important issue that we have been facing for several years? How do we get back to letting our teachers teach and inspire
Our young minds? Good question. Thank you for the question. First of all, as superintendent, the first thing that I would do was to issue, I teach him a ra survey so that we can begin to address some of those issues that they’re
Feeling head on. It’s important to be able to get the input from teachers to begin with, not just teachers but also leaders because they have a lot on their place just as well. So, that that would be my first approach. Uh the second thing
That I would do was be able to commit, I mean, I’m sorry. I would create a an advisory committee for teachers so that we can also meet on a monthly basis because issues do come about on a daily basis on a
Weekly basis each month. As far as teachers having a lot on their plate. Uh currently, in my current position, I address a lot of those concerns when I go into schools. So, teacher support is paramount. We have to find ways become innovative
In our strategies in terms of being able to support administrators and teachers. Our presence in schools, sometimes, it’s it’s it’s instrumental in being able to get them to feel valued and I’m know what that feels like Uh as principal, I had a lot of
Support at a school that has historically did not perform well and so it was instrumental. Uh it was very instrumental for not only for the leadership and the instructional team to get out to classrooms to support teachers and support them with
The with the content but also we had conversations that were informal. You know, sometimes just opening in door, opening the door and being able to say, good morning means a lot. People have things that are going on in their lives every
Day. We also have to research ways to be able to simplify instruction. It can’t just to be about data. Teachers are not numbers. Students are not numbers. If you treat people correctly, if you treat them like you want to be treated,
You find vaguing people and then they know that you value them, then, what you can accomplish is, yeah, really the sky is the limit. Um the support that I got from some of some of you actually Uh it helped me in my growth. It
Helped me in my day-to-day activities. Being able to support teachers, I I think it, you know, we first start with with the issuance of the morale surveys. Uh that’s that’s that’s going to be significant in terms of those results and
Being able to have those conversations and look, a lot of times, philosophies do not align. Let’s just be honest. However, they still should have a voice. We still be able to give time to listen Thank you, sir. Miss Ollie, thank you
Mister Visan. Mister Butler, what communication methods will you use between the district and the community? How are you going to get information back in Well, as you know, we have social media. Uh we do have a district website already. We
Have a radio station. We also have a journal that’s been identified for us with the homer today. So, those are a means that we can utilize. in communities, you also have historically pastors of churches that we tend to flock
To or we utilize in that communication aspect just as well. So, I would like to meet with various community leaders Um it’s been something that I’ve done in past capacities. As far as our district website, I really believe that it needs
To cater to parents. We need to able to have those frequently asked questions so that parents are able to find the answers to their questions without having to contact you guys so often. I think that’ll that’ll assist in our communication methods. Any
Available tool that’s out there. current, tools, IE, social media, text messages, We have a J call system. Often, and it has to be we have to be transparent as often as possible. Building trust is first. So, communication is key. Without the trust from
Parents and our community, our success is limited and so, it’s been my experience that if we are also able to issue out weekly parent letters, just to inform them, hey, look, this is what’s going on in my particular school. This is
What’s going on in the district as a whole. This is what we have upcoming. Keeping them abreast of what we’re doing is is also just as important as as being able to communicate what we’re doing with the with the teachers and at at the school
Levels at the and the leaders just as well. So, parents are an integral part of what we do. We have to find a way to be able to get them more readily involved in what we do in terms of the decision-making process.
So, utilizing all our opportunities to communicate is also paramount Well, thank you miss Soli. Uh mister LaGon. Good evening. Okay. my question. Considering the decisions that many superintendents face, how would your input make my community, district one, feel comfortable
And that is the people who are often forgotten about the students, the cooks, the bus drivers, the some administrators, the people who are on the lower level of the ladder that they don’t feel they can communicate with the superintendent. How to make
Those people feel comfortable that they can have a proper dialogue with you. What would you do or strategy what you have? As a son of a retired educator, I was always taught that noone part is larger than the whole. Everybody has value.
That goes from the people that clean the floors, the cooks who prepare the food for students to ensure that they have healthy meals. The custodian, I mean, the, I’m sorry, the secretaries who take the messages. All of those people
Play a role in terms of the education of a child The old African proverb, it takes a village to raise a towel. To raise a child. I holistically embrace that. but again, finding value in even the people at the very lowest is
Important because they matter. I can tell you every head custodian I’ve ever had at my schools. Miss Sandra Smith and I went to high school. Miss Wanda at East Saint John High School. Miss Claudette, who’s now at at E Street School.
Those people matter to me. It was important for me to be able to have those conversations with my cooks, with my janitors and I did go above and beyond for those individuals. You know, we’re required. Our constortions are required to
Put two coats of wax on the floor. Well, to make our environment more inviting at Ellendale, I’m all closed up. You just went through or I should say our custodians because it’s a team approach. They did the extra. They always
Put four coats to ensure especially in those heavy traffic areas. That was important. That meant something. So, I took the time out using utilize my own money to treat them. Sometimes, it’s just the little things that you do that makes a difference and
You talk to those people. I met with my custodians, my cooks, my secretaries, often. I had fruitful conversations with them. Not just about the day-to-day operational aspect of it of what we were there but also about how’s your family?
What about the kids? Most of the kids are actually taught or I get I’ve given a diploma too. So, that was important for me to be able to have those conversation with those individuals too. Again, noone part is larger than the whole.
I treat them with the same respect that I’ve treated administrators and teachers alike. Bus drivers, just the same. We have to find ways to be able to incentivize also in paying people what they value because just like everybody,
Each one of us were impacted by the the COVID virus. They were impacted by Hurricane Ida. Guess what? Those people were hurting too. And so you can’t forget about those. Because bus drivers and I’ll say this are responsible for getting our
Kids to and from school so that they can get the education that we are delivering. So our students. So they are just as important as the custodians, as the as D. Cooks, as the secretaries, and any other support personnel. The power
Professionals, just as well. Everybody has a role in in the education of a child and when we embody the notion that we are there to educate the whole child, there will be relationships that children will have with these individuals that you can even
Begin to think about. And that is so important for us, especially as we try to manage school, what behavior just as well in terms of when when students are transitioning to and from class, they are people with it that are in those same
Communities. So, you can’t forget about those people. They’re important. That’s how I was able to keep a pulse on my school and that’s how I still am able to keep a pulse on our schools in my current capacity. Thank you, mister DeGard.
Doctor Tran. Thank you, sir. Hello. Good Doctor Trump. This parish has been through a lot this year. It has. Terrebonne Parish has been devastated. We weren’t even sure we would have a public school system in the first weeks of September of
This year. There is no promise that we won’t have another storm this summer. True. God help us. What is your vision for this parish’s infrastructure? And have you visited our schools to see where where we are right now? Yes, ma’am. I take pride and
Great pride in visiting all the schools. It’s not just about the bricks and mortar. It’s about the people and again, I reiterate the fact that I find value in people. That was something that I learned a long time ago but as far as our
Infrastructure, FUR had the opportunity to look at the 90-day strategic plan that lies in front of you. The first order is to meet with all of our contractors that we that have been approved by you guys. And in doing so, the first
Thing that I’d like to be able to establish are timelines so that we can tell the public what to expect and when to expect it. it’s important for them to know where their tax dollars are being spent. I visited schools along with our
Warehouse director, mister Celestine. I’ve been there and I’ve been able to give my input in terms of how we should approach different things. As I was assigned to various schools by our current superintendent. So, as far as school recovery,
Doctor Tron High, I got to be honest with you. My career and administration started in school recovery after Katrina and Rita devastated the New Orleans community. I had a shell of a So, I know the pain that those that our communities
Are feeling. Uh I know that it’s the importance of being able to communicate effectively and efficiently and often and I know what it means to be transparent just as well. It’s paramount for us to be able to give consistent updates, weekly
Updates. It’s also and just as important for us to be able to establish potential timelines for when schools are able to return back to their sites. IE Ellinder High School, South Turbon High School, Upper Little Collier, Grand Collier Middle, Simparton, and let me
Tell you something, it just doesn’t stop there. I was also in the administrator in the in Saint John the Baptist Parish after Hurricane Isaac devastated that community. I know what it means and what it feels like and the work that
Goes involved in being able to move a whole school to another campus. That was for that community but I also know the pride that was there in that community just as well and so it took all of us to be able to
Unite to bring everybody back to reestablish that pride that once existed that’s what we have to do but it has to be a collective effort by all of us not just the folks that’s that are working at the schools, not
Just the teachers, not just the custodians but you guys along with the superintendent and the different district level employees. It’s going to take all of us to bring back that sense of pride. So, as far as our infrastructure, the first
Thing that I would do would be able to meet with our our our approved contractors and like I said, it doesn’t stop there. When I was at the Saint John High School, even when I became the superintendent, I was still
Dealing with some of those the the reminisce of Hurricane Isaac in that move. So, it’s an extensive process. We have to ensure that we are are spending our dollars and tax dollars the right way and that we get reimbursed by Fema just as
Well. And that’s an extensive process. It doesn’t stop. I would tell you, you know, we can think about the move back in two years but essentially, it’s going to take longer than that because we have to deal with the warranty issues,
Potentially leaking roofs just as well. Um prior to me coming back to Cherbone Parish, I was still dealing with Myers Engineers for a leaking roof because of something that they didn’t do correctly. So, we have a we have a a monumental
Task that lies in front of us but let me tell you, what can help out us being visible in those schools at the district level, and you guys too, with your support, being visible to let those principals know, look, we’re going to be alright
It’s going to be okay and encouraging in them so they can continue to inspire what they’re there for. The the young people, the students. Thank you, Doctor Trump. Mister Roger No comments, interest, Tom. No questions. Thank you. Okay. Mister Matt
Ford. Mister Butler. Yes, sir. Welcome. Uh. Thank you. Earlier, you mentioned transparency to build trust and that’s a segway into what I was going to ask. Okay. You know, as superintendent, you are the face of the district. You’re the person that’s in front of
The camera and has to speak up and on behalf of the district. So, what I want to know is what is transparency mean to you? being honest all the time. It’s not a part-time gig. I’ve been in Turbone Parish School
Community all of my life. I’ve worked both in and outside of the school system. In fact, in the agency that I work for in Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Home of Turbone branch. I actually partnership with this very same school
District. In fact, I partnered with one of your board members, one of my board members, mister Clyde Hammond, when he was the principal at Legion Park. I have spent a lifetime formulating relationships with people. People know that I am a person that prides themselves
On his on his integrity. I was taught that by my father and mother. Still water runs deep with me. A person’s word means something. It’s supposed to. Other than that, I I was just kind of told that and if you
Don’t have a word, then, you call that person a liar. Obviously, we can’t use that terminology, you know, because of who we represent. But the truth is just that, the truth. And so, whether, you know, you you have to have tough
Conversations with people, even as I mentioned earlier, with one of the, with mister Voisean’s question, even when you’re philosophers do not align, you still have to sit down to be able to reach a consensus and then publicly, there has to be a united front
That we collectively have to present to people because people are entrusting us with their children. That’s important. I don’t take that for granted, mister Ford. It was the reason why I was why myself and a group of other educators that I’d like to call
Family at Ellander at Oak Loan, at E Street, at East Saint John. That’s we had a consensus. Whatever we did and lord knows what we’re doing our professional learning communities. There were a lot of disagreements on how we were
Going to approach being able to support students and teachers. But when we stepped outside of that room, we were one. Building trust is important. That means not just saying the right things with coin coin terms. People can see through
That kind of stuff. That’s not who I am. That’s never been and it never will. You ask me a question. I’m going to give you an honest answer all the time. Thank you, mister Ford. Uh miss mister Debbie Penmore. Thank you, mister president. Hi,
Mister Butler. Hello, miss Benoit. So, new studies reveal that the role of the local superintendent is evolving. And although it’s not clear, exactly what the role will become in the future. It’s certain that uncertainty will be the hallmark of the job.
That will require a different set of expectations from those that are exiting the profession today. We do see an uncertain political climate that surrounds schools. We require the superintendent to be proficient in politics and the art of persuasion.
Much of the work will resolve around the ability to create and maintain relationships just as you mentioned. Hmm. The modern superintendent will not be just a superintendent of schools whose job is to oversee and manage it but he will be a
Superintendent that will have to navigate and uncertain terrain with skill and finesse. Are you prepared to be a modern superintendent? And if so, how might you accomplish this? It’s a good question. However, I must say that my preparation didn’t just start.
I’ve been working in this community As an act, I started in law enforcement. Where you have to build trust and you know the climate as it exist today when it comes enforcement. I was also a youth program director Everything that I’ve done, miss Benoit,
Has been sitting around what’s in the best interest of children. That means that I got to get out in the community. When you want to know what’s going on in the community, you gotta go out in the community
And there is not a one that I can go in where folks can identify with me and me, with them. I was born and raised here. This is home. Now, as far as being able to persuade someone my father once told me
That power is the ability to be able to get people to do the things that you need them to do despite their resistance. Mm hmm. that means something to me. Power in the wrong hands can also be a dangerous thing.
That’s not who I am. Character is also divine defined as being able to do the right thing when nobody’s looking. That’s who Cory Butler is. That’s who I’ve always been. That’s why I do this job. However, I’m able to address the elephants in the
Room at the same time. I do have tough conversations. As stated, there were many opportunities, many meetings that I’ve conducted. Uh both my leadership teams and I. To whereas we agree but we have to reach a consensus for children
We have to do that on a daily basis in education. So, that is not a new phenomenon that needs to be addressed not for me at least. The question is, is that can the the superintendent be able to unite people for the
Common cause of educating children? My track record proves that. in Turbon Parish, outside of Turbon Parish. I was even entrusted by the Department of Education to do it statewide. So, I’ve been a modern superintendent for a long time even not even serving
In the capacity but now the opportunity presents itself. So, therefore, I’m ready to seize the moment, ready to move this great district forward and I thank by bringing people together, we will be stronger for the task. We will have to
Have some of those tough conversations, however, and in doing so, we will collectively be able to make decisions that are in the best interest of this of this great district but in the best interest of the people that we serve. Children,
Mister Clyde Hamner. Mister Butler the Home of Chamber of Commerce, the Terrebonne Parish School Board have a strategic partnership in education. Four years ago, the Chamber introduced 13 points of education that the business community believes to be a vital interest to the citizens
Of Terrebonne Parish. One of these points includes early childhood education and the implementation of universal pre K for all four year olds in Terrebonne Parish. How would your plan for the parish or your of education fit in with this goal. If that was one
Thing that I agreed with but with the Build Back Better Plan, that’s expanding universal pre K. When we are able to provide equitable opportunities for young people to be able to receive the necessary skill set that’s needed to be able to read prior
To entering in third grade, prior to statewide testing, we all win. So, first of all, I’m a proponent. I’ve expanded narrative childhood, universal pre K. It’s imperative that we continue to foster those relationships with the current type three providers of of for
Early childcare and in terms of early childcare programs, it’s imperative that we continue to foster those types of relationships and for any ruling up and coming program that is created, I want those two. By expanding universal pre K. There are a couple of things
That we will will be able to do in terms of how it will impact our schools. Not only will we be able to continue to provide the structure that’s needed. will be able to add additional classrooms because the income barrier will be removed. It
Will be open to everybody. For those parents that do not meet the qualifications because of the income criteria. Um they’ll have an opportunity as stated which don’t hurt them right here As well. It has an economical impact just as well.
When kids are introduced to the skills that they need by entering into early childhood programs. That has significant impacts in terms of kids being identified as special addict. Five oh4. our miscon ception is this because don’t get this twisted mister
Hamlet as I explain this. The misconception is that a student’s reading ability impacts their ability to thinking and problem solve. Research doesn’t support that. Not at all. That’s why it’s so imperative that we continue to also introduce those kids upon exiting early childhood
Programs into our schools. What a tier 1 curriculum. Which is equally as important is that we equip our trained professionals, our teachers, with the skills it to be able to instruct because lesson delivery is just as important as exposing children to a tier
1 curriculum. My philosophy is is that we also need to look at specializing in true elementary schools. What I mean by that is simply this, we need to look at our grade configuration With an emphasis on pre K through fourth grade.
That’s true elementary. and if you have done your homework which I know you have That’s four years that educators get the chance to spend with children. Those relationships are just as important It gives education an opportunity to address lost learning. It also
Gives educators an opportunity to be able to work with their online curriculum just as well. That’s important. And if the goal is about positive student achievement, once again, it’s a win-win situation by expanding early childhood programs. Now, we can impact the masses as
Opposed to a particular group of students Based upon their parent’s income. mister Dehar Sir? Yeah. You want to come back? Okay. Alright. Uh thank you mister Hamlin. Uh mister Butler, how you doing, sir? I’m great. Okay. My question to you is
Kind of similar to what mister Lagard asked. We as a school district always talking about we are A, B school A, district. Mm. When I look at schools in my district, we’re always in the cabo and it’s okay that these other schools are sitting
In first class or should I say hit it hit on the line but then yet it it seemed like we continue on using the same bait to get a different result. So, if you selected as the next superintendent, what would you
Do different that have not been done in the past or or go out the box and and creativity to try to help those schools that’s on the law in the tadpole? Well as you know the the pendulum continues to swing in education in terms of
Student achievement and and certainly, you know, I’ve been around in education for a while at various levels and rules change, laws change, we rename things, that’s just how things go in education but one thing that I know for certain is is
What Act One did, it gives you guys the opportunity to hire a transformational leader like myself which transformational leaders are needed all over the country What it also did was it gave you the authority to be able to hire superintendent. That superintendent then has
The ability to be able to put the right leaders without any political ties into these schools to be able to lead them. You see, it’s not just about managing schools. We also, mister, well, let me back up for just a second because I
Gotta talk a little bit about what happened to me becoming the transformational leader as mister Martin selected me to enter into the Turnaround Special ist Program. Now, that program incorporates both business and educational philosophies and when those two philosophies are integrated,
Then, essentially, what what what it did was it taught me how to transform a school. Being able to select qualified personnel. Being in terms of the infrastructures that we put into place in schools. IE, curriculum teams at the school
Level. I came from a tax school district as majority of you probably know about. it did a few thing. We did a few things which is what I believe that needs to be done at lower performance schools because it was a
Platform that we instituted without even knowing it at Ellinger High School. We we met on a weekly basis which has to be done in all schools. We analyze student data to to student academic data to be able to plan for the next
Steps. We assessed often Family and informally, informally, through exit tickets. It gave us a bird’s eye view to be able to see what supports students needed so that we can adjust lessons. and instruction That’s what has to happen in schools that has
Historically performed low. but you also have to have the right leader. So, we have to be intentional in terms of our our professional development opportunities that we select in terms of being able to train our leaders in schools. No
Longer are the day of just managers. No longer. You have to be an instructional leader. I started out as a manager. That’s not the person that you see before you today. We have to be innovative and creative. at the same time and understand
That you can catch more flies with honey than what you can with vinegar. Retain the people that you have by giving them appropriate training that’s needed. Recruit new talent to be able to come in to support what we’re trying to do and
That’s impact young people. So, the first order of business is, we have to once again, at the district level with our district level instructional leadership teams reinstitute building a level walk throughs. We have to be able to inspect what
We expect If we don’t do that, how do we know what’s working? So, the first order of business would be what we would do at the district level to help support schools in this quest. We assessed often in a timely
Fashion and in doing so, we integrate all learning all lost learning into what students currently have to learn because often times at low-level performance schools, students are behind. By doing this, we are able to prepare students for two things college, and career readiness
That has a a a significant impact on crime as well as the economy here To have graduates that are equipped with the skill set that’s needed to work to go into those high-reach, high-paying jobs. That’s significant. Not just for the the child
But also for us. I don’t want somebody breaking into my house because they didn’t get the education That we supposed to guarantee that they got? Now, obviously, we’re going to need parental support just at the same time but these are some of
The structures that we have to be intentional in when we are talking about putting in place. So, it starts with what we do at the district level, how we select leaders, and then, how we and how those leaders select talented teachers. The goal is
To ensure that we have a certified and a qualified teacher in front of every student. In parish in every classroom. I was told as a little boy that there’s nothing more important than the instructor and the quality of the instructor that stands in
Front of children because whether it’s quality teaching, quality learning transpires. Thank you, mister Butler. Uh the question and and answering session have come to conclusion at this particular time. Now, you we give you 5 minutes for your closing remarks, sir.
Thank you. In closing, I’d like to say the reason why I want to become superintendent I’m passionate about what I do I’m passionate about young people In education, we we we often times talk about delayed gratification because we don’t
Always see the fruits of our labor right away. I want to be the voice for those parents who are not heard or have the ability to be able to communicate. They just that they just simply want a quality education for that child.
The voice for those teachers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that those very same students get that quality education. But noone seems to notice. Also, the voice for the leaders that we have selected. who have an array of ideas that noone
Seems to have an ear for like me at the district level. Those people matter. I want to be a superintendent I want to be the superintendent As it was told to me and taught to me so long ago because my father and my
Mother have been such an influence on me. what good will my success be if I couldn’t reach back to give the next person that opportunity like it was given to me in nineteen ninety-five Furthermore, I have a vested interest in this school
District. I still have a child in one of our schools. So, decisions that we make here, it impacts her. not going anywhere. Be right here. Committed. I’ve worked in this community Again, for children and I’ll continue to do so. I
Like to thank everybody for considering my candidacy. Thank you. Thank you, mister Butler. Thank you. That’s the other room. Good afternoon, mister Ogeron. Good afternoon. Again, you have 5 minutes of introduction. Uh 20 minutes or more for question and answering because sometimes
The questions are the answer was was a little longer and then you would have a five-minute closing. Good. You got it. Good evening again. I want to start off by saying this. Alright. So thankful and grateful and superintendent
Mark for allowing me to work in this district. It’s been a blessing for many of you. You know, for the last six and a half years, I’ve worked hard to live alongside Superintendent Morgan Archer. I’ve also worked hard to make relationships at
Every level. We’ve had great people, great people. From over here tonight, many of them here tonight. Many of them watching online. And my team and I have also worked hard to improve academic outcomes for all of our kids and all of our
Schools. As a matter of fact, we helped improve academic outcomes every year but one and that was a COVID year. Despite all the hardships of COVID, we put together a model, instructional planning was a plan. It consistently. online visits, hard copy packets, we
Had grab-and-go meals, we even had teachers step up to get video so that we can place those lessons on HTV. Unbelievable Now, when the full school year, 2020, 2021 school year will come. We rolled around. We can’t thank our teachers enough for the job
They did. With all the challenges of COVID, they rose to the occasion and we were successful because of that. Particularly the teachers we did double duty. We had some doing their regular job during the day and virtual after. We were successful because of that
As a district. Matter of fact, we moved from the 19th ranked district to the 14th ranked district Louisiana on 70 countries Our graduation rate improved at 94 percent. One of the highest in Louisiana. And we were the sixth highest top growth district in Louisiana
Which means this. Our kids either scored advanced or mastery or they were on track to mastery which is on grade level. Better than the majority of kids in Louisiana. Finally, we were down to one B school. One B school. And that school.
They managed to have the second highest growth integral parish with 5. 5 points during the COVID year. Glenn Herbert. So, we know. We know they got a strong leadership team of that school, strong teachers. They’re going to make it this
Year. Bottom line, we have a strong instructional system It’s very comprehensive. We got strong leaders that are supportive of their teachers. Who really get it done every day in their classroom for kids. Our teachers do that. Every day. So for me, it was
Never about accomplishments and accolades. For this job that I’m interviewed for. I just wanted to do a good job because I was thankful and grateful for people Now, with that said, I look forward to the possibility of moving forward with Ida
Recovery. We’ve got a lot of work here. I look forward to moving forward with facility master plan that can guide us for decades to come. And I also look forward to work through some of the priorities in my vision that can really guide
And shape us in years ago. Thank you for this time. I look forward to your questions. Thank you mister right mister Hamler. The the home of Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce and the Terrebonne Parish School Board have a strategic partnership in
Education. Four years ago, the Chamber introduced 13 points of education at the Business Community Believes to be a vital interest to the citizens of Terrebonne Parish. One of these points includes early childhood education and implementation of universal pre
K for all four year olds in terrible and parish. How would your plan for Terrebonne Parish or your philosophy of education either or fit in with this Good question. So, is your mic on? No. Is it on? Now, it is. Okay.
So, I I’d say to that, do I have to do the introduction over? I was like, I’m here for the camp. I’ll deduct your time. So, mister Hamler, to that point, I say, let’s do it. Universal pre K. I’m all in
Favor for it. Um We we’ve done some research on that. We’ve been looking at it. We we’re we’re pretty confident. We can we can pay for it at least for a couple of years with federal money And and and I’ve looked
At how many kids are are not coming to us as pre-K kids that come to us at kindergarten for the last five years. There’s about a 225 average of kids who come to us in in kindergarten that didn’t come to us in pre
K. So you figured 220. How many teachers where are they located? There’s a lot of logistics that have to go into it. We gotta find out where they’re going to go. Cuz this might be concentrated in one school. Because of the income
Threat so we’ve gotta make sure we have capacity at those schools. We gotta make sure we we can fund it or sustain it and it all depends on how much of a priority it is for us as a as a as a system. So, getting
Back to the other part, you asked philosophy wise. Well, early childhood is so so important and if you ask people that are in elementary schools, they’ll tell you. The kids who come as pre K kids are so far ahead of the other kids and
They can really hit the ground running when they come to him as kindergarten kids and really start the learning earlier. You know, it’s procedural things and all of those things about pre K that they learn and get that out of the way. So, when
They come as K, they can really, you know, for lack of a better word, go to town, learning and literacy and numeracy in K is is second to none. Early childhood is is where we get our our our start
For for years to come. So, I would really like to get together and look at at as soon as twenty twenty 223 can possibly get this done. So, that’s that’s where I’m at on Universal Pre K and by the way, if anybody’s listening, I I
Thought about this as I was preparing. Um universal pre K is not mandatory pre K. It’s it’s it’s means it’s open to everybody but not required. Some parents want to just keep their kids home which is fine and we understand that. So,
It’s universal, it’s for every kid. Thank you, mister Hannah. Uh miss Benoit. Thank you. Um hi, mister. Hi. So, new studies reveal that the role of local superintendents are is evolving and although it’s not clear what the role will become in
The future, it seems certain that uncertainty will be the hallmark of the job. That will require a different set of expectations from those that are exiting the profession today. Um we do see an uncertain political climate that now surrounds schools with
Requiring the superintendent to be proficient in politics and the art of persuasion. Much of the work revolve around the ability to create and maintain relationships especially within the community Uh the modern superintendent will not be a superintendent of schools whose
Job is just to manage and oversee. He will be a superintendent that will have to navigate an uncertain terrain with skills and finesse. Do you feel like you’re prepared to be that modern superintendent? And if so, please speak to how that
Might be accomplished. Okay, good one. Um yeah, I I feel unprepared. Um I think we’ll all see that. We’re prepared. Um I’ve been in a lot of situations. Uh I’ve I’ve I’ve presented to various boards. I’ve presented to to large
Groups. Um it it’s all preparation for for being connected to people. I’ve met a lot of people. I’m a current rotary member. So, there’s a lot of connections I’m making with with the community. Um the community wants to know as a
Board, as as as a leader of their school that that we’re making decisions that are wise and and transparent. So, a lot of these interactions will help break those barriers and if you’re available to these groups, if you’re available and
You make the connections, they feel they can access you and ask you questions at any time. So, I think it’s very important that we continue as a superintendent to to schedule those things and it’s part of my my my priorities and my my
Entry plan actually is to meet with those groups from Kiwanis of various rotaries. Um talk about our vision and and get them to know who I am so that we can have that open line of communication Um vital, vital. So, I I think I’m looking
Forward to that in in actuality. Yes, ma’am. Thank you. Thank you, miss. Mister Ford. Mister Ozron, there is a great need in this district for a Terrabone Center for Excellence. Students that are gifted both in the arts and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
And also with the JRTC program. So, what I’m asking is, what do you envision for Terrebonne Parish with regards to those programs and do you have a plan or something that you’d like to share with us? Okay, very good. So, that that is something that
I I aspire to soon as soon as possible. I know we have so much going on, right? Uh so, it’ll be hard to to fit that in immediately but in in my video, I call whether you call it a magnet school or an academy of
Sorts, it’s it’s vital to our kids. We we talk to kids a couple years ago right prior to COVID and we asked high school kids to come in and we asked them, how can we better serve you? We had, no, I think we had
About ten from every school. So, we had about 40 kids in a room. Overwhelmingly, their response to us was we need access to more opportunities for various classes that we can’t take at our school. So, so, it was clear at that point
That that’s something kids are asking for. It’s not something that’s that’s research based. It’s it’s from the kids and I and I think of I think of certain teachers and I’ll use mister Chris Brown at South Terrebonne. He teaches a class
Called forensic science, okay? He made it himself. The curriculum himself but it’s only offered to South Terrebonne kids. If you would take a program like that centrally located, access from all four schools would be available to that kind of
Program. I could go down the line of some of our excellent teachers that would probably enjoy to be housed in a central location like a magnet school or or something of that nature. Um and they could do it for
Half a day then go back to their base goal the second half of the day. Either morning or afternoon. Just like we we we we do vote. Same kind of thing. Um and I know there was we we’ve talked a lot about
Performing arts. I think performing arts could be an academy or a pathway within this school. It doesn’t have to be that specific but it could be one of the things we offer. Um you know, and I talked a lot about computer programming,
Cyber security. Give you another for instance. We have a teacher at Ellander at Terrebonne right here. He worked for the federal government, the NSA and and different agencies like that. He’s a computer genius. He would be the kind of person
That we would never have access to. So, if we put him at a central spot, every kid could come take what he has to offer which is enormous. So, those kind of and I’ll I’ll say this too. We which is another big
Reason why I think it’s so important. Some of our high schools, we don’t even offer physics because we don’t have teachers that can teach those level courses that shouldn’t happen. If we have a central spot, I’ll ask the best physics
Teacher would you like to come here half a day, have access to all the kids at that level and I think they they jump at it. So, those are the kind of things we could do at a school like this. Now, look, we can
Even consider jumpstart-like courses that and I was thinking about this. Music production, it doesn’t have to be the performing arts. It could be where we mix tapes and we we do things like that that appeals to kids that otherwise we
Wouldn’t appeal to. So, there’s a lot of things we can do at at a at a school like this. So, I think it should be bumped as high as we can priority list of things that we need to do as soon as we can within reason.
Thank you. Thank you, mister Ford, mister Dehart. No question. Doctor Chauhan. Good evening, mister Audreau. Good evening, mister Brown. Mike, I want to ask you tonight is IT about is our teachers. Yes, ma’am. Sometimes they feel like they’re the last one on the
Totem pole to get attention which were they’re not but. Uh huh. We don’t intend them to be but they feel like they are. Yes, ma’am. They need many resources to be successful in the classroom. How will you ensure that they get those
Resources. I’m talking about training, networking, planning time, and all these things that make them more efficient. Okay, very good. Thank you. Um well, for for that question and I’m I’m not going to say this is the culprit or the reason but
The last two years have been probably the most difficult out of all of our in in my career and and for me personally, being relegated to the office was difficult. You know, for teachers being relegated to their room and not
Being able to to associate and and team and collaborate and all those things was so hard. So, I think a lot of what they’re experiencing, not all of it but some of it is due to just the last couple of years.
Um I think that will subside and we’ll get back to more of the normal times where we could do a lot more collaboration. So, I think I just wanted to start that answer off with that but one of the things that we
Strive and I think we need to continue to strive to do and whether we’re successful or not, I’d have to have people tell us how we can improve. Teachers, how how can we improve but we really strive to keep our professional
Development as relevant to the curriculum that they’re teaching as possible. So, we’re we’re using Eureka Math. So, all of our math professional development is about Eureka Math. We’re not trying to do strategies in all of these other programs that really
Don’t pertain to directly to the curriculum they have. We use guidebooks. So, all of our PD is from American Reading Company which is very relevant. So, I think PD being relevant is is essential and crucial. Um That’s probably where I would
Head for that. But I’d like to hear more from what what they feel. I really want to know what they feel, how they feel, we can improve so we can respond to that. Uh that’s something I think we we could probably do with making
Our ERC a little more robust and enhanced kind of who’s at the table for that committee. Uh we’ve I’ve been talking to to some people on the ERC to kind of about how we can improve that that whole committee so that we can have
More voice contribution from our teachers about things like that. Thank you. Yes ma’am. Thank you, Doctor Terrell. I’m still a guard. How you doing? I’m good, sir. Okay, my question is, empathetic compassion. We just went through the hurricane.
Yes, sir. We went through Ida and just everyday life. All people had a tough time and I got many calls that people just didn’t have the money, the time to come to work and that the biggest thing though was the compassion and I want to
Know what compassion are playing with you input to help our employees and what would you do administrators, our supervisors, who are just mean or racist on our employees. Would you have a plane like hurricane days or come up with
Something that they can’t come to work without taking a sick time? Mm hmm. So, I think everyone of those situations, miss Lagard, are you talking about any particular group of of employees or just employees in general? Employees in general are just having a tough
Time because of a situation. Okay. Alright. So, I think we take each one on an individual basis and and we give em as much as we can in in a in a legal way. As as far as we can legally support them, we we
Need to do that. Um you know, there gets a point where you have to draw the line somewhere. So, I think at some point, you get to that point. Um as far as, you know, and one of the things as far as the way
We treat or the way we speak to people. I think that’s one of the things that I I would like to think principles would would think that I’ve been stressing that. Um with with staff, I mean, we we we’re very conscious about how we respond,
How we react, how we interact with people. Um you know, we had Marsha here a while back and and and her principles apply to every situation. It was all about greeting people and welcoming people and saying hello and and just connecting
With people. That is so important that we connect and not visit schools because we have an issue with the school. Visit a school because we want to see the learning. We want to be welcoming. We want to just be supportive.
That that’s a that’s a cultural thing that I think we can really get better at. I believe that. Um and when that happens, it it it would be addressed, no doubt. Um we we would and and that’s one thing I I I will be
Consistent and firm with those kind of things because culture is is everything and if we’re belittling or or not treating people properly, that’s a problem and it it it festers. Thank you, sir. Yes, thank you. Thank you, mister god, mister
Lane. I want to answer this a little bit but maybe you can expound on it what communication methods between the district and the community. I know you talk about koalas and stuff but I’m just talking about like school communities themselves. Okay,
Very good. Yes, ma’am. You know, and I was thinking about as as miss Benoit last night brought up about communicating the plan, the recovery plan like we we needed in in layman’s terms like like how we can we do that and Whether it’s
A program and I mentioned a program in my video called school status or whether we use J Campus or J calls, I really believe in in videoing the superintendent whether it be quarterly or as needed and we could simply put a link out to
School where they can get it on their phone with a video of of the person in charge giving them the message that they need to hear. It could be about anything. It could be about recovery plan. It could be whatever is pertinent or
Relevant to that school and you could do it by school. So, only the parents at that school that have submitted their numbers would get that. So, I think that’s something we shouldn’t shy away from and probably do more of. Um it could get very
Specific to to a group of schools, a region, a school, what have you but I think that kind of message goes a long way and it was it was it was something through the storm. It was it was so difficult but
That you know, is something I would like to kind of look at doing more of that kind of thing. Yes ma’am. Yes ma’am. Thank you, miss Sully. Uh mister Vizan. Yes, sir. Mister. hello. Um you kind of addressed one of my quest, one of the
Questions but I’m going to ask you, if you are our next superintendent. what qualities would you be looking for in an assistant, superintendent, as well as central office supervisors, and why? Okay. Okay so I one quality alone. The rest we
Can teach, the rest they’ll learn because they’re all going to be smart people that are going to be here. So, if we can have that, the heart first will be in good shape. Yes, sir. Thank you. Uh mister Vizak. Mister mister Algeron.
Yes, sir. What you kind of touch on us a little bit. I want you to explain a little more. Actually, you, the question I was going to ask you just was just asked so I had to deviate from the question. What what experience have prepared
You for the role of a superintendent. Okay, Very good. So, you know, I was going to use this in my closing but I I’ll I’ll say it now and and it’s in my resume, my my background is is diverse. I’ve I’ve got a diverse background
And I’ve I began as a special ed teacher. I was a high school science teacher. I taught biology and environmental science. So, I was in the classroom. I was good. Then, I took Lesip. Then, I became pretty good. You know, I was
Never like like one of the teachers of the year kind of teachers but I was pretty good because I believed and I understood hands-on instruction and that, when you can do that with high school, you can do it at any level and it gets kids.
It makes kids retain when they could feel things and touch and and collaborate and talk inside the class. That’s the kind of teacher I was and I became an administrator at an elementary. So, I thought about almost four years of experience at the
Elementary and I was at middle school assistant principal and a principal at a middle school, five eight. Actually, six eight, I’m sorry and then, I was a high school assistant principal and I learned everything I could probably learn about discipline. PBIS at
The time was just starting. I learned all about that Um and it’s a principle and we have principles in this audience. It’s probably the job where you make the toughest decisions. It’s a daily decision-making job and you’re making decisions with kids. You’re enforcing
Rules and you’re putting kids in situations because the choices that they make but you’ve gotta enforce because you want to be firm and consistent. So, that that prepared me. All of those jobs there prepared me to work with supervisors, to work with
Principals. It’s almost like at times I can coach principles. It’s it’s probably would be a good title for for a lot of things that I do. Um that I became a supervisor of secondary. I supervised eight middle schools, three high
Schools, and a career magnet center and I was instrumental. She gave me that as my project, my superintendent. They said, it’s yours, Baba. Make it happen. It was already along the way but I I put the final touches on the career magazine
Of Lafourche. It’s a big and a great experience and that’s working from the architect all the way to the programs inside the school. Everything in between. Um and I’ve been here six and a half years and I’ve led alongside a great superintendent. I’ve observed
Him, I’ve watched him, I’ve asked him questions, we sit down every morning and I listen and I watch it and I watch him interact and I watch him how he handles situations with the board. I watch his communication style and I think
All of us would say that there there’s no no no questioning his communication skills with with you all. It’s and when twenty-4 seven, I’m watching what mister Martin does, twenty-4 seven. Um so, I’ve learned that. That that’s so important and as assistant
Superintendent, sure I’m in charge of instruction and curriculum but it allows you to be exposed to a little bit of everything. idol recovery, you know, all the COVID precautions and all these things we I’m involved with all that. I’m involved with meeting
With Fema during Fema meetings. I I’m with our consultants that are working to to get us community development block grant money. All of these things have prepared me for for this job and I’ll say this in in conclusion. I’ve been
Praying about this for a long time. Never to get the job but that the lord’s will be done and I think he’s put me in situations that allowed me to be prepared for this. Throughout coaching, teaching, administrative work, and I was
Here. So, that’s why I think I’m ready and I’m eager. I’m I’m I’m still hungry to do this. I’m still looking forward to to make things happen and just take where we’re at right now and keep moving forward. Thank you mister it appears
That you put all the clothing all into one or you see what your 5 minutes. I’ll stick a couple of minutes if if possible. Okay. Okay. The question and answer session have been completed. Now, at this particular time, we’ll
Give you 5 minutes in closing. Okay. So, I’m not going to repeat it but my resume indicates and I put it on my my little bit emoji classroom if if that is available to anybody, you can see the resume. Um and some of the
Things I’ve done inside those positions. Um and like I said, I’ve been here and I’ve been through the COVID. I’ve been through and and and I’m I’m not putting that lightly when I say been through. There was a lot that goes to been through. It’s
A lot of work not not by me but everybody and we’ve been through the storm recovery and I looked at the video last night, those those clips and and I looked at you all and I asked, am I the only one that’s
About to start crying right here? Like, it it it hit me. That was the first time I saw it and then I looked beyond the buildings and I looked at at you know, I looked at the faces. Of the teachers, of the
Principals that were getting their goes back. The word mister Martin did. The work you did as a board. The word Becky Bro did. Sammy the staff that’s here and that’s not here. The work we all did and the flexibility and the resiliency
Of the teachers to kind of go into a dilapidated. In some cases, we got back as quick as possible but it wasn’t perfect. They were resilient. They got back Without questioning, they did it and you can’t say enough about that and that’s what I
Saw when I saw the clips. I didn’t I had no idea was that bad. I’ll be honest with you. I didn’t see some of those things initially. Um but with that said, we’ve got a long way to go. We still have a long way to
Go. We’re not over it. We’ve gotta keep moving. We’ve gotta stay on top of the project managers. We’ve gotta stay on top of our architects. We’ve gotta be part of the process still. They’re doing a good job but we’ve gotta be part of
That. We’ve gotta make sure they understand the urgency without getting too far ahead of ourselves and miss parts that we need from Fema or for Fema. We’ve gotta keep that in mind. Imma say this too. I’m extremely excited that South Terrebonne and Allender are
Going to be on site next year. I talked to Daniel, Bruce today, the architect. Saturday, they’re going to have buildings ready coming Saturday. So, that will be wonderful to see a modular building and for anybody listening, they’re going to be first class,
First-class buildings. They’re going to be connected by boardwalks and covered walks. We’re going to have a cafeteria. We’re going to have a band room, everything. It’s a bit, they can withstand a hundred and 170 mile an hour winds. So, it’s not these
Little buildings, they’re quality stuff. So, they’re going to be on site on a regular schedule next year. So, we’re looking forward to that and we’re even working on getting the weight room and the field ready so that all and you
Heard that last night but people might not know that. We’re going to get all of that ready so we can have a normal year next year. So, I’m excited about that and I I’ll just conclude by saying I’m looking forward to the possibility to
Work with you all I’m I’m ready and I’m I’m really looking forward to serving the school district as superintendent. It’s been a blessing. I can’t express that enough and I’m looking forward to serving ultimately our community. So, I thank you for this time. Thank
You, mister Old Gerard. Thank you. Bring out to the next Robinson. Good. Good afternoon, the Doctor Michael Robinson. At this particular time, you have 5 minutes of introduction and you have 20 minutes or so of of question and answering and then
You have another five minutes enclosure. Okay. Okay, sir. Thank you. Uh I think I started. I’m going to. Mm hmm. Introduction. Okay, introduction. Okay, Imma start that way. Okay. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Of me? Yes, sir. Oh, okay. I
Thought he was. No, sir. I don’t want to take your five from you. Yes sir. Thank you. Well good evening everyone. I’m glad to be here. Um Michael Robinson, I am born and raised right here in Thibodeaux. Um well, in Thibodaux, Louisiana
And so, this is like home, Terrebonne and Thibodeaux is all kind of one another same and so, but I grew up in Thibodeaux and moved most of my adult life was spent in on the East Coast in other states so
I’ve been in education for 20 plus years. By 22 years at the that I can put them all together but it’s like 22 years that I’ve been in education. I started off as a substitute teacher going to college at Nichols State University.
Although I did graduate from Southern University Uh later on. But I started as a substitute teacher and became a an elementary teacher, an intermediate teacher, junior high school teacher in Raceland and Mu way and eventually became a high school assistant
Principal and eventually moved from there into an elementary principalship, turnaround principal, and then a middle school turnaround principal. I have also served in the capacity of an instructional director which is like an assistant superintendent in most districts where I was
Supervising schools and then later became a superintendent of schools in Arkansas which was a very good opportunity and good experience and then, I left that, went into consulting and I’m currently the chief academic officer in East Baton Rouge Parish. Um where I’m
Serving under our super current superintendent, Doctor Anarcis and so, for me, this has been education for me is a calling. It it is my mission in life. It is what I joy doing. Um I don’t think I would want to be doing
Anything else. I’ve tried. You always find your way coming back to what your first love is and that is education and so my I come from a lineage of educators. Um my mom was a teacher in Lafourche Parish for
30 plus years. Um so, I it’s in the blood. Um but my purpose for being an education is because it is a calling and it is something that I hold dear and near. Um I don’t do service. Um very direct about
That. I I’m in this because I really have a heart for children and I want to see them excel and exceed and give them the opportunities that maybe I wish I had in school. Um but I can do that at this level. So,
That’s why I’m I’m in education and that’s why I’m here tonight. Um you know, I’m reminded because we grew up where I grew up my parents home. There was a sugar cane field there. My dad would often we would into the sugarcane
Feeling he would take a stalk of it and cut it and see, you know, but you know, all that hard exterior didn’t look good but it was what was inside that resignated and that was the sweet part. That’s the juicy part. That’s what you were
Working towards and so when I’m in a and as as an educator, kids come from all different walks of life and perspectives and it doesn’t always look good but you have to go inside to see who they really are and that’s where the real work
Happens. That’s where the transformation work happens and so, that’s why here today. Thank you, sir. Now, we’re going to have the mister Dan Marser. So, thank you mister president. Nice to meet you, Doctor Robinson. Likewise, thank you. My question is,
Teachers have a huge influence on children’s lives. Many of them have been feeling overwhelmed and somewhat unsupported even before COVID and Ida. Teachers are continuously being asked to add to their plates. We need to encourage teachers to inspire students. Teachers have to
Impact students’ lives positively or negatively. Teachers can motivate students to achieve great things. If you are our next superintendent, how would you address this very important issue that we have been facing for several years? How do we get back to just
Letting the teachers teach and inspire our young minds? Thank you for the question. The victory is in the classroom and that’s where we really have to get back to that. I am as you would get to know me, I am one of the most innovative
Educators that I know. If, if, if, if I could dream it, I want to try it. But we have to get back to the purpose of why teachers, why do people go into education to be teachers? And what you hear is, I can’t even
Teach anymore. It’s robotic. It’s this, or it’s that. Some of that, this, and that might be necessary, but it’s how we approach it. Um, a former superintendent and even in my current role as a chief academic officer, I spend a lot
Of time with teachers. Uh we have a teacher advisory committee which I had as a former superintendent as well but I have I work with teachers consistently. Uh administrators as well but I work with teachers a lot. Um listening to
Them, providing an an open door and an opportunity to listen. Having that advisory committee is one of the most valuable assets that you can have as a superintendent and please forgive me a lot with my hands. Um but that’s one of the most
Important and valuable instruments that you could use as have as a as leverage as a superintendent. You cannot do this work without teachers. These are the people that are on the front line. And having been a teacher myself I understand the hard work and
The and the and what you want me to be dedicated. But I also need you to understand that in all of these things that we’re asking them to do what really is the purpose behind it. What’s the essence of the work
That they really are? You you’re really asking them to do. How much time do you spend? Cuz as a former superintendent and currently now, I spend a lot of time in schools. Uh that’s that’s where the victory really is and if we’re really
Going to move a district, if we’re really going to educate students, I have to be in the schools and so, I talked to teachers all the time. I want to understand. Tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Tell me how I can do the job better. Give me this and that’s what we do with those advisory committee meetings. It doesn’t always feel good because those mandates are coming from the top and they’re coming down. But how do we support those
Teachers? Resources, great. Everybody, they do need a raise. That’s important. But I think when you take away the human aspect and you forget that these are human beings, these are people, they have lives, they have feelings. I think we need to get back to
That. Building those positive relationships with teachers. And so, that’s one of the things that I would definitely do is spend great deal of time with teachers, administrators alike, but with teachers because I need to understand the decisions that I’m making,
How is that impacting that classroom? What does that look like in the classroom? That’s why I need to be there in order to see that. Deacon supervisor How are you? Good. Um what communication methods would you use as the superintendent to communicate between the
District and the community? I think I’m very communicative. Um that’s I think that is one of my strong suits. I believe and I have done this as a preview as former superintendent. I do have a lot of advisory committees that I
Have strategically people are on those committees. The committee and I and I also had time dedicated monthly to where I would have community meetings where the community could come in. There may be some agen items that I I want to share
With them, that I want to get that information out to the community but then I I would spend that time listening. So, in the first 90 days, doing a listening tour but but besides that, regularly having those open opportunities for people
To communicate whether it’s via Email, whether it is through the website Um every week, I would have a I call it coffee with the superintendent and where I would share updates. I think the more information that people have, the better they
Understand. They don’t may not like the decisions but they they respected and appreciated more because you’re being transparent with them. You’re being open with them. You’re giving them an opportunity to speak and to hear what they’re saying. And for me, that’s
Important. You know, sending flyers out. That’s great. Um doing robocalls. That’s great. I love I love to do videos. I do a lot of that now. Um I that my my mine system that’s how I communicate with them doing weekly updates but I would do
The same thing with the public and sharing the information, we work for the public. So, it is public information but having those round tables, me getting out into the community, I need to spend time with industry leaders. I need to spend time
With the industry leaders. I need to spend time with business leaders, small and large. Um I would have those advisory committees, meetings where I would have time to speak with them. Not in a rush but I would make time for that.
Purposeful time. Working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary, the Kiwanis, the N double A CP, engaging with our faith-based leaders. Um church as I know it but engaging with them. The sororities, fraternities, the masons, you know, engaging them. You would
Find with me that I would spend a lot of time engaging with the public. Why? Because when it’s time for me to push the agenda, I need their support. If I’m not present, if I am not engaging with them, and when
It’s time for me to push something, they don’t even know who I am. Because they never see me. And for me, that’s why as a superintendent, you probably will get a little upset because I don’t spend much time in the boardroom, the
Board office. I’m constantly in schools. I’m happy to meet with people, officials, our legislators, all of these people, the judicial system, the judges, and these are not things that I’m just popping off. These are things that I did because it made a
Difference in the success of what I was trying to do and the agenda I was trying to move where I was the superintendent. I do still engage with much of that. not all but much of that in my current role because I’m
Not the superintendent but we do it, we do assist him in still engaging with that. So, that’s important. Very and not to leave out the parents, you know, but and students, I had advisory committees for all of that too
Because you need that to help you to do the job. You can’t do this by yourself. Thank you mister Hello, Doctor Robinson. How you doing? I’m great. Thank you. Okay. Uh my question is Doctor Roger is that What are your ideas about engaging
Families who are not experienced or who participate with the school system or have negative experience with education how would you successfully and respectfully reach out to those families to make them feel comfortable and believe in the school system?
One of the things that I did as a former superintendent, I spent a lot of time dealing with those types of parents and families. They had a bad experience when they were in school and so here you come from out of state. I was at,
You know, I was in Arkansas. You’re coming from out of state and you don’t know us and it was all of the negative but the more time I spent with those families and in the community. So, it’s not unlike, it’s not
Unlikely to see me in my jeans or my shorts and I’m knocking on doors and I’m in the community. If there’s a community event, I want to be there. If there’s something going on in the community, I need to be a part of that. I
Don’t necessarily to be recognized but I need to be there because people are going to know who I am. And so when they see me, they’re going to engage with me. But spending intimate time with those families. And reassuring them that our educational
System still works. Spending time in those schools. Because kids would see me in Walmart. And they would say, oh, that’s a superintendent. Because they knew me. Because I spent and it wasn’t, it parents would have stopped me in Walmart and asked
Me questions. And they said, well, I call and make a meet and talk to you right now. Let’s talk right now. And Whether we had I had morning meetings, whether I was going to breakfast with parents, or they were coming to the board
Office because it was an open door. and we would spend time. I’ve had many of them sit in my office. We’re both crying. Because the situation was horrific. But when we left there, they left reassured that I as a person, cared about them
As a person. Forget about the superintendents. That’s just a title. You’re a human, I’m a human. And so we going to work this out together because if not, I’m not going to be successful in the things that I want to get done and and
Reassuring those students that we care and not doing more for this group and less for that group and showing those inequities. We have to work together and that’s what it takes. Constant and commute and constant communication and working collaboratively
Together as a unit and that’s that’s how I would spend my superintendent see working as a collaborative partner in the community. Thank you, sir. Thank you, mister Gard, Doctor Tranham. Good evening. Nice to meet you, sir. Likewise. Uh I
Want to turn to budgeting and financial issues. Uh we have a lot of mandates that come down from the state. A lot of them are not funded as we all know. Uh we have state required minimum instructional expenditures that we must
Spend. We have been put in a bad place here with Ida. And and and the money flow trying to get things going with the repair of our infrastructure. How do you plan to keep us rebuilding and keep us a viable financially? You know, the
Educational system is the avenue for which economic development is going to occur If you do not have a school system and that’s great that we are BRNA school system, that that really is to be commended. But if we are not educating all children and
Connecting with that community and pushing those students out and and and providing those opportunities within the school year that they are with us. Providing providing opportunities for them to whether it’s DE courses, whether it’s CTEC or or Kate, some people call it different
Different things but you know, career and techno career in college and career readiness and technology and all of that but that’s important but we have to make sure that we are producing in the school district. That’s how we begin to build partnerships with
Industry leaders because when I as a superintendent, that’s part of my job is to seek revenue for the district especially in times where we have to do budget cuts where we are not getting a strong tax base, you know, which that’s a
Part of the the revenue that we receive but we also have to rely on business leaders and partners that we’re going to have to go and ask for things from them in order to continue to keep programming, to keep our buildings going. We, you
Know, yes, you have insurance but that does not necessarily take care of it all. You still have to take care of that out of your fiscal funds. So, you as you budget, you’re going to have to look at the system.
That’s what I would do coming in, looking at all of our expenditures in all categories, staffing which takes seventy-five to 80 percent of your budget at least. 70 to eight to 80% of the budget. That has to be looked at. Looking at various departments,
How are we staffing schools? Are they over staffed? Are they understaffed? Are we, are do we have too many people working in one department and not enough in another. We have to look at all of that because you’re
Going to have to I I know it’s a ugly word but you gotta make cuts. You going to have to make cuts in order to produce some things on this side. So, you’re going to have to look at the the amount of revenue that we
Have that’s coming in and then we need to develop a plan. We we have to do a facilities plan. Looking at all of our facilities and having someone come in to do a study doing a doing a a salaries compensation study
As well. Looking at that because while we’re trying to take care of buildings and secure buildings, we also have to make sure that staff is is is paid. So, having having that that comprehensive budget salary compensation, I’m sorry, done. Having, while that’s
Being done, your your your facilities plan is also being done because we have to look at. Do we have that are beyond repair because certainly we don’t want to have to close any buildings. So, how do we continue to fiscally manage and
Make it without having to do cuts in the classroom. So, we have to look at all of that and then, then, design a five-year to ten-year projected plan as to how we’re going to be able to do with that that facilities
Plan is is going to be key and our plan is going to be key in helping us to understand where we are going to have to and then prioritizing buildings and what is happening in those buildings in terms of the
Repairs that have to be made because at the end of the day, we really don’t want to close any buildings. That’s the last thing we want to do and at the end of the day, we we still need to build new buildings.
So, that means that you have to now go back to the community. you may have to ask for an increase in taxes which is something nobody wants to hear and no superintendent wants to die on that hill but it maybe
That you have to go and do that but you’re not going to know what you need to do until you’ve had that facilities study done that compensation done and then you look at your projected budget for the next five years and the previous
Five years to look at all expenditures, where are we spending the most money, and too much money and what is the the return on the investment? And how is that going to benefit us academically for students but more importantly, our infrastructure because we
Want to be in business ten, 20, 30, 50 years from now. The decisions that we make now will definitely impact that time. Where some of us may not even be here. Thank you. Thank you, Doctor Trahan. Mister Dihat. No question, please, John. Thank
You. Mister Ford, Doctor Robinson. Yes, sir. Recently, you’ve tweeted about various gifted programs. So, what I’m curious about is what I is would you have regarding bringing sort of a terrible academic academy of excellence or something dealing with the
Arts, with the STEM, and possibly even JOTC. Well, I am a huge, huge proponent and lover of the arts and STEM and Steam which is the arts in in Steam. One of the first things and I and I was a
Part of Junior ROTC. So, I have a huge respect for for that as well. Um when children come to school, they’re coming to school because we say we want them to learn but they’re really the reason that they come they’re being we’re to
Expose them to opportunities and give them access. One of the first things that I would be doing simultaneously to other things that are are of importance but I will be looking at the academic programming for the entire district. I also want to see
Where programs are located. And in in within the district and which particular schools. What are we doing on the north, the south, the east, and the west. Because one thing that we want to make sure we do is we provide the same opportunities
Across the district. We don’t want to create a utopia of greatness over here. While this is going over here and so those particular programs that you know, providing the arts, providing magnet programs, IB International Baccalauric programs, Junior ROTC, those
Are not impossible dreams. It takes planning and that’s that would be one of the first things that I would work with a team across the district to plan and strategically plan those programs out. Um and it doesn’t have the five years for
It to happen either. It’s determination and hard work that will need to be done but also keeping in mind, our fiscal, our buildings, and our budget but there are grants that you that we can get to secure some of these things
Like the MSAP grant for for magnet, innovation. That’s how we’re able to do a lot of things that we’re doing is through those grants and I happen to work with a phenomenal magnet coordinator who is the state who’s a national president for Magnet
And so I’ve learned a lot from her. She doesn’t know that I have. Uh in terms of the the financing. I’ve met with them. There’s a lot that we could do through the MSAP grant for innovation and placing, we don’t have to start off big.
You know, introduce it. see how it goes, monitor it, as we then expand. One of the things that I’m doing right now is looking at our entire district for programming across the district. Looking at the cost, looking at the sustainability
Of those programs, looking at where they’re located, looking at is being impacted by those programs because again, we want to be fair. I don’t want to use the word equity because sometimes that’s a negative in people’s mind because we’re not talking about race. We’re
Talking about fairness to all children. We’re talking about what’s happening on the north, the south gets, the east gets, the west gets. So, don’t bring in those programs to the district certainly would not be an issue. Um that’s the work
That I’m doing right now and so, we could we could literally have those some of those programs and you’d be surprised that it doesn’t cost as much money as you may think. So, bringing innovation to the to the district to Terrebonne
Parish would be something that I would be honored to be able to do because that is the work that I’m doing right now. We are currently creating, are we just created the Office of Innovation which encompasses magnet, the gifted office, and
We also have these Focus Choice Schools which when I was a superintendent we I created those. I created one school for elementary for performing arts. Another school I created as a Steam School and another school I created as an entrepreneurial
School. And it does not cost as much money. It’s just making sure that you strategically plan and design it. And and get the curriculum. Um but you know we can take the curriculum that you currently have right now and the scope and sequence to
Build in those pieces that need to be. But there are so many connections that are out there that would be glad to help us in bringing innovation to Terrebonne Parish Thank you, mister Ford. Uh miss Benoit. Um thank you mister Hardy and
Welcome Doctor Robinson. Thank you. Um the face of education is constantly changing and what is one recent trend that you think will have a major influence on school districts in the years to come. you know we have to truly be very very
Careful about how we’re educating students. We cannot educate students the way we did 20 years ago. You just can’t. We’re losing them. And one of those pieces is around dropout rates. Um that is a significant issue. Because school not fun
For every kid and it does not appeal appeal to every child. We have to be very mindful around the programming, around teaching and learning, what does that look like, how are we engaging? Because if not, we’re going to continue to lose our
Students and sometimes they’re not dropping out. They’re just going to other opportunities. And we want to make sure that we are providing opportunities for our students in going back to the question around innovation Innovation will help us keep our students in the
District so that we don’t continue to decline. Parents don’t want their children in schools where there isn’t an opportunity for certain programs. We have to look at that and design and reimagine. There’s a grant called reimagine to the state that we
Can apply for some of for some of these things. But we can reimag what education could look like and feel like right here in Terrebonne Parish. Um my the opportunities that I have had being in other states and having other opportunities
In for employment. I could bring all of that into this position because a part of being a visionary leader as a superintendent, you have to be innovative. You cannot keep the status quo because if we do, we’re going to continue to lose
Students and before long, we’re going to have a much tougher issue to deal with when it comes to budget. Students is money to the district. So, we then have to begin to think about what do people want. Why are parents taking their kids
And bringing them to Vanderbilt? What is so significant about that? And nothing wrong with that but if that’s their choice because parents should have choice but why are they doing it? We then have to think about what that looks like for us in Terrebonne
Parish. And so, if we do not continue If we do not look at education differently, we will in years to come, it will decline and we will start to lose students but we are also going to have a much higher significant dropout rate. And
There’s some innovative programs that I would love to be able to talk about. Um in another time maybe. Um around even the dropout prevention and credit recovery. Thank you miss Benoit, mister Hamner. Hello, Doctor Robinson. It’s nice to meet you. Likewise, thank you.
Nice to meet you as well. Uh Doctor Robinson, the home of Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce is a Terrebonne Parish School Board have a strategic partnership together in education. Four years ago, the chamber introduced 13 points in of education that the business
Community believes is a vital interest to the citizens of Terrebonne Parish and the growth of the community. One of these points is early childhood education. Mm hmm. And the implementation of universal pre K for all four year olds. How would your plan for Terrebonne
Parish should you be selected as superintendent and your philosophy of education fit in to this good worthy goal? Thank you for that question. Um we actually just dealt with that in my current district. East Baton Rouge Parish. So it is
Amazing to me how people think sometimes around education and but we say that we, you know, want universal pre K because it’s going to do XYZ but then, we have some people who say, no, I don’t really want that. You know, because it gets into
An equity issue and and and it and it and then it also gets into a fiscal issue but there are so many grants out there and there is money out there that the federal government has given to states and two districts that we can apply
For. I’m a huge proponent of it. I think that I think that if we could get every child in the universe and and to to go through pre K and then enter into kindergarten, we have so, we would, our kids would be so
Much further along. They would actually, I could actually stand and say without any regret that every second grader will leave and will enter third grade reading at or above grade level, 100%. But when we sometimes when we make those
Goals, we have to then think about what has happened between pre K if they had the opportunity to get there. What has happened pre K and second grade and so we then have to make sure that we have a strong literacy program and foundation
In our school district. That’s the essence of where it begins. You know, that’s where the exposure begins. That’s where the introduction begins in pre K. So, I’m a firm believer in it. I believe that it is something that we really should
Pursue. I do understand that we also have to think about the fiscal component of it. So, we may not be able to do it in full-fledged and and one year or 2 years. It may a staggered implementation but I I’m happy
To hear that the the chamber is working. Number one is working with the school district. That’s that’s a that’s a plus. Um but it’s also a plus that that is one of their pillars that they were looking at is
Universal Pre K. So I am indeed a firm believer that if we can make it happen I want every I want the opportunity and the access for every child to be able to have Universal Pre K. It’s up to parents that they
Accepted or desire for their children to to be in pre K but the opportunity would be there and that would be something that we would work on and through our strategic plan and develop that over time. But the opportunity to work with the
Chamber has already been extended. So that that’s the first part, you know, and and getting other partners involved in that that work as well. And there is a lot of stuff that the state is doing that would afford that. We could also look
At incubators. and so even if you don’t have space in the district to necessarily house that, you can work with the with the daycare centers in the community through Terrebonne Parish where you could act where those kids would actually
Be our kids. We could actually work through through that way and and be able to get them into pre K. So, it it’s it’s it’s a win for me. Um something I definitely believe in. Thank you. Thank you, mister Hamlin. Good afternoon, Doctor
Robinson. Good afternoon. As we know, this is your twenty twenty-two and 20 years ago, 30 years ago, we saw a lot of male teachers in the classroom and it’s not an issue that just in Turbo Parish but it’s it’s an
Issue that we are dealing with probably throughout the nation. Also, we are lacking African-American role models in the classroom that kids need an identity with. If you select your superintendent, what ideals that you can probably bring to the table that maybe
Would address those issues? Thank you for that question and I really appreciate that. Um we have to we we have to really change how we do education. So, it it it’s it’s becoming less and less appealing to graduates because of all the deficits
That they hear about education but we have to stand firm in what we believe And working with Nichols State University, working with Fletcher College. We could really do some things early on and starting programs in our high schools. That would
Attract students into one and other universities surrounding us as well but that would that we could get students at an early age who have a desire to teach. Putting them in in a teacher cadet program and training them and working with
Them and making it appealing for them especially when you’re talking about African-American males. But not just dealing with the local. My job as superintendent is to get on a plane, get in my car and go to where the opportunities lie.
That means going to recruit across this nation and bringing people here to Terrebonne Parish and letting them see the greatness that we have here. And inspiring them to want to come to Terrebonne Parish to teach. Now, that sounds great.
That sounds easy. I’ve been on that side. I’ve done that. But that’s going to take a lot of work. That going to take me working with Doctor Depp here and you as a board because I’m going to need your support when
It comes to recruitment because we can’t just recruit on the website and say people are going to come. It’s not going to happen. You’re going to get locals and that’s great. We do want our locals. But if we’re looking for
Talent, if we’re really looking to to bring people into Terrebonne Parish, we’re going to have to recruit and develop a plan for recruit that may look different, sound different, feel different from what you’re accustomed to doing. So, when it comes to
That, we’re going to have to go out and start talking to every student that is in our high schools, Terrebonne High School, Allender. We gotta, we gotta get into all those schools and when students see the superintendent on a consistent basis, they know you
Almost by name. They know that you you have what your heart is saying. And when you’re appealing to them in that way and then helping them to get scholarships because it’s going to take money. You know and we going to have to look at
In in a fiscal situation when we have buildings that have to be repaired and we need money for that. When we cannot ask the public for another tax. Because we’ve already asked for a tax. We’re going to have to find innovative and creative
Ways of and and how we can recruit. Working with organizations such as AASA, and other organizations that are out there. Um the great the Council of Great City Schools working with these organizations to help us to develop a recruitment plan, a
Robust plan, and then getting out there and actually making it happen because as a former superintendent, I did recruitment along with my HR people. Uh I didn’t send them, I I went with them and so, having job fairs and career
Fairs, you know, and and letting people see that we’re out there. It’s nothing for me to go to Southland Mall and go stand in the mall and meet and greet and talk to people. You know, having a back-to-school bash right in the mall. And how
We going to attract people and say, hey, you know, you thought about teaching? What what are your thoughts about that? You know, sign up right here. Let’s talk later. You I have is going to take, that’s what it’s going to take because and we
And then when we get them here, we have to treat them right. and we have to be respectful of them. Regardless of who it is. But we have to really treat our, you know, what are we doing for our new teachers? And
How are we training and and developing them? And you know, in those first three years, three to five years that we bring them in. We bring em in. And we and and we welcome them but then somehow, we lose them.
But I know what I did as a as a former superintendent and I know what I do right now and even as a chief academic officer. When before a a an a teacher resigns, I need to know and I’m calling the teacher on
The phone and I want to know why are you resigning? And what could I have done better? And what can I do? Now, that is not my sole duty and responsibility but I take it on as a responsibility because that’s
How important it is to me that we recruit, robustly, but that we maintain those people we get them and so we’re going to have to do some things a little different and I know that that may not be happy to everybody
But in order for us to get greatness, we’re going to have to go after it in a in a in a very different way. We can’t be comfortable and in our complacency. Thank you, sir. Uh the the question session and answer session have been
Completed. Now, you have five and closing, sir. Thank you so much. I really want to say thank you to all of you. Um for the invitation to come and interview here in Terrebonne Parish. Um I feel like this is home because you know,
Thibodeaux is only 15 minutes away. Um but I I really and truly understand the work of the superintendent see. Um this is again, it’s a it’s a calling for me. This is not a lip service Um when I would be given the opportunity to come
In, you would receive a ninety-day, 100-day plan. Um that would actually outline the work that I would be doing and making sure that that work is in alignment with the vision that you have as a board. Um making sure that those
Opportunities to commune with the community with parents, with students Um you may say, well, I don’t know how he’s going to do all that. I don’t know either but I did it and I made time for it because that’s what our job is. That’s what
Our work is and if we can’t do that, then we are in the wrong position on the bus. And for me, it’s not lip service. It’s real. And it’s important for you to understand that. That my, this is my heart’s work.
And this is what have been working for all of my life. Uh my professional life. And it’s important for you to understand also. Excuse me. That I am looking for the place where I can I can buy a home in
Terrebonne Parish. Um it’s just right over the line in Lafourche. But to be a vital part of this community. Not just to work here but to live here. To be a part of the organizations that are in this community. Uh is important.
Because people want to know are you part of us? Or do you just drive in every day? No, I’m a part of, I’m a part of this community. Um, you know, I have a mom who you know, that they live long
Enough their age and that’s unfortunate. It’s hard to see sometimes But, I really want to be where I can spend more time with her. And, and really be able to be a little more active and engaged in, in community. I miss that because going and
Coming and when you’re in big cities, you’re not always able to do a lot of that. But to really be at home and and know that this is home. Um I bring a lot of experience. Um bring a wealth of information
But I don’t know it all. And I don’t mind telling you, I don’t know. But I’m going to go find the answer. And I don’t mind asking people for help. Um I I I’m not I’m not shy in any regards. So you know
For me the it is my duty and responsibility to make this a premier school district and I really want to outdo EBR but I I work there so I can’t say that just yet, right? But I love healthy competition but I
Want to be able to bring some of those innovative programs and to our students here in EBR. Um I know what it need and I know what it takes to do that. Um I know we can do it and I believe that once parents
Begin to see the active engagement and the opportunities and the access that we are bringing for students here in Terrebonne Parish. We’re going to be to see students come back to this district and we won’t decline. We won’t see parents leaving
And going for other, you know, unless they’re moving out of state but I thank you for this opportunity Um I know that, you know, for some of you may say, well, you know, I kind of think I know what I want. But I’m
Just asking you for the opportunity to unlock your heart. And your mind and your soul, and to just think about. Who I am as an individual, and what opportunities that I can bring bring here. To this district and I thank you again
For the opportunity. Thank you, Doctor Roberts. Thank you. Yeah. At this particular time, I would like to entertain a motion to to take a ten-minute recess. Uh so move, mister Hardy. Second. A second the motion. Okay, you got a first. Doctor
Triumph. Secondby, mister Lagoy, you know, I would like to discuss. Thank you, Doctor Robinson. That motion is nice of it. Yes, sir. Lamaica. No, sir. I said, god. Any board member? You know, so on. 10 minutes, reset. You don’t know if I can discuss
The issue. Doctor Tron? No, sir. Mister D Hart. Rock and roll. Uh any board member, are there any non here? None so hard. Try. Good afternoon, mister Talbot. Again, thank you for an opportunity for coming to applying for next vision next
Superintendent school board. Uh in my opening statement, stated that you will have five minutes of introduction, 20 minutes of of question and answering, and then you have a five-minute closing session. You have the flow now, sir. Thank you. Well,
First off, thank you all for having me tonight as well. It’s been a long time waiting for this opportunity. Excuse I should have brought that water. Uh for the past 27 years, I’ve had the privilege, almost 27 years. No, I’m good. Thank you.
For the past 27 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving in various capacities in Terremont Parish. Terremont Parish has been a part of our family. Obviously, since I’ve been on the scene. For 50 years, it served our family well and I
Look to hopefully continue that as an ex superintendent. I’ve served as a special education teacher, served as an assistant principal at both junior high and high school levels. Got to work with a lot of great people at both schools and also served
As principals, both those schools. Again, got to work with a lot of great people. In that time, we were recognizes the top gain school in 2012 at Evergreen. We were also recognized as the top game school in 2thousand16 as well
As in 2018 at South Terrebaum. We don’t do that by being principal alone. We do that with a lot of support not only from our team of teachers, team of students, also our parents, and our community and so, with that, we also need to continue
To help maintain that certified force and I also goes towards our support staff as well a certified staff. How do we do that? Well, I think we do need to evaluate our pay structure as I’ve heard a few times during our meetings recently. I
Think we do need to maintain and look at ways that our teachers and our support staffs are are potentially supporting their own court classrooms because they’re having to buy things that maybe the school is not aware they need and I think
As superintendent, we need to make a better effort to try to get out there and find out because it shouldn’t be a situation where teachers and support staffs are funding the education students which I know I happen to live with one that
Does. So, I think that’s a very important thing to maintain a certified staff and workforce. With that as well, I think we need to teach the tier one curriculum 100% of the time as much as possible when it’s available. Tier one is usually
Aligned with our standards that we’re expected to assess every spring. So, it is a valuable tool that we can use in the state does a lot of the leg work. Evaluating those programs for us that we can use or utilize that to save us time
And effort to try to get those curricular in place. I think we also to make sure to try. I say make sure try because it’s never a guarantee but to try to get our fourth graders entering middle school on grade level. Our eighth graders entering
High school on grade level. Because ultimately guys, we as we all know there’s a there’s a ton of dropouts every year. Regardless of how they leave. But we know that affects everyone. And it’s not just a school. It’s not a high school
Issue. That is a district issue. That is an a system issue. It simply manifests itself when it comes to the high school. And finally or not finally but two other quick points on that is I also believe too we need to maintain
Consistent equitable discipline in our schools. We shouldn’t have situations where teachers are having to accept behaviors or even schools accept behaviors. Not saying that’s happening. However, I do think we need to make an effort to make sure it’s not. Because
Teachers need to feel that they’re valued when they go to school. Students need to feel valued when they go to class. And if we’re having disruptions in classes, it prevents that from happening. we as a leadership, we need to continue
To push that not pushing kids out of the door, not expelling kids but giving them the tools, our teachers, our students, our parents even. The tools that they can use to hopefully put them in a position where the this one issue simply gets
Corrected. Because after all, we are training them to be productive citizens. And there’s not many jobs where I can be written up. I know if I was written up 15 times in a year, I wouldn’t have a job. Case in point. If I didn’t show
Up for work 15 times in a row, being late. Have a job. And I think we’re not teaching our kids what it’s expected in the real world. And finally, as part of being a superintendent, I think we need to make sure
We’re taking every effort we possibly can, not just because of the pandemic, and not just because God willing, we never have another storm like this. But it’s, this is taking on a new head of steam because of those issues. But we need to
Make sure we’re doing everything we can to communicate. I heard that a few times as well recently at the meetings. We gotta give the information out to our families. We have to give the information out to our public.
Cuz in a lot of ways, I businesses. If they knew some of the needs we have, if we communicated those needs. There’s a lot of companies out there that could possibly help us with the resources that they have to offer. And finally, in
Making our students more college career ready, which would be my simple way of looking at things. Is that all of those things come together when the kids starts pre K or when the kids starts kindergarten? We start working
On the idea of how the students leaving high school. And in the past three and a half years, that have been in my position, I’ve had the to work with a lot of great teams to put different programs together, working with
Them, and analyzing how we can, EMT programs. We looked at drone program. Many people don’t realize a kid can sit in class and play with a drone but they’re walking out with a tangible, marketable skill that is 16 years old as soon as they
Pass the test. Here, all company, I can go work for you and make some money. So, we’re doing a lot of great things but again, I think we need to communicate it more as we move forward. a snapshot of what I
Would do if given the opportunity to service the next superintendent but I thank you again and I look forward to your questions. Thank you mister Tubb and you you must have timed and speaks exactly 5 minutes. At this particular
Time, we we going to start the the questioning and asking session and these board members get the opportunity to ask a question. We’re going to go start on this side here, mister Hamlin. Mister Torbet, the Home of Terrebonne Chamber
Of Commerce has introduced to the Turbo Parish school system. 13 points of education that they believe are a vital interest to the community in Terrebonne Parish. Um one of these points includes early childhood education and the implementation of universal pre
K for all our four year olds. How would your plan for the Terrebonne Parish School District include this and what is philosophy is the education in regards to early childhood education. Thank you for asking the question because I think it
Goes right in line of what I just finished saying and the idea that the earlier we can address deficits when as soon he comes and I don’t mean that to be critical of anyone but some obviously we all know the kids come with different levels
Of education when they come into the building even in kindergarten. Um the earlier we can address that issue, the better and if we’re using a universal pre K type program, then I think they can definitely start to eliminate some of those issues because
The unfortunate thing is is that if we don’t address it early enough, first, second, third then we’re putting a situation where the the we talk about the achievement gap. It will continue to get bigger and bigger the longer we wait to
Address those issues. So to answer the question, I am in favor of universal pre K. If we can find a way that is feasible and we are able to sustain it from year to year. Thank you, mister Hamler, miss Benoit. Thank you, mister president. Uh
Mister Tolton. Hi. So, we all realize that education is constantly changing. They’re always moving the the bar for us but what would you think would be one recent trend that will have a major influence on school districts for year to
Come. I really believe one of the things we need to touch on, it goes back to some of the population shifts and where specifically, just one example, would be some of our limited English proficient students because as you can see in our
Data even as a district, while the the changes are not that drastic but we went from roughly 700 plus to now over 800 students that are limited English. It’s not all Hispanic students but a good chunk of it is. Using other departments,
We’re fortunate that say our federal department under missed degrees. She’s already started looking at and evaluating how we can some deficits on our end in addressing those issues and by changing and allowing a class to be set up, working
With her and her group, our high school principal is going to start us a speech class if it stays that name that way to where these kids will be serviced every day. Instead of being serviced on a rotating schedule. Uh huh. So,
That’s definitely one example of it. Um obviously, given the circumstances we’re facing right now, which unfortunately won’t be a short-term fix. That would definitely From the pandemic and then compounding it obviously with the storm. It’s put us in a position where
We really need to be on on board of looking out. How we can evaluate our remediation programs. How we can evaluate our courses. Again, working with Doctor Bro and her staff at Special Ed. We already started looking at some of the
Remediation courses that we’re offering at the high school level and again, it goes back to what I mentioned earlier that the amount of time that is lapsed between maybe identifying the student at because again, elementary people see it early on where
They start to see what these interventions may be more beneficial but waiting to high school maybe too late. I say too late. I don’t want to say it too late but it’s definitely going to make the challenge a little bit more harder to
Overcome. So, I definitely think putting intervention programs earlier but not adding to the teacher’s plate and I think that’s one thing that we need to be careful of is that if we find an intervention plan that is better than what we
Already have in place than we should eliminate and replace or replace in not Negham has been amongst the forward. Mister Torbett, you’ve always been known as a disciplinarian and for that, I’m I’m certain that if you were to be the superintendent,
Consistency would be the key. However, over the last couple of years, there’s been a trend where our graduates here in South Louisiana and across the nation seem to be lacking those soft skills even though we’ve implemented these work keys
Testing and and whatnot. How do you, how do you envision or what do you propose that you would be able to do to develop those soft skills for our graduates so they are ready to go into the workforce and be productive. Well, mister Ford
To address it and we have courses that are designed that we have right now just about air, every 8th grader in our system takes the course quest for success. That course is designed to educate kids about what opportunities may exist in
A specific career field. Give em some type of training if you would when it’s what’s expected of a company. Um those also can be expanded to include soft-skilled training to where our students again, a a use target because tardy is one of
The biggest discipline issues that we face on our high school campuses knew I faced it as a junior high too. The catch is is that if we don’t train them to know that hey, a job you’re expected just as we have a bell
That rings for 715 or 7 o’clock or 2 o’clock that they’re being trained to follow a work schedule and if they don’t follow that work schedule just for one example, then, obviously, you don’t have a work, you don’t have a job. And
I think we need to understand and recognize from the faculty, from parents, even from continue to recognize. I don’t want to people don’t see that but to see how we’re working with kids on soft skills from the moment that they enter the
Building to the moment that they have a tardy bell to launches even signal by bell and so on and there’s obviously historical references to all that but so that’s what I would say. We have courses that are there to start establishing the
Elementary grades 8th and below they also have mandates they have to follow certain career education type guidelines that’s where you can start to put the seeds in place but the benefit of a high school even in the middle school it gives
Them the opportunity to earn Carnegie Credit, they can apply toward their graduation but it also frees up space for our gifted type students or our honors type students. Some would say, well, why do I have to take the course? But the
Bottom line is it is one of the electors they can use toward their graduation and it also frees up space where we’re trying to do later on to where we can take advantage of the dual enrollment process. Thank you mister Ford. Mister Dehart.
No question. Thank you. Doctor Tran. Thank you mister Hardy. Hello, mister Tobin. Hi. Good leaders are necessary at every level. Starting with the superintendent. But especially important at at a school. How would you choose those school leaders and develop the current
Ones that we already have in place? Uh and what would happen should we have an issue with one of these leaders and not living up to expectation. try to if I forget peace, tell me. Uh well, first and foremost,
When I came out of high school, one of the things, first steps that I took as an adult was to enlist in the Louisiana Army National Guard. So, I started cutting my teeth as leadership and getting voiced on or versed
On leadership early on. Not to mention too, having being the youngest of four, two older brothers. Y’all can read between the lines on that. The the catch is is that but also to those guys as well, my brothers also were active duty
Army. So, I was really getting ex to a lot of different leadership styles at that point. If there’s one thing that I really took from the National Guard is that even though we’re all leaders in a sense eventually, when you
Become a leader, is that you all have different styles. We all have ways to do it. That mean it’s a wrong way. If it’s meaning the standard. And we used to say it in the in the National Guard all the time, the state operating procedure.
It’s meant to be consistent but at the end of the day, how you get there, how you answer that call? Again, as long as you meet in the standard and it’s legal, it’s ethical, it’s moral. The bottom line is that
You met the standard. In the way I work with my guys now, work with them is that I’m fortunate that they they all have different styles. The administrators that I’ve had the benefit of working with, they’ve all had different
Styles and I’ve told them many times over. A lot of the things they do, I would not do it the way they do it. But again, they’re meeting the standard and if they’re not meeting the standard, we have a discussion.
We look at it. We evaluate it. What could we do differently? Our process of evaluation is is there’s a lot of parallels. Those of you that don’t know, what we use in the army well as what we use in civilian life is
That usually you have your pre observational conference where you generally you’ll talk about it, right? When things are going well, when things aren’t, what things need to be touched on, what am I going to see when I go, you do the observation,
Then you come out of the observation, do after action, which we refers to in the military. The catch is, is that, then you review it, but then you expect the follow up to where those individuals will follow up. To answer your
Question, I’ve been fortunate that the administrators that I worked with, have not gotten to the point where you have the conversation to say, if you don’t do X, Y, and Z, do you pay, you’re possibly facing termination and ultimately,
That’s what happens and to me, a good leader is someone who knows the power they have. If you depend on that power to lead, you’re not leading. Good point. And and in my point, in my opinion, the way I’m, again,
I’m fortunate to have the guys that I work with. Uh and I’m also fortunate to have the other supervisors that I work with that gives me the opportunity to bounce things off before so that because hey, we’re human. We overreact just
The same sometimes too. Am I looking at wrong. Am I looking at his right? God bless my wife because I probably talk to her more than he do on some of these things but the catch is is that but it helps me to see
It from a different perspective. Cuz I am fortunate as I mentioned earlier for my entire life. My mom’s a retired teacher and gotten his counselor from the system. Dad taught in the sixties. The catch is is that, you know, so
It’s a good bouncing board to say, what do you, you know, not necessarily being specific about the issue but talk about the generalities of it to see if this is something that would get another perspective. Thank you. Thank you, Doctor Trent
Hall. Mister Lagarde. Hello, mister Howard. Hi. Good. Okay, mister Talbot, I don’t know if you realize this. I was a graduate of South Turtleman High School. Okay. And when I came out of high school, I went and visit a lot of different
Colleges, LSU recruit me but one of the biggest things that caught me about Granite State University, Why high school? I’ve never had a black teacher at South Turbo and then, when I graduated, came back to work, I think I was the still the only
Black teacher working there. Now, statistics have told us and I have read in the Research have said that African American kids do better when they have African-American role models in the school and we know as a teacher shortage but I want to
Know how would you or what would you do to recruit African-American males into this parish. You could stay not like the current administration we had that didn’t recruit it. What would you do differently than the current administration? Good question,
Mister Lagar because I also saw the stats too that if you look at the majority of our faculties across the state are mainly white females. Uh What I would look at it goes back to what I open my my presentation
Up with. It’s making them see not only the benefits and things that we can offer as a district and thankfully so but also to see how welcoming we are. And I can tell you in our day and age if somebody’s passing up a certified teacher
That is not that shows the ability or shows the want the desire to improve and to develop then shame on them. And it doesn’t matter what it doesn’t matter if they’re African American, if they’re female. Uh the bottom line is
Is that unfortunately not to say that we just take everybody but at the end of the day, we definitely can take if somebody shows that effort and shows want to drive that, I use myself as an example. I was a non-certified teacher when I
Started. Thankfully, I worked for somebody like Mark Trosclair and Sherry Jones while I was certified by the time I went to HL but they saw something in me that I, there was a time when they moved me to a different grade level. Not
Because I screwed up but because the teacher quit. And frankly, I almost quit too. So, the thing is is that as I looked at it and mister Trusco used to happen to be a friend of my dad’s from childhood and
I mentioned to him that I I did. I told him. I said, you know, you obviously saw something in me that I couldn’t see. I only have 2 years. He had thirty. And I think African American applicants need to recognize how welcoming our
System is. And definitely, it will be a task. It will be a job for us to invite anybody. Again, I go back to the, you certified, you have the want that desire. It’s a great place to to be. Thank you, sir. Yes,
Sir. Thank you, mister god. Hi, mister Ford. Hi. Um you mentioned about getting information out to the community Very important. Can you name some of the methods of which you would do that? Sure. So, obviously, with today’s day and age with technologies, you
Have the social media platforms that you can use. It wouldn’t rely solely on that. You have the J Campus text messaging system. You have the in that system. You can also send voice mail or voice messages which I found out after using it. Yeah,
You tend to get a lot of missed calls on that one so they call you back. Whereas, if you do a text, it’s a whole lot better, just food for thought. Anyway, but because you know what? They’re like me. You don’t even
Play the voicemail, you see a missed call, you call it, right? So, yeah, I kind of made a mistake a few times. The catch is is that so definitely the texting, the voicemail if you choose to. Uh obviously, the webpages, the social media
Pages, you can do the the letters but we all, I mean, many of us have been in the system. Those letters, you’re lucky if it makes it out the door of the classroom. So, I would think those would be my primary but definitely open to
Other suggestions and other ways that we could possibly look at it. Making this all the mister visa. Yes, sir. How you doing, mister Torbet? I’m good. How are you? Good to see you there. See you here. Uh teachers have a huge influence
On children’s lives. Many of them feel overwhelmed and somewhat unsupported even before COVID in Ida. Teachers are continuously being asked to add to their plates which you mentioned earlier. We need to encourage teachers to inspire students. Teachers have the
Power to impact students’ lives positively or negatively. Teachers can students to achieve great things. If you are our next superintendent, how would you address this very important issue that we have facing for several years? How do we get back to letting the
Teachers teach and inspire our young minds? I’d like to go, thank you for the question mister Vozakus. One thing that stuck with me through the pandemic piece having I know I probably use Cathy too much but the catch is that Cathy was one
Of the virtual teachers as well. Come home after teaching throughout the day then getting online and virtual and this and the other. The thing about virtual and the reason why I bring it up is because she had out of maybe forty, 50 kids.
She would have on average about ten, 12 kids that would actually join her for the Google Meets. The reason why I bring it up is because you can’t replace a quality teacher. I go back to mister Lagard’s question or question
That there’s no replacement in my opinion no matter how great the program is. I think the kids still need that interaction. So, having said that, miss LaRose and I often talk about miss LaRose, the supervisor of elementary. Her
And I, as a matter of fact, earlier, today, we talked about the idea that one of the things that we need to do is it is great that we’re getting all these grant funds and it’s great that we’re getting all these financial support from
Different avenues but one of the problems is just what you’re saying. It’s great that we can get all programs because everybody’s got the new, it’s sort of like I’m sure those of you unfortunately that dealt with damage from the storm,
Everybody can fix your problem, right? It’s the same thing with education. We seem to get bombarded with people who wanted, oh, we can fix it, we can fix it, and if we throw money at it, then, obviously, you throw money at it, there’s
That expectation we put money on and I think we have to be careful to take a breath and say, we don’t need it. Uh I know finance might be mad at me but I think we can tell some of the federal grant processes.
No, we don’t want your money. and we because if it means that we have to do just that. Creating burdens for our teachers and burdens for our support staff too. We can’t forget about our parents. We can’t forget about those group
Group of people because they work in a lot of ways and sometimes they work in there as an extension of the teacher in most cases. So, they’re getting bogged down too and they’re getting burned out the same. And so I definitely the first
Thing that I would look at is that what things can we eliminate? Not replace but eliminate. And working with the man, I wish people knew how strong our supervisor staff is. Not talking about me, talking about others that help and we
Work in a team because the programs that miss LaRose does at elementary, the programs that miss Volklane does in middle. It definitely affects and ripples up the ladder to us because we definitely don’t want to see a situation where
If this school over here is requiring using these programs, well, this school over here doesn’t require it. So, Imma go over there. Then, the domino effect of that creates so many issues and we don’t need that as a district. Thank you. Thank
You, mister. Uh good afternoon, miss Talbot. How you doing? My question is, we have a couple coaches in the audience tonight. and every year, it seemed like that we have a problem with hiring coaches, and retaining good coaches and of course,
Everybody here knows that’s dear to my heart when it come down to athletics. If you go back and look at stats, 95% of kids that participate in extracurricular activity graduate. So, to some kids or some students, those coaches are just as important as those
Teachers counselors, and principals. If you’re selected as a next superintendent, whoop. you do or what ideas would you have to possibly to retain more certified coaches or more pay or any suggestions? Yes, sir. It it’s ironic you ask the question because one of
The first tasks I guess because coach McCormick knew me from the South Terrebonne. I think that might have been my first call when I was supervisor of secondary and what can we do about salvaries? What can we do about attracting good
Candidates? Not to say we don’t have them now. First off, let’s talk facilities for a next second. When you guys voted to the turf in place. I know as a former official, that was, that’s great. Uh, that’s a great way to update your
Facilities. It really enhances what our programs can do. They don’t have down days and things like that. Think that helps minimize frustration when you have situations where we can’t practice today because I want to tear up the field or
That junior high can’t play or whichever the case may be because a lot of times our junior high programs feed into the high school. I’m talking about coaching staffs. So that’s one thing. We can definitely continue to look at
Our facilities and see if we’re keeping them updated as much as we can based on the feas of it. We also can look at, again, go back to the salary structure of how we pay in our coaches. I know there’s many different
Examples of how that’s happening across the state. Uh I know next door in Lafourche, they were doing some different things over the years. I’m not quite certain if they still do it the same. Where percentages were done based on their
Salaries and it helped motivate coaches and it might add band and other supporting elements. I would consider that as part of it. To see what ways we can entice the coaches to stick it out and stay with it. Cuz as a secondary supervisor, as you
Guys know, I also oversees sports and one of the things that I do deal with is when you deal with the resignations of the coaches because well they got a different job in the afternoon or and especially right now with some of our
Schools going so late and all, you know, the whole deal about that. So, it’s becoming more and more challenging to entice a student at our teacher to say, come out and coach for us. So, Devin, those will be my two biggest things is looking how
We can update our facilities outside of hurricane damage but also how we can also entice them possibly of looking at salary structure and how that can be something that could entice them to come on board and I might add two, we can ask
Him. We can bring in ADs. we can bring in coaches, and we have a wealth of knowledge with our coaching staffs throughout our district as junior high, middle school, high school as well, and again, goes back to communication or information.
If there’s a way that we can do it and it stays feasible for us to do it, where it can be sustained, because that’s the last thing too, that we want to do is, what we gotta cut two coaches so we can make up with
A salary difference. Uh, I definitely don’t want to get into that. Thank you on the Sabbath. Uh the question and answer session have come to an end. Time, you have your five-minute closing, sir. Well, once again, thank you all for
Your time tonight. I appreciate even the audience for sticking around. The catch is is that again, my entire life, specifically, 27 years in the district. I’ve missed many things on the family side. Not because I’m not a family guy but because sometimes it’s hard
To balance. Do you go for that game not go for that game. I think it helped that I was in the referee for so long. My wife was used to me not being there for Friday. So, it made it easy for me to go catch
Games. I still enjoyed doing that. I’m not stopping that if I happen to be selected because I think it’s important at the everybody sees you. I think people underestimate the power of seeing that administrator standing on the sideline. Whether the game is in Bossier
City, which I’ve done and back at school the next morning. It was tough, but I did it. But the catch is, is that, I think it’s important for people to see that. Uh, it’s important to drive if you have to cross
State to Lake Charles and we’ll watch a swim meet. Who knew that was so intense? But the catch is, it almost fell in the pool a couple of times but to catch it because they put you right on the edge. The but the
Catch is again guys is that graduated from HL Bourgeois 104 in my family that did. My wife is a graduate of HL Bourgeois. Although we do pull for South Terrible. The catch is is that in Elder I was at Elder game
Too. So he did Couldn’t wear a red shirt though. I’m sorry. but the catch is guys is that we we love it here. We even stayed for Ida and yes, Cathy still talks to me. We were still in the house for Ida and
Thankfully, we made it through with not near the issues that some of our families are dealing with. As the National Guard soldier, I pulled people out of houses for Hurricane Andrew. And so we know what the devastation can do to families
And we’re here. And we’re going to here. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon, mister Washington. Good afternoon. How you doing? Good evening. Oh, good evening, sir. Okay. Uh again, like I stated in my open statement, you have 5 minutes
Of of opening and then you have 20 minutes of answering questions. Whoever board member would ask a question once and then at the end of that question session, you have 5 minutes closing. Yes, sir. So, this particular time you have
The flow, sir. Yes, sir. Alright, good evening everyone. First, I would like to thank the board for this interview opportunity to be considered as your next superintendent of schools. I consider this a less, I consider this to be
Blessed and an honor to be here this evening and I am humble about this opportunity. Because I once worked in this great parish for a number of years for the majority of the leaders who are here. I know for a fact
That this system has a dedicated group of educators and board members committed to the growth and achievement of all students as well as developing the whole child. Likewise, other district across the state are committed as well to ensure that every child,
Especially those who struggle the most, have the same opportunity to thrive. To ensure that every child is progressing toward their overall growth target, there must be a structured process in place that allow teachers and leaders the ability to analyze student data, identify academic
Behavior deficiencies, and select the most effective strategy or intervention to address the needs his or her students. To continue meeting this challenge, we require strong leadership, vision, dedication, and a holistic understanding of the organizational structures that required for for growth for
All. I’m completing my 25th year in public education. Most of which was in Terrebonne Parish. I served as a EBD teacher, English, Math, Inclusion Teacher, Austin teacher, and behavior interventionist all while serving as the head football, coach, basketball coach, and
Track coach. Administratively, I served as assistant principal at the 9 to 12 High School, principal at K to 12 High School, Alternative School, Principal at Junior High School, and currently assistant superintendent of administration. Throughout my career as a educator and
Leader. I’ve consistently demonstrated my ability to bring about positive changes in various educational settings and communities. As a teacher, I effectively manage to learn the environment, differentiating instructions to bring about positive differentiating instructions to meet the individual needs of
Students and showed evidence of student growth and improved behavior. As a building-level administrator, I supported teachers by providing strong leadership in a number of ways to include but not limited to, creating and maintaining a school environment to learning, providing frequent
Opportunities for teachers to collaborate doing POCs, providing ongoing job and being professional development opportunities, and ensuring that informal, formal observation occurred multiple times per year with staff getting regular, consistent, and actionable feedback. In my current position, I’ve been involved doing the
Implementation of various various instructional and administrative initiatives, data team implementation, district walk rules, creation of turnaround zones, and turnaround schools, scale up initiatives, restructuring an alternative program, implementing district wide staff student safety, wellness, training programs, cost saving measures, school
Reconfederations, and currently the district initiative better facilities, better programming, and better pay. My success in education has and continue to be manifested by my loyalty to students. My efforts will always be intentional with the ladies like focus to support
And develop the whole child. I believe I have the experience, knowledge, desire, and key competency competency skills necessary to lead this district and meet the challenges that lie ahead. I provided you with a packet that I would like to just briefly indicate what’s in
That packet. The first one is just an interest letter. The next one would be the 100 days that I was spent. I was spent 100 days upon if given the opportunity to serve in this capacity. As you can see, the first days will be spent
Intentionally observing, listening, and learning, analyzing data, evaluating the organizational structure, reviewing financial resources, and auditing physical structures. In a sense, what I will be doing is capturing what the people say, what the data say, what the position say,
What the money say, and what the building say. You can see the other bullets there. The next document is a school improvement blueprint. I have implemented blueprint when I was here serving that at the school at the Andrew Price when
I was at Oak Lawn and when I went with mister Odemon in Rapids Parish and we continue to do that right now. Basically, you see the mission is still the same. The the vision is still the same and the goals. Basically, this is a
Structure that allows teacher the ability to analyze student data and make instructional decisions to meet the needs of students. Here you have a shared set of principles. That’s the five essential practice for effective schools and you have a data team process which is
A collaborative formative, highly structured, collaborative model, ground and informative assessment and that’s what frequent analysis of student data which allows the teacher to identify the most effective instructional strategies to meet the needs of students. You see there’s a three-step process which
Includes the instructional data team, the building data team, and the district data team along with a multi-tier system of support, okay? Support is provided in three levels. Basically, it provided on the school level. is provided on a student tier level academic,
And behavior. So, as as a school letter grade drop, showed us the support is provided, okay? The next document is just literacy, early literacy strategy measures. Uh we know about the need for kids to be on grade level at the end of third
Grade. The next on the next page, you see the measures to recruit and retain Holly, qualified teachers, and support staff. It’s not just about recruiting and retaining highly quality teachers but it’s also about the support staff. Uh that if you lose a individual
Let’s say a Hvac, it is costly when you lose that experience. So, it’s about trying to retain everyone as much as possible. Those are some measures that I would take to recruit and maintain high-quality staff. The next one is just a outline
Of what I would do in terms of physical plant audit as well as on the other side, the risk management audits. The next pulling together. That is the framework that I adopted back in when I was at Oakland as well as at Andrew Price. This
Is a framework for high poverty, high-performing teamwork, okay? And so you can look at the steps right there. The next is just a bullet list of accomplishment that I’ve accomplished over the years. Excuse me, mister Washington. Uh you’re about 2 minutes over.
Okay. Um what you can do if on the till then, if you want to finish that or if you can finish that off. I didn’t want to interrupt you on this one. But I was trying to some latitude but I didn’t know how
Much longer you have left. No, it’s fine. The only thing is, what’s the letters? The reference letters in the back and you can see it for your reference. Okay. That’s it. Alright. Thank you, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.
No, that’s fine. Okay. Alright. Alright. At this particular time, we’re going to do now, we’re going to start our question and answering session. Uh we’re going to start on the leftover image of the advisor. Thank you mister president. How you doing, mister Washington?
Doing fine, sir. Good to see you. Uh it pretty much covered a lot in that production, man. I appreciate all that. So, I’m going to change my question Um if you are our next superintendent, what do you see as being our biggest challenge
In Turbone Parish and how do you plan to address it? Right now, I think the biggest challenge is getting these facilities back up and running. Um you know, I I came here Saturday and I went around this the the school, search schools,
And I also just rode around the community and there’s a lot of destruction out there. I mean, and so, one of the things I think is getting the schools back in order. Um the way to I guess address that would be to
Identify your funding sources. Um one thing you can look at first, I guess to see how much you have in the Special Reserve, that would be one option. We’ll just go through a couple options. If you look at Special Reserve, mostly, if you
Have, let’s say 6 months operational moneys in the Special Reserve then you possibly can take some moneys from there to make those immediate repairs until you can recover from Fema or the insurance company. Um it’s to have at least three months in
Special Reserve but if you have six, that’s that’ll make it easy to take three and go that route. The other way immediate to make immediate repairs would be possibly to I guess take out a depth certificate of indebtedness where you borrow
Money and and you again, it’s like an obligation. It’s I owe you in a sense and there’s a certain I guess, rate that you’re going to have to pay on that money but again, even with that option, you have to possibly look at other funding
Source that you’re going to have to pay for that monthly. So, you’re going to have to reallocate some money somewhere to be able to pay the monthly bill until again, you can recover the claims from Fema or insurance company. digmatified
And misole Hello. Um my question has been what communication methods would you use between the district and community and I see that you covered that saying that you would hold meetings with our community leaders and and businesses and build those
Relationships. So so I appreciate that. Do you have any specific things? Uh ways that you know that we can build that. Yes, ma’am. I, you know, I’m one where I’m hands on. Uh I’m personable. I like to have be in person when I’m having a
Conversation. I think one is just inviting people to the board and and discussing concerns, issues. I believe in giving people a voice and hearing a voice. Uh I be believe in being open to change and working for a social change. Um we can’t discredit
When someone has an opinion whether we agree with it or not. Uh we have to and and and then that’s the reason why I say collect data, Uh listen, observe, listen, and and learn. It’s about collecting data. What did they see? We need to
Change. What do they say we need to keep doing. Uh gather that data so that we can make good informed decision for the people. Uh and then come up with strategies for doing that. Thank you solely mister Lagarde. Hello, mister Watson.
How you doing? I’m doing fine. Thank you for staying so late. Alright. Uh mister Washington, you know, everybody pretty much know that I’m the type of person I like to see the person. You know, I I think anybody, we hire a
Superintendent or come in here and have the ideas or or bring people but my thing is I like to know the man or woman or person and so forth. We don’t want to have gentleman. So, my my question is to you. is that
What was your greatest professional disappointment and what did you learn from it? Because, you know, my, my thing is, I want to learn the soul of a person and that going to tell me how they going to deal with the community, how they
Going to deal with the people that going to supervise when I know that that person I can sleep and feel comfortable with. So, you want to know what is my personal? Your greatest professional disappointment and how did you come back from it
All? What did you learn from it? Hmm, you know, I guess when I’m, you know, if I’m thinking about opportunity when I was working on my doctor’s program, something like that maybe. Uh I was working on my doctor’s program and I wanted to do that
To enhance my knowledge and skills so that I can better serve the students and and the community and my profession. Um and you know, certain times, things came up and and and pretty much I end up having to pull back and and not
Completing that. That didn’t hurt my my knowledge base, my skill didn’t keep me from growing professionally. I still enhance that but I I believe that that is something that I’m disappointed in myself because I didn’t go through and finish
That. I don’t like the starts up and not finish and it’s no different than when I, you know, try to tell kids or model for my own kids, You know, if you’re going to start something, you’re finishing and so, I didn’t finish it. So,
That’s a disappointment for me because I look for to be a good role model and a model for even my own kids and and I don’t want them to see me give up on something or not finish something that I said I was
Going to do or that I started. and so you know, that’s I guess that’s for me because I do have kids and I had kids doing that time and I didn’t finish and they knew how it started it and so, I guess that’s one of the
Things. If I answer this question. Thank you, sir. Thank you, mister Lagard, Doctor Tran. Well, let me begin with my first with my personal experience. It’s never too late to finish that doctorate. I think we’re in it together. I don’t know. How would you
Increase student income outcomes by ensuring each student can be the best that that student can be. Whether that’s suited as a high achiever or if that student is challenged academically. Okay. And going back to that form if you look at that that sheet
That I provided for you. Uh the one with the. Yes sir. Right here. It’s basically going through that process right there. Um first of all when you look at going through this process, you look at the curriculum. You have to make
Sure you have a good tier one curriculum that’s being implemented for fidelity. Okay? Implemented with fidelity means that they’re aligning the us to instruction assessment and data analysis, okay? So, if they’re doing that with fidelity, then, they should meet at least 80%
Of the student body. If it’s not being done with fidelity, then, we have to provide the teachers some professional developments so that we can. That’s one of the things. In identify, the next thing is identifying your students. Identifying your students by
Tearing the students. You look at the tier approach to support, okay? And you’re looking at the MTSS right there. That’s considered multi-tier systems of support. That clues looking at various sources of data, academic data, discipline data, attendance, various sources of the data to
Better meet the needs of students. Um when you tier kids, you’re going to provide them support based on where they at, okay? So, you have some kids who are on grade level or or or can can pretty much operate on that general
Curriculum, they’re fine but those who are require a little bit more support than you provide the general curriculum with differentiated instruction and then you provide the targeted support. For those that require a little bit more, again, you you provide the
General curriculum with in differentiated instruction to include the target and more one-on-one in it in intensive support and so, to meet every kid is about constantly diagnosing where they at, providing them the support they need based on where they at and
Again, they’re going to fall within one of the tiers. Tier one, tier 2, tier three. Thank you. I actually that because the the best biggest success I ever had as an administrator is when I challenge the kids to do better than they did
Themselves. And grew not not be looking at how they did compared to other students but compared to themselves. Yes, ma’am. Yeah. Yes, ma’am. Thank you, Doctor Trium. Mister D Hart. Mister, thank you. Uh mister Ford. Mister Washington. Uh One of the questions Mike
Had been asking all night is about recruitment and I know how how intensively you recruit qualified teachers and and and young enthusiastic teachers. So, I don’t think I might get into that. However, since you’ve been gone, you seem to
Gain a little bit of wisdom, knowledge as seen by the gray hairs. Yeah. In your beard. Yeah. So, what I want to know is of that wisdom and knowledge you’ve gained and those skills that you’ve developed and honed. What can you bring to
The table here that’s going to make our district better? I think what I can bring as a person who’s to operate with integrity. Uh I lead by example. Uh when I was at Oak Lawn, I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something and I wouldn’t do,
Okay? Um when we look at the words engage, educate, empower every student every day. Uh those are words that you have to put in action, okay? You said engage, guarantee, and essential curriculum. Well, how do you guarantee an essential curriculum. You have to engage
In behaviors to ensure that in that curriculum is being delivered with fidelity. One of the measures that I did to do that is to make sure that we teachers had to turn in lesson plans daily. And we had a rubric that we measured the
Level of that of that lesson that measured the the rigor of that lesson plan. That is something to ensure that they look planning and preparation is not just a one observation thing. It’s over time. When you’re looking at provide the culture and climate conducive
To learning. We engaged in behaviors to ensure that at that campus. Every day, we had established routines, procedures, and expectation that was monitored, modeled by all, and and known by all. Okay? And it’s something that you do every day to model for
Kids. When we model certain behaviors for kids, it creates environment where they know what to expect and they can govern themselves. When you look at an academic learning time, teacher had to be ready to prepare when students enter the classroom. They had to have
Daily, daily, dedicated lesson plans available that would align with the standards and assessments. They had to have bell ringers. They had to have a student-friendly objective and reference it at the said induction throughout the lesson and doing lesson closure. That
Was monitored. We had leadership teams who who visit every classroom every week. Everybody saw someone every day. So, what I would do is engage in behaviors to ensure that we’re meeting these essential practices and one of the other things is how you
Communicate with with people. I think I can bring people who want to stay in an environment because of my personality. I’m I’m I’m very firm in terms of what I expect but my delivery, I can address any person who may have
Lack of a performance but it’s going to be addressed in a way where I’m not talking down to. I’m making them aware of certain deficiencies but I’m also providing them measures to correct those deficiencies, okay? The goal is to grow
Teachers not to just run em out. So, it’s about providing the professional development to help them be successful. It’s about supporting them in every way possible. It’s about making them the best that they can be. Thank you mister Ford. Miss Benoit. Thank you, mister
President. Um mister Washington, it’s nice to meet you. You’re a good reputation as an educator from this parish. I know precedes you. So, nice to meet you tonight. Um my question is about this. New studies reveal the role of local superintendents is
Evolving and although it’s not clear what the role will become in the future, it seems certain that uncertainty will be the hallmark of the job. That require a different set of expectations from those of the exiting the profession today.
Um we we do see an uncertain political climate that surrounds the schools that will require the superintendent to be proficient in politics and the art of persuasion. Much of the work will revolve around the ability to create and maintain relationships. The
Modern superintendent will not be just the superintendent of schools whose job is to oversee and manage but he will be a intended that we’ll have to navigate an uncertain terrain with skill and finesse. So, I want to point out that it it
Sounds like in this study, the the key is that the work will resolve around the ability to create and maintain relationships. So, how would you go about creating and maintaining relationships both within the district and the the people that work here as well
As outside the district. Okay. One of the things that on that measure to recruit and retain high-quality teachers. That’s one of the things I would do. One of the things I believe in empowerment, okay? Um and this
Is what I I did when I was here at the alternative. This is what I did when I was in Oakland. This is what I do in in Rapids Parish. I send empowering message to employees. Um and it’s it’s pretty much I believe that it
Has to come from the top down, okay? Um you never know what an individual maybe going through and getting the right message at the right time makes a big difference and I’ve heard that numerous times in sending those empowering message to
Individuals. I’m a personal book person like I mentioned before. I believe that having conversation, going meet and and and speak with people and let them know you hear them. Uh speaking with all staff, not just professional but support
As well. Everyone has a role in this district. you have to make everyone feel valued, appreciated, and respected for the work that they do. From the bus drivers who pick up the students initially, to the cafeteria workers who feed
Them. Everyone has a role to play and everyone has to engage, educate, and empower in some way. What how we model? So, that’s one of the other ways. I would also foster college and climb and do some learning by having high
Expectations. I I believe one of the things he mentioned was about facilities. We have to our facilities back in order, okay? Um people want to be in safe, secure environments and we create those safe and secure environments by the structures
And measures we put in place and that we carry out every day in our everyday actions and one of the things is about having a safe and secure and clean environment. Um another thing is about about providing high-quality, professional development for our new
Individuals in order to retain any new teachers, you you gotta provide them with some you have to provide them with the first level of training and ongoing training and you lose people when you don’t give them the support they need to be
Effective Whether it be instructional or classroom management. If they’re struggling trying to manage the class and we never provide them with the training as required by Act 136 then we’re we’re there to disadvantage. And so when people are happy at work
Meaning happy because they get in the professional development they need in all then they’re going to be productive. Productive people are happy people. Um another thing is build a leash your capacity. I feel like it’s a non negotiable. Um building level
We should expect our building level principles to build leadership capacity at their school. No one person runs the school. No one person runs the district. It requires a team effort. And so when you have individuals on your campus with multiple talents and abilities
You need to tap into those abilities. That way your can thrive even when you may not be there. So, that’s another area. Um look for ways to tap into the talents. One of the ways that I tap into the talents of
Our staff is that hey, look, if I can go ahead and assign some task to you such as let’s say overtime for you to do a task for me instead of outsourcing it. First of all, I’m saving money because I’m not
Outsourcing it and I’m giving it back to the employees who can do it. So, you build morale and you build confidence and you people going to want to be an environment where they see that hey, look, my talent is valuable. They see this. It’s
It’s appreciate recognizing and celebrate. We have to celebrate. I I think I remember seeing where you guys celebrated the school that won the state championship. We have to celebrate success. Even the small ones. Small things just make a difference. And we can’t
Just wait for the big big you know thing to happen. Anything that’s small we need to just celebrate. And that’s one of the things that starts at the school level and also starts at the district. Let’s start at the district level. And again
Find ways to incentivize staff in schools for the effort. You know extra money is available to reward staff for for a performance as well as to retain individuals. Uh when I was at Oak Lawn, I had certain monies to to utilize and I
Allocated to support staff. Now, how I did that? Because we were providing job-enbedded PD on the campus, okay? So, instead of me trying to get someone from outside to come and do this PD, he was going to charge us. Probably going to
Spend the money somewhere else in another district. I’m going to find somebody who’s skilled to deal deliver that same training on campus and pay the have to do it. Can’t be done doing the hours, 2 hours. It’s after school hours but we
Can pay them to get the PD that they need and they get paid to do it. So, you gotta find ways to incentivize your employee as much as possible because when you do that, they appreciate you. They don’t want to come to
This this this school system. They’re going to feel like it’s a culture climate that supports their employees, that recognize their employees, that see them as valued and appreciated and that’s where you can get individual. That’s what I what’s the of personality I
Bring to the table and I believe that’s what I can do here. they can depend on mister Hamler. Thank you. Mister Washington, the home of Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce together with the Tarebone Parish School Board have formed a very strategic partnership in
Education. Um 4 years ago, the chamber introduced what they call the 13 Points of Education at the Business community. Please to be a vital interest to the citizens of Terrebonne Parish. One of these points includes early childhood education and the
Implementation of universal pre K for all four year olds in Terrebonne Parish. My question is how would your plan for our school system and your philosophy of education for education fit into that that that goal. Well, when you look at early childhood, I mean,
That’s what we gotta start. We gotta get them on grade level by the end of third grade. That’s what the research says and it’s been saying it for a long time. Uh universal screening that that is something that we have to do
With the kids at the beginning of the year, the middle, middle of the year, and at the at the end of the year to assess them along the way and provide them the support they need to grow and show growth and be on track
For great level. The new accountability system is addressing that. It’s addressing where they’re trying to bridge the gap between early childhood and K through three accountability to create a cohesive birth to 12 grading system and to do that, you have
To have all the assessment tools, the observation tools aligned and that’s what’s being done right now. So, when you look at it, one of the things if you look at that strategic measure, I got it lined up right there the first thing you
Do is administrate literacy screening to all K to two students at beginning, middle, and end of the year to identify reading proficiency in order to prioritize and plan. That’s the first thing. Second thing, use the use the initial and midyear screening to diagnose students,
Identify the most effective strategy to address the needs. Now, the students scoring above might be able to consider them for gifted programs. Students going below you definitely want to provide them the support that they need. Uh you want to ensure that tier one
Curriculum is taught being taught. That’s one of the things I mentioned before. Um you have to make sure that it’s being taught with fidelity, align the standards to the instruction assessment and data analysis. Uh allow for extra time for content but one of the
Things that can definitely be done is you look at what’s needed in the classroom. First of all, and at the school for that matter. First of all, it’s maybe best to invest in having a reading interventionist at every elementary school, okay?
Uh having a focus literacy instructional coach at every school. We end up having that when I was at Oak One, Literacy Coach and a reading interventionist. So, invest in that. Make sure you provide the necessary to the teachers. Teachers need to know how to
Utilize these universal screeners to identify where students at and make the most effective reading plan to address their need. Dibbles is one of the universal screenings, eyes deepest ones, eight step is one, and I believe a free one that’s being
Offered by the state. Um Acadians reading. That maybe one is off of by the state that’s free of charge. So, one of the things that I would also encourage is that we want to have almost like what they say, we call an Irapies Parish
Reading Revival where you provide resources to families because anything that you can do where you can get family involved is is key. Um provide resource to pay the families so that they can maybe share reading with kids after school, be doing the holiday.
Definitely have a literacy summer camp to minimize the summer loss. So, those are some of the things I think working with various groups that we can collaborate to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to keep treat kids on track for
Reading so that they can be on grade level by the end of third grade and continue to progress as they go to the system. Thank you. Thank you, mister Handler. Uh mister Washington, I think in your introduction, he answered about all my questions
That I need to ask. So, I’m just going to ask you to close the little book real quick. What you want me to do? Just close your book real quick. Okay. Okay, I would like to know since you already answered
All my questions and and your introduction, I think you’ve been gone 9 years, right? 9 years? Yes, sir. 9 years. Okay. And and that was promotion which it which I think will applaud that because you left the auto system to go there to
Be a superintendent. 9 years, you’ve been gone. I want you to tell this boy, myself, and the public, why you want would like to come back? Well, Terrebonne has always been my home, okay? Um when I did go into the doctor’s program, one of the
Goals was to become the superintendent of Turbo Parish. We had to write that and explain that in there. Um so, it’s always been my home when I left to get that take that position up in Rapids Parish. I never sold my home. I still
Have my home. That’s where I’m at right now. I’m going back there tonight. Uh and I never will. I I love turbo and I come down here regularly to go fish, hunt, a crab. I do all that stuff. Um I feel that I can
Have an impact in this community. The community I came up Um I came up in the small town in Gibson, Single parent. I had a lot of people who had an influence on me. It wasn’t just family. It was all stakeholders. I remember at
Gibson School, it was the it was a custodian. Mister George. I can go to Evergreen. It was mister Chester. I can go to every school and identify someone who has had an impact on me at HL. It was Tdot. I
Don’t know if y’all know that name but that’s his name. That’s what we call him. but it was wasn’t just teachers. I mean, yeah, it wasn’t just teachers. If I look at, if I look at it was an English teacher, mister Rodrigue.
Everyone who has poured into me is the reason why I feel like I need to do it to for my kids down here. I consider my kids. You know, I had a lot of people who believed in me. empowered me, trusted me, and that is how
I operate. I’ve always been fair and consistent. I always say that kids, I’m loyal to the kids. I said to my staff at Ellander, I said it to the ones that Andrew Price. I said it to the ones at Oak Lawn. I said in
Rapids Parish now. My loyalty is the kids. Everything I do is for kids. Every decision I try to make, I don’t rush it, I try to make it for kids. If it’s not for kids, I don’t entertain it. That’s how I used to
Operate at school. So, Terrebonne Parish, I’m from here. I was born and raised here. I went to school throughout the feeder system. Um I have family here. I I pretty much probably coach some of the kids, family, well, some
Of the, maybe the kids or some of the family members out here. Somewhere probably touched somebody in here and it’s because that’s what I that’s what I enjoy doing helping people and so nine years I really been going nine years
But I really haven’t been going 9 years because I’m down here a lot. Um and this is my home. Even though I’m staying up, this is still my home. And so I would love the opportunity to come back home. And I know it’s
Tough decision but you know, yes. I would love to come back home. Thank you. Okay, the question session and answer session have been answered and now you have five minutes to close or you don’t close already. No, I’ll close with
This. I want to say these things because I want to let you know what I commit to. Okay then. So, first, I would just like to say as I mentioned earlier, I consider the blessing and honor to be here this evening and to go through
This process. So, I I really appreciate the opportunity regardless of the outcome. Uh effective districts and schools are established and sustained over time on the foundation of strong leadership. High expectation, high-quality instructional practices, collaboration, frequent monitoring of student progress,
And an unwavering commitment to excellence and high expectations. As your next superintendent, I will be a strong, knowledgeable, decisive, and intentional leader, capable of building up on initiatives currently in place while enhancing areas that require attention. I will
Commit to always doing my best, doing what’s best in the interest of all students, as a man of integrity. I’ve always been fair, consistent, and honest in all of my dealings. to recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers in every classroom and have an effective
Leader in every school because every teacher deserves an effective leader in every teach every student deserves an effective teacher. To ensuring the tier 1 curriculum is delivered and aligned to the standards, instruction, assessment, and data analyst at every level to bring every
Student to an increased level of achievement and growth that comes from the rigor of higher standards. To be intentional in supporting all schools to ensure that every child is reading on grade level and progressing toward his or her growth target. To ensure a safe
And secure environment conducive to learning. To build strong homeschool community partnership, and lead by example to earn your trust in the trust of the community. To always operate responsibly and function effectively, especially with resources, to ensure continuous efforts to
Always engage, educate, and empower every student every day and to develop the whole child. Therefore, if you have an opportunity to serve as your next superintendent, I give you my word that I would prioritize student achievement and act in the best interest of all
Students. I will provide support to administrators to initiate and sustain effective turnaround efforts. I will support teachers by ensuring that they have a strong instructional leader in every school who pride themselves in growing teaching leaders and creating and maintaining an
Environment conducive to learning. Those are things that I would commit to if given the opportunity. I’ve committed when I was here. You can look at my track record. It speaks for itself. You can look at my track, Reckon and Rap East
Paris. I’m about building community. I’m about empowering. I’m about open collaboration. I’m about hearing from the people. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, mister Walden. Before we get, before we adjoin, I would like to to see a couple of things. Uh we’d
Like to thank all the candidates for coming out tonight. We’d like to thank the public for all for coming. Also, I’d like I would like to recognize and miss Brune and Doctor Yarbrough and also the committee that actually put all this together. Mister Hamler,
Doctor Tranhan, and miss Soli for putting the time in to make sure that this event went off without a hitch. Also, I would like to thank the boy for legitimacy and patience Um what the interview process A lot of great candidates, a lot of
Great answers, a lot of great questions. So, at this particular time, item number six, I would entertain a motion to adjourn. Move by mister D Hawks second line, mister Ford and any objections?
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