Tell me what you think

Since 2006 I have had the honor of representing all Hillsborough County children and voters...I created this blog in 2007 and have welcomed the opportunity for feed back throughout my term.

I am now a candidate for re-election and I need your help. Visit my website at http://www.voteapril.com/ .

I still want your input. If you think something is wrong, then tell me how it can be better. If you have information that would help our children, employees, or taxpayers, this is the place to share.

Please also note that this is my personal blog, not the board's. Furthermore, the opinions expressed by posters on this blog may or may not necessarily reflect my opinions or those of the School Board.

Again, if you want to follow my campaign you can go to http://www.voteapril.com .

You can also write me at april@voteapril.com or call 813-417-1102 .

At your service,

April Griffin,
Hillsborough County School Board Member, and Candidate
District 6 (Countywide)

Friday, February 15, 2008

Hillsborough School Board re-writes its mission

I am excited to be moving in a positive direction. I've said it before. I know this does not seem very important to some, but this process is a very important element in changing the culture of the school district as the vision and mission set the tone for the school district for the next ten years.

The Hillsborough County School District is in the process of crafting new mission, vision, and values statements. Today, the seven School Board members, Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, and her staff of chief officers and assistant superintendents held a workshop to set strategic goals for the school district.

Read the entire WMNF story here and/or listen to the entire story here here.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're excited, yet morale suffers, administrators neglect to listen to employees, and we're curving exam grades to inflate grades so this district looks good.

We're not excited.

April, many of us are losing patience. You espouse change but we see more of the same. You complain but the district ignores you and continues to roll out bad program after bad program.

When will we experience the change you advocate?

Anonymous said...

April:

Here's a copy of what our future looks like. Are you in favor of EXCEL? Is it worth the money? Could we use this money to hire more teachers? Has this program been used elsewhere with positive results? Were SDHC teachers involved with this decision?

April Griffin said...

Anonymous 9:48,

Change takes time. I can not undo decades of culture overnight. My heart goes out to you and I understand your frustration.

If you would like a meeting one on one with me and/or the superintendent please let me know and I will arrange it. I want to hear what you have to say.

You are entitled to your opinion and I know there are some whose patience is wearing thin, but I will not stifle my excitement over some important things that are happening that will set the course for this district for at least the next ten years. What is happening is monumental, however, like I said it will take some time to see and feel the changes.

As to administrators not listening to employees I am constantly talking to the superintendent, senior staff, and the rest of the board about the importance of listening to the people on the front lines. If I could give specific examples of cases where this is not happening it would be easier for me to advocate. I understand people feel they can not come forward with issues, but when people do come forward and feel retaliated against I need to know about it so I can engage in the situation. I will not tolerate doing business that way.

At your service, April

twinkobie said...

when people do come forward and feel retaliated against I need to know about it so I can engage in the situation. I will not tolerate doing business that way.

The excerpt from your posted response on your Web to a teacher encourages me to believe you will contact Bruce Burnham, Ms. Griffin, and review his retaliation complaint that Mr. Hutek, Armwood, stripped him of his honors classes in history and gave them to first- and second-year teachers because Bruce spoke out against the extra classes.

The reason? Bruce said he was prominent in speaking out against the extra class Ms. Elia downloaded on teachers. This action was accompanied with not a murmur from you board members on the podium.

I am sure everyone would be interested in your posting whether you will contack Bruce Burnham and Mr. Hutek and the data of what the results of this contact were.


lee drury de cesare

Anonymous said...

How about some communication... When does Ms. Elia plan on truly informing teachers at the schools that SpringBoard will be imposed upon???

I need to know the effects of this situation is so I can decide if I need teach in another county. I promise many, many educators will leave...