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| I believe Harrison Peters would be an excellent candidate to lead Escambia's schools as their first "appointed" Superintendent of Schools....I hope he applies for the job! |
As my wife and I watched our son Nick graduate from UWF earlier this year, we were both blown away by the commencement speaker. He was articulate, charismatic, and dynamic.
Come to find out, as we heard further along in his speech, he is actually from Pensacola--a product of our local schools!
He served in the military, got his education from USF in Tampa, he then taught school and worked his way up and into administrative leadership in the Tampa Bay area-ultimately becoming the Deputy Superintendent of the Hillsborough County School District--one of the nation's largest public school districts.
I remember talking at that time to my wife and others about this person and saying, enthusiastically:
"This is the guy that needs to apply to be Escambia's first appointed Superintendent of Schools!"
Others have floated his name out there as someone who should apply, too.
As recently as last week at the first workshop held by Escambia Schools to discuss hiring our first appointed superintendent--a person sitting at my table at this event mentioned this same individual, Harrison Peters.
And come to find out--this person at my table knows this man from Hillsborough County--- and has been trying to convince him to apply once the job is put out and advertised!
I truly believe a man like this, with his credentials and bonafides in education, with his knowledge of Pensacola, with his military service, with his charisma,---he would be a tremendous help here in Escambia County.
With his background and the fact that he is Black--he would be a strong role model for many students in our district. Many. He would be the complete package that we need! He could really help some of our most challenged schools--just by being selected. And I believe once selected (if he were to be selected)--our schools could improve dramatically and a lot quicker than if we simply take the path of least resistance and "slot" some current district employee into the Superintendent position.....which is what I fear may happen.
Here's my opinion as a former School Board Member in this county, a product of these schools, a parent of 3 children who graduated from these schools, a person who has taught in 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms, a person who holds a Master's Degree in Administration and who is a current Escambia County Commissioner: (...and all this plus $5.00 will get you a cup of starbucks coffee)
1. We need a bold, new change of course in our schools and a dynamic NEW leader to reverse our decreasing enrollment trend by luring good families and their children BACK from private schools and other local school districts by enforcing discipline, raising standards, and respecting teachers.
2. We DO NOT need an insider to come in and usurp the vote of the people by becoming the next "defacto, shadow-elected" superintendent of schools--even if this person is a "swell-guy" that graduated from Tate High School.
3. We don't need an "Interim Superintendent"--we need to make a clean break from the past and let Malcolm Thomas leave next year as we welcome his replacement simultaneously.
4. We need someone who can lead transformative change in the inner-city schools of Escambia County where we have consistently struggled.
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