COLUMN: Weak schools the result of weak principals
Unbelievable. That’s about the kindest word I can use in a family newspaper to describe a letter sent to parents recently from a local middle school principal.
Principals are probably the most important position in any school. Strong principals usually create strong schools through their leadership and their demands of creating an environment of excellence.
Weak principals lead to weak schools. For a local example of that, take a look at Kings Bridge Middle School in South Jackson.
With school about to start, the principal of KBMS, Debra Morris, recently sent a letter to incoming sixth grade students and parents that was so filled with spelling and grammatical errors, so infantile in content, so ridden with punctuation errors that it’s an embarrassment to the entire Jackson County School System.
Consider the first paragraph: “Congratulations! You made it pass elementary school and into middle school. I want to welcome you to Kings Bridge Middle School and I am your principal, Dr. Debra Morris.”
Further into the letter, Morris wrote this: “I actually worked all summer to eagerly prepare for your arrival into the 6th grade at KBMS, with an except of a few days I took off to be with my family.”
And run-on sentences: “You will have an opportunity to meet your classmates and get your schedule, your parents will have an opportunity to speak with your teachers for answers to any questions they may have.”
And this gem of missing commas and illogical clauses strung together: “When the first day of school arrives you will know where your classrooms are and who’s in your class and all the first day jitters will not even exist.”
This was written by a school principal with a Doctorate degree? Such a letter wouldn’t even pass 8th grade English in Morris’ own school. See letter here.
So what, you ask?
Well, KBMS is the worst middle school in Jackson County. Over the last three years, its CRCT test results have overall lagged just about every other middle school in the county.
This year, for example, only 74.2 percent of KBMS students passed the Science part of CRCT sixth grade testing compared to 85.7 percent at West Jackson Middle School and 92.5 percent at Commerce Middle School. In 6th grade Math, KBMS lagged nine points behind the next lowest school.
In the 7th grade, it lagged behind every other local school in every content area over the last three years.
In the 8th grade, KBMS did a little better on the CRCT in 2010, but still lagged most other schools in the county. Its 8th grade writing test failure rate was not only the worst in the county, but among the bottom one-third of all middle schools in the state.
The connection between a principal who can’t write a coherent letter and her school’s test results is undeniable. Why should we expect KBMS to have solid student test results when the school’s principal can’t spell, use correct punctuation or write readable sentences?
I’m sure Ms. Morris is a nice person. But school principals should be able to communicate clearly with their students, parents and employees. That’s difficult to do when a principal writes on what appears to be a third-grade level. KBMS is weak because it has weak leadership.
In 2009, Morris made over $104,000 in salary as principal of KBMS. Don’t students deserve better for that kind of money?
And the bigger question is, why have school system administrators allowed such mediocrity to go unquestioned?
Mike Buffington is editor of The Jackson Herald. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com.
Weak principals lead to weak schools. For a local example of that, take a look at Kings Bridge Middle School in South Jackson.
With school about to start, the principal of KBMS, Debra Morris, recently sent a letter to incoming sixth grade students and parents that was so filled with spelling and grammatical errors, so infantile in content, so ridden with punctuation errors that it’s an embarrassment to the entire Jackson County School System.
Consider the first paragraph: “Congratulations! You made it pass elementary school and into middle school. I want to welcome you to Kings Bridge Middle School and I am your principal, Dr. Debra Morris.”
Further into the letter, Morris wrote this: “I actually worked all summer to eagerly prepare for your arrival into the 6th grade at KBMS, with an except of a few days I took off to be with my family.”
And run-on sentences: “You will have an opportunity to meet your classmates and get your schedule, your parents will have an opportunity to speak with your teachers for answers to any questions they may have.”
And this gem of missing commas and illogical clauses strung together: “When the first day of school arrives you will know where your classrooms are and who’s in your class and all the first day jitters will not even exist.”
This was written by a school principal with a Doctorate degree? Such a letter wouldn’t even pass 8th grade English in Morris’ own school. See letter here.
So what, you ask?
Well, KBMS is the worst middle school in Jackson County. Over the last three years, its CRCT test results have overall lagged just about every other middle school in the county.
This year, for example, only 74.2 percent of KBMS students passed the Science part of CRCT sixth grade testing compared to 85.7 percent at West Jackson Middle School and 92.5 percent at Commerce Middle School. In 6th grade Math, KBMS lagged nine points behind the next lowest school.
In the 7th grade, it lagged behind every other local school in every content area over the last three years.
In the 8th grade, KBMS did a little better on the CRCT in 2010, but still lagged most other schools in the county. Its 8th grade writing test failure rate was not only the worst in the county, but among the bottom one-third of all middle schools in the state.
The connection between a principal who can’t write a coherent letter and her school’s test results is undeniable. Why should we expect KBMS to have solid student test results when the school’s principal can’t spell, use correct punctuation or write readable sentences?
I’m sure Ms. Morris is a nice person. But school principals should be able to communicate clearly with their students, parents and employees. That’s difficult to do when a principal writes on what appears to be a third-grade level. KBMS is weak because it has weak leadership.
In 2009, Morris made over $104,000 in salary as principal of KBMS. Don’t students deserve better for that kind of money?
And the bigger question is, why have school system administrators allowed such mediocrity to go unquestioned?
Mike Buffington is editor of The Jackson Herald. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com.
Or, while nobody wants to admit it is possible, could it be that the students attending the school just aren't as smart as the ones attending the other schools?
Or perhaps these students didn't receive the same quality of instruction in elementary school as the students at other schools, and the middle school is now taking the heat for it.
When you have hundreds of kids with low scores, how can it all be the fault of one person?
I understand how you might find your delicate sensibilities troubled by the appalling letter from the principal, but you do a disservice to the students, the school system, and the county to lay the totality of fault at the feet of one person.
And, with "the pot calling the kettle black" in mind, I suppose the "official organ" of Jackson County has never had any grammatical errors slip through the editor's steely gaze?
Yes, we do have errors that slip through. But this particular letter is, well, more than a couple of errors.
Please also know, throughout my experience with this principal, I noticed her speech and I stated to several of the faculty members how ignorant she spoke. I was truly embarassed by her level of intelligence. She used more 4 letter words to communicate, than my lowest level student. She is extremely ignorant and uses the strengths of the others to make her look good. This time the truth came to life. Mike thanks for your comments. You addressed and reveal the individual I knew and had the experience of working with. No one else is to blame.
All the awesome things that Dr. Morris does for the students at Kings Bridge Middle School supersede the small flaws in a letter. There are many attributes of a strong leader such as integrity, intelligence, competence, courage, goal-oriented, a visionary, a motivator, self-assured, conscientious and the list goes on. Dr. Morris has all of these qualities and much more. She should not be generalized in a box by a letter and she is well qualified to be principal of Kings Bridge Middle School. The Jackson County's high schools did not make AYP either. Why is KBMS's principal the only one on the radar? The state of Georgia even has a gubernatorial candidate in that of Karen Handel who does not have a college degree, but no one is attacking her for the lack of credentials. She is running for the highest office in the state and people have voted for her and will vote for her in the fall.
You will never find another person who gives her heart and soul to a job than that of Dr. Morris. Also, it is my opinion that standardized tests have been over-used and over-rated. A written test does not always depict the academic strengths of a students, especially special education students, who already have a disadvantage. It is my understanding that a large percentage of SPED students did not pass the CRCT. I am sure the educators at KBMS will make strategies and work diligently to improve all test scores since they are being measured by such.
I am challenging people to publicly support Dr. Morris as she endures this painful experience. It will be terribly difficult for her to open the school doors in a few weeks when she is viciously being attacked by the media and a few people in the community. Dr. Morris, we are praying for your strength and that The Lord will guide you through this unfortunate matter. I leave this scripture with you all - “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off”. Which one are you, the blameless or the transgressor?
Dr Morris is the type of person who cares about people. She cares about everyone. And yes, I think she probably even cares about you too Mr. Buffington. When you walk a mile in her shoes then you can criticize. Why don't you meet her and get to know her instead of writing what you wrote without "digging deeper" first. Fairness in reporting is really not what seems to concern you here.
Let's just say, she didn't physically type the letter. Hey, she signed off on it! That proves incompetence!
Now, think a moment...school is out...how busy could she have been where she could not have taken the time to read and edit this letter before signing it. As a matter of fact, she did read the letter prior to signing it. She actually typed it her self.
Again, no one is to blame for test scores, but Debra Morris and her Supervisor, who has not been supervising her.
Yes, it's easy to blame the kids, they are defenseless. It's easy to blame the teachers. But if we analyze the situaiton, a follower can only be as good as their leader. The apple don't fall far from the tree. Do you expect to really get great test scores, with a leader that is incompetent?
There needs to be some house cleaning at KBMS. I am pretty sure her hiring practices must fit her level of competence.
Change the leader to a competent one, and the test scores will change for the best! Expectations will be held at a higher level, and the level of ignorance (gossip) will not be tolerated!
My eyes are on this principal now and she has one school year to get her act together because in 2011 she will have me, a mom who cares, breathing down her neck.
Thanks for the heads up.
Parents get your kids out of these schools before it's too late!
But that's entertainment, right? lol
The response to this column is going to be very interesting, in more ways than one.
It took a lot of guts to write this column. Somehow I don't think Mike will be intimidated though.
JC Schools are good at covering up but this one little thing got out.
The truth always reveals itself doesn't it? You just have to be patient.
Too bad for the students though. They deserve better.
I did a little research of my own and it did not take me long to find that Kings Bridge Middle School serves a different type of students than either of the other middle schools in Jackson County. KBMS has a very large population of students receiving free and reduced lunch, a huge special education populations, students coming from uneducated homes, high percentage of ESOL speaking students, and the list continues. I agree that it is unacceptable for the principal to send out letters with numerous grammatical and spelling errors. However, we all make mistakes and this DOES NOT mean that Dr. Morris is not a good leader. It is ludicrous to think that the principal can single handed be responsible for the results of the entire school. Of course KBMS needs to make some improvements but there is a much better way to voice this than writing and ridiculous article that is so obviously full of your personal feelings for the principal that have been seen in several of your columns.
Mike, why don't you just try and focus on all of the positives going on at KBMS. For example while doing my research I came across some test results that indicated KBMS had a larger percentage of students exceeding in some academic areas. If my memory serves me correct you have NEVER reported on any of the positives. Kings Bridge Middle School has also had some organizations compete at the national level in club competitions. What about the partnership with local companies that help reward students for high academic progress throughout the school year, specifically set up by Dr. Debra Morris. From my experience, there has never been a time when I had a question or needed to see Dr. Morris that she hasn't been available. She absolutely puts every student, teacher, and parent first. Like all of us, including you Mr. Buffington, she has made some mistakes, but give me a break what exactly are you trying to get out of your constant ridicule?
Because of intimidation no one is going to truly speak out on this.
If you are a parent who works within the county school system, you also know to keep your mouth shut about KBMS if you want to keep your job.
Something stinks at KBMS.
Those that report these horrific things are retaliated against and their reputations ruined. There should be a law for mandated reporting of adults in schools. Records should be public.
Jackson County has sweep things under the rug for years. Problems are moved from school to school, year after year.
Everyone is too intimidated to speak out, even school police officers.
People just want to keep their careers, so they keep quiet.
It's been my experience that people who can't live with the secrets leave the system quietly for moral reasons.
Please know many of the teachers are concerned about the students' academics, just like other schools. However, there is always those that are more concern with spreading cancer, instead of curing the germ. These individuals are the most deadliest to the school's environment. At KBMS these individuals are highly respected, because of their willingness to carry this infectious germ.
I can't believe just now much there is to dig up!
It is a cancer!
If she has a low level of intelligence, she needs some type of leveradge to intimidate the individual who have a higher level of intelligence. Actually, it helps her to control them, along with her fear techniques.
There has been a few teachers that spoke their minds about what was actually taking place, however, they have either been transferred or they are no longer working for Jackson County. Thanks to the principal with a low level of intellect.
She felt it best to get rid of them, because they actually intimidated her.
If the Super decided to speak with those individuals who were transferred or those that have been let go over the last two or three years, he would find out exactly that. He would also find out these individuals withstood her level of intimidation.
How many teachers found themselves in Debra Morris office crying because of her level of intimidation techniques? I have talked with several. I don't agree with this at all.
This acticle is not a case of racism, so no one can state that. Debra Morris has a need for control in the workplace. Not the normal type of control, in the manner that is conducive to the working environment, but just the opposite. Control due to one's lack of intellect. In other words, "Bullying in the Work Place" is the proper name for this type of behavior. This is a form of CANCER!
This type of Bullying is no different from the Bullying kids experience.
Karen you stated in your first paragraph. "Small minds tend to create problems for others, especially if they disagree with Debra Morris' philosophy." Did you mean agree?
"Bullying in the Workplace" AWESOME ANALOGY!
1. I have no personal hatred for this principal. I don't know her and have never met her that I can recall. But I do know the test results for her school and I know she sent out a semi-illiterate letter to the parents of school children.
2. I have never before written about KBMS in a column that I recall so I don't think I've "consistently belittled" the school.
3. You may have done "research" of your own, but it was poorly done. KBMS is not dramatically different from the other county middle schools. KBMS is very similar to EJMS; both have 69 percent of students labeled as "economically disadvantaged." Yet EJMS has test scores far better than KBMS. How do you explain that?
4. You also suggest that KBMS had a larger percentage of students "exceeding" state testing standards than other county middle schools in some areas. But according to the recent AYP report, the "exceeds" rate in Math and ELA was lower at KBMS than either EJMS or WJMS. Maybe you should check your own research.
5. You suggest we "never" report anything positive about KBMS. Not true. We run photos and articles from all schools about the achievements of their students.
6. Bottom line: KBMS is the weakest middle school in the county. That is not due to any great difference in student population demographics.
You can make all the excuses you want, but the fact remains that weak schools are the result of weak principals. And if a principal can't write a literate letter, what is the community supposed to conclude? (BTW, you may also want to proof your post a little better next time.)
The entire staff and faculty needs to wake up. The methods of intimidation that she has used to put fear in the staff were done due to her very own inadequacies. That comment about the unemployment office at the faculty meeting, was another method of intimidation that worked on most of faculty members. Many of them were scared of losing their jobs. Later she came back to acted as if she saved everyone’s job. This was another play on everyone’s intelligence. A good principal should lead by example and encourage her staff as a whole and on individual basis. She has proven that she lack compassion for others.
Needless to say, I will give her a pat on the back for playing on others intelligence, as she has done for the past few years. She has constantly used methods of intimidation to conquer or place fear in the minds of her faculty and staff.
KBMS has some wonderful teachers and she shows them very little appreciation. However, she is excellent in receiving the open line of gossips, which helps her to make decisions about job placement. Many of the accusations made about other teachers, where made because of the competition between teachers, set by none other than Debra Morris. Her actions go hand in hand with her level of intellect, as Mike stated in his article. An effective principal would have researched the information.
Go back to Wendy’s! Debra Morris bragged about how wonderful she was at Wendy’s. I encourage her to go back. Wendy's is more suitable for her.
The truth shall set you free!
Will the deeper stuff get leaked?
That's the question!
Jackson County Top Leaders will flip if some things get out.
Dig deeper Mike.
The truth shall set you free!
Will the deeper stuff get leaked?
That's the question!
Jackson County Top Leaders will flip if some things get out.
Dig deeper Mike.
Also, isn't the Superintendent responsible for the principals? I think we need to go a little higher up to see why this principal has continued to be employed.
With the economy and furlough days, I think more and more students who are not cut out for teaching will go into education and we'll have more inadequate teachers, principals and administrators in the next decade.
Mike, you're good at digging deeper, sounds like you need to get your shovel out!
and continues to spend spend spend.
Well, the financial history of the school system is a mixed bag. But out of fairness, the system has not in recent years raised its millage rate, nor is the ESPLOST on the ballot. As for spending, the system has a history of excess, but over the last year or so, spending has been cut in the system.
The debate here questions academic credibility and performance at KBMS and what top administrtors know, or should have known. For the moment, the focus should stay on that topic until we get some answers.
Doesn't change the facts.
Lots of smart kids in the southern part of the county that can not afford private school.
Please tell me that the board of education will do something about this? If not, any suggestions on what is the next step for parents? contact the state DOE??
If you are so concerned about how the Jackson County schools are run, why don't you go into the schools and make a positive impact, instead of using your paper to demoralize the hardworking teachers at KBMS and other JCSS schools? Why don't you go try to be a teacher and see what difficulties teachers face. I bet you think it would be easy. Also, for all of you slamming KBMS, please remember that EJCHS and JCCHS are fed from WJMS and EJMS and KBMS, and the high schools failed to make AYP. So maybe we need to consider that the middle school curriculum and CRCT is the problem and not the teachers or administrators.
Thanks a lot Mr. Buffington for your "message" maybe we should all just say what we feel about you since we have the right to do so. I think you are a low, despicable person for what you have done to humiliate JCSS. You are not only hurting the faculty and staff, but the innocent kids who go there.
Parents, it is now time to take a stand! Whether you know it or not, you dictate what happens next! Do you want your child attending a school where the principal can't put a single paragraph together and has a limited vocabulary? Make your request known!!! Remember the new law that the governnor established last year. As a parent, you are able to place your child in any school/school district you decide. Please call the board of education for more information. I would honestly be afraid for my child to continue going to a school under the supervision of a principal that has low expectations/low-self esteem. At any point in her life she could have chose to enhance her writing abilities and she didn't. Here is your wake up call Ms. Morris go take some writing/English course. BTW, have the high school teachers tell you what their expectations are.
EJH has been complaining constantly about the level of students they have been receiving from KBMS. It is ridiculous, but now they should understand why? Your expectations for your students can't be higher than your very own professional expectations. Lead by example is extremely important!
How many people have lost their jobs because of your incompetencies? A full fledge investigation should take place! I can imagine individual who are intelligent and competent have either been mistreated or used, by their incompetent principal.
Have any of our illustrious BOE members been contacted for comment?
Also, most of the teachers currently at KBMS came from other middle schools in Jackson County and their students performed adequately at those schools.
If my child was middle school age, I would be sending her to a different school than KBMS. Since they didn't meet AYP standards, I would have the right to do that.
Who in the world "Supervises the Supervisors?"
Dr Morris is the type of person who cares about people. She cares about everyone. And yes, I think she probably even cares about you too Mr. Buffington. When you walk a mile in her shoes then you can criticize. Why don't you meet her and get to know her instead of writing what you wrote without "digging deeper" first. Fairness in reporting is really not what seems to concern you here.
Thank you MIke Buffington for bringing this to light!
Jackson County Board of Education - do the right thing for the students!!
No regard for the students or staff at all, only her fanny.
She would throw Mother Teresa under the bus if it saves her!
"Students first" what a joke!!!!
She has to keep her career goals on track after all.....
Who cares about the truth or anyone else's career.
Look everyone is intimidated by her, by that, I mean EVERYONE in her life.
In light of the aforementioned quote, it seems to me that "We the People" are the supervisors and the authority. We "hire" by electing our Board of Education to represent us (as well as other representatives, senators, chief executives, etc.). Therefore, public school faculty and staff are accountable to us.
Certainly this forum arouses awareness. Now that we have been made aware, the responsibility falls on us to act. For example, we had primary elections last week and we have general elections this fall (and a few run-offs next month).
Participate by voting. Participate by attending BOE meetings. Participate by having a relationship with your kids' teachers, administrators, and coaches.
Please feel free to read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and other material regarding the principles that build our republic. God bless America and God bless you all.
In your childish attempt to try and make Mike feel like Satan himself for offering his opinion, what you managed to do is insult most of the other bloggers here, since most of us agree this principal appears to be seriously lacking in communication skills.
Perhaps you should not be talking to 3rd graders about this, maybe you should ask a few adults who have a proper education. They might be able to enlighten you.
Sounds like something Dr.Morris would say. Doesn't it?
She explained exactly just where her salary came from and what the percentages were.
I don't believe she would even respond to or allow "parents breathing down her neck" or showing her that "parents are her boss."
Did the driver ever recover and get to go back to work?
I hope they are ok now!
She has left a trail of ruined careers behind her. (KBMS and possibly even GS)
There are even situations where students and parents could sue.
I don't think the county can afford such risk?!
I will ask again, can the county afford to employ this person anymore?
I am concerned that legal issues may arise.
A lawsuit would hurt the system and the students so I hope it does not come to that.
Mr. Mike Buffington I have a few questions for you:
1. Do you have a child that goes to KBMS, or better yet do you have a child at all?
2. Do you know the full story behind the letter written. (I do believe the letter was addressed to the child and not the parents. So wouldn't it make sense for the letter to sound like it's written for a child.)
You have no right in doing this, Dr. Morris is doing all she can, so what if there were some mistakes! I'm sure you've written some articles with mistakes in it yourself.
And do you have any idea what your putting her though, her family, her daughters. You should get a life and while your at it a HEART! To me your a heartless man.
And this is for all you other people who have kids that go to KBMS and you hate it there, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! You have free range of where your kids go!
Mr. Buffington, there are probably some mistakes in this comment and I'm black with a high paying job, are you going to write about me in the paper? And if your going to sit around and correct others grammer, you really have no life.
Please feel free to correct all my mistakes if that's what gets you off.