Parents, Former Staff Demand Ousting of Connerton Principal
The group says Anna Falcone mistreats teachers and shows little regard for parents and students. An official says the district is listening.
Photos
A sign-waving crowd gathered at the entrance to Connerton Elementary Tuesday afternoon, many wearing Hawaiian shirts.
But it was not a happy occasion.
The group assembled to call for the ousting of the school’s principal, Anna Falcone, and assistant principal, Wendy Carswell. A petition for removal based on the administrators' "negative leadership" has more than 100 signatures so far, organizer Peggy Lopez said.
The timing of Tuesday's demonstration coincided with a staff meeting at the school attended by Superintendent Heather Fiorentino, Lopez said. The group wanted to show support for two teachers attending that meeting who were unfairly targeted by Falcone, a practice they said is common to a woman some called a "bully."
One of those teachers, Tom Powers, began teaching at Sanders Elementary in 1984, then moved to Connerton in 2010. The popular fifth grade teacher has a reputation for his creativity and ability to reach children who need extra attention. Many parents requested him for next year because “he’s very out of the box,” former Connerton teacher Pam Jones said.
Among his trademarks: a laid-back wardrobe, which includes Hawaiian shirts.
Those gathered on Tuesday said Falcone's transfer of Powers to teaching first grade next year is a step toward focring him out of the classroom entirely.
A former student who asked not to be identified said that laid-back wardrobe made him a target. Now in sixth grade, she and a friend attended Tuesday's demonstration “to support our teachers who’ve been doing what they love and now they’re being forced out,” she said.
The district is listening, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools David Scanga said.
"We went out there yesterday with that intent," Scanga said. "We're looking for facts in terms of what's the reality."
It’s not the first time parents and former staff have taken issue with Connerton’s administration. Several demonstrators said they have written multiple letters to the school district detailing what they say boils down Falcone bullying teachers and stonewalling parents.
Jones was one of those teachers. She said Falcone threatened to write a negative review if she applied for a job at another school. Jones resigned—“with major encouragement”—at the beginning of the current school year.
The move to change the grade levels taught by Powers and fourth-grade teacher Dana Bunce is one of the tactics the administration uses to force teachers out of the school— and essentially out of teaching, Jones said.
“If she targets a teacher that she wants to be gone, she won’t let them interview at another school,” Jones said. “This is their lifelong career. They should not be treated this way.”
“I’ve had teachers crying in my driveway,” said Michele Grady, who identified herself as "a friend of Sanders Elementary."
Two parents at Tuesday's demonstration removed their children from Connerton Elementary because of the problems they encountered there.
Elizabeth Groves moved her two children out of the Pasco school district entirely because her experience at Connerton was so negative. The family moved to Valrico last July after deciding they could not face another year at the school.
“I was an actively involved parent” with more than 200 volunteer hours at the school, Groves said. Yet despite her commitment—and physician’s orders— she could not get the administration to provide the services her kindergartner with special needs required.
“I was told my physician was not an educator, we can’t go by what he says,” Groves said.
In addition, a student in her son’s kindergarten class was a constant disruption and a danger to others. She witnessed him throwing chairs, and at one point he had to be physically restrained on a field trip, she said. On that same field trip, the child hit Groves’ son in the face.
No incident report was filed to her knowledge, Groves said.
Though she lives in Valrico, she feels so strongly about the problems at Connerton she continues to be actively involved in the efforts to remove Falcone.
Tracy Gifford moved her two children to Learning Gate Community School in Lutz after her then-fourth grader was punched in the face at Connerton.
“She (Falcone) said ‘They’re in elementary school, what do you expect me to do?’,” Gifford said.
“You want your kids to go to a school where they feel comfortable and safe. You want them to be excited to learn,” Gifford said.
But her children were neither comfortable nor excited at Connerton.
When her then-fourth grader, Skyler, had to write about why he was proud to be a Connerton student, Gifford said she will never forget how she felt when she read his words: “I am proud to be a Connerton student because I don’t walk on the grass or touch the walls.”
“That’s what they drilled into them,” Gifford said. “It breaks my heart.”
When Falcone took over Sanders then opened Connerton, a district review of her performance called her “outstanding,” according to documents obtained by Lopez.
“But we don’t feel outstanding,” Lopez said.
Achievement results at Connerton are high, which is a tribute to those teachers as well as the administration, Scanga said.
And as for the letters the demonstrators said they have written to the district about Falcone, they don’t appear in her personnel file, Lopez said.
After a year, those letters are thrown away, a district official told her.
Scanga said policy prohibits the placement of those communications in an employee's file without due process.
"It might not be in the file, but it's being addressed," he said.
Scanga said he receives complaints from parents at all 46 of the district's elementary schools at the same rate as those received from Connerton, so it does not stand out as an "outlier."
The climate of a building is created by everybody in that building, and the climate overall needs to be one people feel comfortable in. As far as those who say the climate at Connerton is negative, "We always listen and try to respond to that," Scanga said.
Right now the district is in the information gathering stage, and that information is conflicting. The evidence shows students are performing well at Connerton, he said.
"My hope is that everyone involved at Connerton, whether you're a parent, teacher or administrator, you're going to reflect on how you can build on current successes," Scanga said.
Editor's note: Please read this happy Connerton parent's response.
Bryan Gifford
11:36 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
It is hard to argue with results. Scanga is quoted as saying, " The evidence shows students are performing well at Connerton." The School is an A, and the FCAT score are ok, that is true. Sadly the environment at Connerton is all about getting the A grade for the school and keeping FCAT scores high. Both those things can be a real poor evaluation of the success of a school. Students succeeding and being excited about what tomorrow will bring is what we need. My sons did not meet that until we transferred to Leaning Gate.
When we teach to the test we fail to educate. When we educate, testing well is a by product.
The School alone can not be solely responsible for the situation, policy starts at the top and works its way to the schools. Elections matter, and this year we get to voice our opinion at the Primary Election, and determine who will be setting policy at the School District.
Thomas Levering
10:38 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Sounds like you are not happy with anything and find fault in everything others do. Positive energy is much more productive, try it for once.
Mark S. Hankins
12:02 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Ms. Falcone's children attend Connerton Elementary and hasty arrangements had to be made to take them home early to avoid exposing them to the protestors. Was it really the case that no one was listening and it had become necessary to picket?
When Ms. Falcone was at Pine View Elementary our son was there also, and there were no real problems.
Cathy Brown
1:34 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Really, "hastily removed" "Exposing them to the protesters". WE were hardly a rowdy bunch. There were parents with their children out there. Are you aware that your tax dollars paid for 2 police escorts, to "protect" anna and wendy as they left school grounds. Are you aware that as I was leaving after the "protest" that anna ( followed closely by her escort) was so "scared" that when she was passing me on the street slowed down. hovered next to my car, rolled down her window shouted something ( not sure what, thankfully) and waited for my response. So you see Mr.Hankins anna IS a bully. She felt protected and free to behave in her typical bully fashion because she had a police escort. NO ONE is immune from her hatred and bullying. It takes her awhile,but eventually she will find you also
Bryan Gifford
12:14 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
It was a horrifying scene of people exercising their rights to gather and let their thoughts be known. Mark, I am glad you have not had any issues, I wish the same were true for my sons, and a couple dozen of our friends. Thankfully, Anna forced our hand and we found a school that IMHO does it right. I owe her a lot for that, we are in a much better place, better education, better environment, and teachers that LOVE being there everyday. I wish I did not have to drive 14 miles to drop my kids off at school everyday, I would prefer the school that is 1 stop sign away get the job done right. I hope the Kurt Browning will be the answer to start getting the focus back on education and the education experience and not test scores and school ratings. The latter will be fixed when you focus on the former.
Mark S. Hankins
3:00 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Bryan, I know the pain of what a bad administration can do to a kid. Sammy had to move back to Pine View Elementary from a school that shall remain nameless. He was being "big-sistered" into a fetal position by a clique of girls, and the clique of grown up girls in the offices made things much harder than they already were. I agree that overemphasis on the FCAT is doing damage to sound pedagogic principles, and this is coming from the parent of a child who will likely never have a problem with taking it. BTW, one of Learning Gate's best teachers is a friend who lives across the street from us, and over a year ago I had the pleasure of touring their operation during their eco-fair. It is high on our list of places Sammy could go, and we're not even particularly green-minded. They're that good.
The right to protest is in the Constitution. It just makes me sad that Ms. Falcone's children were apparently not considered when the time, place and manner were chosen.
Thomas Levering
10:51 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Have you ever heard of social bullying? It involves hurting someone’s reputation. Social bullying includes spreading rumors about someone and embarrassing someone in public. Sounds exactly like what this group is doing. It is you guys who are teaching children what schools are trying to stop.
Jason Thomas
2:36 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
It is unfortunate that the focus is on a principal who tries to please both sides with limited resources and unprodcutive expectations. An event such as this can be traumatizing for the students, including the children of the faculty, and unsettle an environment that is supposed to nurture growth. Teachers get moved from one grade to another every year in every school, and I am sure that many times this is against their wishes. But at the same time, the leader must make decisions in the best interest of the school or organization, not an individual. This is a battle that I am sure many of our principals and leaders of other public entities for that matter deal with all over our county and our state. We can thank our leaders, including our governors, for their misdirection in the education system. Students are not prepared for the next transition in their lives because they are taught how to pass a test, not how to think. The FCAT system has done nothing but deteriorate the integrity of our education system. And then to make matters worse, our government has decided to evaluate the successes of our teachers by the success of their students on one test. Students remain in the same grade for how many years because they are unable to pass a test? Our education leadership and teachers' livelihoods hang in the balance due to a broken system and someone must be to blame so we blame someone who has a genuine love for children and education. Very Unfortunate.
Henry Grady
4:32 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Support Rally yesterday, which was intended to support the mistreatment of the teachers, was not rude or embarrassing to anyone. We have photos of all the signs just in case false accusations are made about the nastiness of the message. The fact that Ms. Falcone had her children whisked away before school was let out (allegedly) and arranged for a police escort for herself and Ms. Carswell (each had one) were overkill obviously. More resources well spent. There were no flaming torches, voodoo dolls or effigies, just to allay everyone's concerns. The truth of the tactics of the administration and perhaps the Pasco School Board will come out in the end.
Elizabeth Groves
5:26 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Falcone was well aware of the support gathering for yesterday afternoon. There was no need to have her children taken out of school in haste. Her boss Mr Scanga was aware of the gathering on Saturday.
Anonymous
6:05 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
My daughter was asking what they were all about on her car ride home from school and I cant wait for these last 4 days of school left so she go to pine view middle. Then we will be ANNA freee......
Misty Oaks
1:04 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Elizabeth, thanks for adding the "letter" to the pictures. I was looking through my files for a copy of it. I also have our audio recording of our conference with Falcone when our daughter was the victim of bullying and nothing was done. I should think about releasing it too.
Elizabeth Groves
10:15 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Misty, I did not post the picture of the " letter" . I gave a copy to the reporter. She posted it. I hope that parent will come forward and know they are not alone.
Thomas Levering
4:57 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Elizabeth,
Your insensitive comment leads me to believe that the success of all children is not your top priority. It also leads me to believe that you and that small crew are very self-centered. Most children take pride in the school they attend and love their teachers and school leaders. Did your group really think this through to see what an impact it would have on our most vulnerable and sensitive group....children. Why don't you try solving problems in a mature way or just agree to disagree and move forward. I would hardly call those pictures that are posted a support gathering. Especially the ones where children are holding signs discrediting a leader in a community. Too much negative energy.....hard working citizens would never think your actions and words are creditable. Move on!
Anonymous
6:02 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Yes my Daughter loves Connerton Elementary because all her friends are there,but she thinks that Anna is mean at times and is afraid to answer questions in class because she is scared she will get yelled at by her teacher and make her find the answer weather she understands or not! She gets extra strict when Anna is around! My daughter tells me all the time about all the gossip spreading kids in her 5th grade team, I tell her to tell the school and I inform the school myself also because my daughter might say she did but she is very shy, anyways they don't care about the students they are just there to get paid! My daughter doesn't have Mr. Powers but always wishes she does she always see how much fun they get have while on the other hand she sometimes compares her class to military school. She wishes all classes we the same as Mr. Powers.Thats all i have to say
PalBre
8:51 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
If you are a teacher you are suppossed to be in it to teach so do it. If the principal tells you to teach 5th grade this year and next and then you go to 2nd then do it or move on. In the real world you do what your boss tells you and in my opionion if you are really there to teach kids you are happy to do it at any grade. Personally it sounds like some teachers were getting to comfortable and maybe lazy and she thought moving them would hopefully revitalize the teacher. Having fun at school is great but lets all face it that does not happen everyday I personally like strict schools and if you are doing what your suppossed to be doing it should not matter if anna is watching or not personally that just showed me that she does care enough about Connerton and takes her job seriously that she walks around and checks on teachers I wish more administrators would do it.
Anonymous
6:03 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Which I belive in that case Tom should stay with Connerton as a 5th Grade teacher nothing different nothing less.
Concerned
12:42 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
With all this attention on the principal's children's feelings, it makes me wonder how all the children who were essentially forced to leave school permanently because of these issues feel. I wonder how all the kids attending Connerton feel right now with a staff that is so unhappy. I wonder how teacher's kids feel when the hear the things Mrs. Falcone say about their parents. The issues listed here and and in the article are just the tip of the iceberg. There were plenty of issues with Mrs. Falcone in Pine View. The staff of Sander's went in with an open mind but quickly learned that not only were the rumors true, they were worse than they expected. So many people are commenting without any knowledge of these issues. Please think about the people who are calling for attention to these matters. Their concerns are real, their needs are real. This is not about people who have nothing better to do, as some have claimed. This is about teachers that should not be afraid to go to work and children that should not be afraid to go to school. This is about parents that want what is best for their children and have been ignored.
WorriedaboutConnerton
9:24 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Falcone needs to go and her little henchman, Wendy, as well. Nobody should have to be bullied while at work. They have also ousted very good, professional educators and now some of those educators cannot even work in the district. They should have to walk in the shoes of their victims. The punishment should fit the crime.
Also, that was a peaceful protest, why should Falcone's kids have to go through a sugar-coated life when she makes it Hell for other peoples' children and former employees?
And finally, why don't we get to another point here? She is guilty of age discrimination. Prior to last school year, she wouldn't hire people who had experience, she hired 1st year teachers instead of those with real classroom teaching experience. Every Connerton parent needs to have the right to experienced teachers.
Laker
12:05 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
A teacher's working conditions are the student's learning conditions! When there is an atmosphere of intimidation and disrespect fostered by the administration, the students can't help but feel the tension!
This is a condition that emanates from the top of the administrative pile!
Anonymous
12:25 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Pasco has a history of promoting principals who screw up to the district office. How long before Falcone goes there. Heather always finds (or creates) positions for them.
Danielle
12:14 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
This is so TRUE. Heather did that with Deanna DeCubbelius from Calusa Elementary, then moved her, then moved her to district and now she is finally fired. I moved out of the school because of Deanna! So sad, we have to run away from the principals...
Mark Newman
3:13 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
The answer is to end the public school system. Unions and tenure have ruined the schools I once knew. Scrap the taxes and allow parents the right to take that money to pay whatever school they favor. It is amazing what a free marketplace encourages and allows.
Henry Grady
3:30 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I've recently discovered a theory of group dynamics called a Preference Cascade. In totalitarian regimes, leaders keep the lid on anti-government conversation through force to maintain order. In some cases, as many as 90% of their subjects are angry enough to do something to overthrow the government but fear they are alone so take no action. A tipping point arrives when enough people learn that they are not alone but are in fact a majority and gain the confidence to begin taking action. Once the "cascade" starts, the momentum builds and the overthrow happens in a very short time. From the outside, it appears to happen "out of nowhere" but the discontent has been festering for a long while. The key, of course, is not to act too soon, because if the leadership has too much power they can quash the dissension. All of this has to naturally reach it's tipping point. I am not smart enough to say whether Connerton has reached that point, but I couldn't help but see the parallels between the Connerton story and the dynamics of the Preference Cascade and how it could play out over the next few days/weeks. To those of you in the middle of it, stay strong.
Bryan Gifford
3:43 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Even if Connerton has not reached that point yet, and with summer starting, things will simmer down, we can not lose sight on the fact we have an opportunity to really make a statement and force change. the Primary election is August 14, 2012. With only republicans running for the Heather's position, the Primary will be OPEN to all, and will decide who becomes the Superintendent. EVERYONE needs to go out an cast a vote in the PRIMARY on August 14, 2012. I will be voting Kurt Browning...It is time for a real change that will help our kids!
Laker
6:15 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
@ Mark Newman: BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!! Typical Tea-Bagger response! All you have to do to see the effect of "Free Market" practices upon education is to look to Pinellas and the Life Force Charter, as well as other privately owned charters that are scamming the tax-payers!
Laker
6:20 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bryan, what happens when Heather gets one of her friends to file as a write in?
Southern4sure
7:10 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Hate to burst some bubbles but if anyone thinks bullying will stop when you leave Connorton is in for a rude awakening. The bullying policy is not enforced at any school. Pine View Middle is great at promoting anti-bullying and signs are all over the school grounds but that is as far as it goes. I suggest you buy a boat load of poster boards and markers because you will be protesting constantly since this is your form of communication.
People need to get a grip and realize no matter how special your little snowflake is to you, school administrations are required to do what is in the best interests for ALL students.
Bryan Gifford
7:50 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
You point one of my biggest issues with the district. Bullying is not enforced or reported. Reporters recently turned up records that has Pacso a reported bullying rate well below the state average. Either we are really good, or there is an effort to not report that goes across all the schools. I am guessing it is the later and efforts like that come from the top down. We have an opportunity Aug 12th to change the figure at the top with someone who wants to begin enforcing. Bullying does not have to happen, and should not be tolerated as normal behavior. Protests heighten awareness, awareness increases voters, increased voters change the people making the policy.
Laker
8:28 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I hear tell that the admin at PVMS would give Ana Falcone a run for her money in the Bullying faculty department!
Southern4sure
8:32 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Pine View Administration told me that bullying is hard to enforce/control, esp for first offenders. They basically get a "that is not nice" lecture and returned to class. Kids with a history of classroom disruption and bullying are protected because: 1) the school cannot get in contact with the parents, 2) the school cannot discipline without parent approval and 3) it takes up too much time to follow through. The anti-bullying campaign is a joke. Some teachers bully students as well but it is called strict teaching.
Laker
9:06 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
Wrong on all three points! Administration does not follow through on discipline because they don't want to take the time and responsibility! If they can't get in contact with the parent, they can send a Social Worker to the home. It may take time and effort, but it can be done!
Southern4sure
9:31 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
Oh I don't disagree, those are the excuses given by PVMS administration
Giacomo Canoli
8:55 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
I support the movement going on! I also support a groups question to the Sheriff, who paid for the Police Escort? If you are afraid of a handful of concerned citizens then you shouldn't be a principle. I believe that Ms. Falcone and her Assistant should be billed for the bogus escort. Vote out the top and start seeing change! Elect a new Superintendent of Schools this election!
Thomas Levering
1:11 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Sad how much negative energy there is in this world. We wonder why kids have a hard time dealing with and problem solving in a healthy way. How do you people explain these actions to your kids? They must think you are so vindictive. What is even sadder is that your children are learning the wrong ways to approach problems through the actions and words their parents speak. The actions that I have seen and read on here are so inappropriate for any citizen,
community member, parent and most of all child to engage in.
No matter what the problem is....families, teachers and school administrators should be able to work together. You are the parents so the burden of establishing a positive relationship with your child's school is YOURS! Do you act like this if you go to the DMV, Dept. of Health or any other place of business? If you are saying yes then it is clear that you have a trust issue and are unstable. If your answer is no, then why would you think you have permission to be disrespectful and hurtful to your community school system or school? This is not an open question so please don't respond.
Auntie SueSue
8:42 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
"This is not an open question so please don't respond" .... what the heck?? Then stop posting in an open forum Tommy.
Thomas Levering
1:12 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Let's face it.....teaching is a hard job and so is leading a school or district with many many teachers, staff, students and families. I would bet anything that these administrators make nothing compared to CEO's in charge of the same amounts of people and pressures. Since I was raised with morals, values, respect and optimism, I believe that leaders of any school do their job because they love what they do despite malicious people like yourselves. Do you really think that you are solving any problems? Again, this is not an open question.
The only people I see on this bandwagon are retired employees, former disgruntled employees (that were probably let go for the good of the kids), parents that think their children are angels and a few other people who are followers jumping on a negative bandwagon. We all know that in a public system it is almost impossible to get rid of mediocre employees and that status quo most of the time means less work. So let's do some thinking......
An Insider's Opinion
10:48 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
I'm not sure who you are sir, but believe me when I say that the only reason you see retired employees and the ones who have been let go or forced to leave picketing is because the ones in the trenches can't come forward because they will be the next target. There are many who feel this way Thomas, not just a few. This is not about a few disgruntled employees. Many things have been attempted before it reached this point. Do you understand that it has been building to this point and no one was listening? You just can't understand that which you do not know, but please do not assume that these educators are complaining or griping because they are negative people or they do not know how to do their jobs. Those comments are rude and made without knowledge of the problem at hand.
Thomas Levering
1:12 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I know how much work it takes to run a successful business. I can tell you that it is not always easy, it is a lot of work and decisions are made with best intentions in mind. Popularity or what everyone wants IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ORGANIZATION. The leader is ultimately responsible for the success or failure so I have a hard time believing that this leader has malicious intent in mind. As a proud Pasco community member, I felt it was my duty to respond to this in hopes of being the voice of reason to many. I challenge our citizens, parents and community members to take their negative energy and use it differently. If these people who have spent so much time and effort were trying to make a difference, I AM SURE THERE ARE A MILLION OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE. Before anyone jumps on this hateful bandwagon, look at the credentials of those who are leading this cancerous, vindictive, malicious and worthless waste of time.
Making educated decisions that help make our world a better place to live should be your ultimate goal. Stand united not to hate people but to help make a difference in a positive way. Try working with people instead of against them. It is much more productive!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer Broderick
1:42 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Thomas- Thank you for sharing your rational thoughts. There is definitely a public stoning brewing and its ridiculous being that we have very few actual facts. Just some loud unhappy opinions and here-say in the comments section as to what happened on ONE side of the story. Care to to throw your name in to the election hat?
You have my vote.
Jennifer Broderick
1:54 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Personally, I want to hear the voices of the many parent volunteers in the school. I bet they hear and see something resembling a balanced truth better than the two groups involved. They have the best interest of the kids at heart and their "jobs" aren't at stake. Can we get a balanced, factual follow up article, please? This firestorm based on this one article is ridiculous.
Keli Sipperley
11:51 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Hi Jennifer,
I reached out to someone who said they might be able to be put me in touch with some happy parents for a follow up, but thus far I have not heard from anyone. I can be reached at keli.sipperley@patch.com if anyone would like to speak with me for another story. Thanks!
Thomas Levering
4:40 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Jennifer,
I agree with you 100% but unfortunately the hard-working teachers and dedicated volunteers at the school probably would never think of feeding the frenzy. I asked around and have been told that the school has very high test scores and that Mrs. Falcone has a strong grasp on curriculum. Isn't that what we want in a school leader? The more knowledgable the leader is, the more effective the leader should be in monitoring for quality (important quality that has been overlooked).
Most successful people have had mentors or people that have pushed them to do better. Is this a case where these disgruntled people have never had a leader "challenge" them to be and do better? A leader who actually does the job of leading.
I do see a pattern with these few pessimists Jennifer. They are all retired, fired, self-employed or un-employed. I can't help but to think that maybe they are the ones who cannot work with others. Take a look at yourself people, I would venture to say that not one of you have her credentials or experience. Let's compare their resumes. In the meantime be positive, there are good people in our community.
An Insider's Opinion
10:36 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
So many different perspectives. I can understand how many parents don't understand why the picketing and all of this is taking place because they aren't experiencing what the teachers are going through at this school. I worked there last year and saw how teachers responded to this principal, agreeing with everything she said regardless of how they feel because if you were on her bad side, she would crucify you. A teacher who didn't teach using the same style as the principal was unfairly written up as a bad teacher and that is suicide in the school system because she can't get another job without the principal's recommendation. So, if you breathe the wrong way, you are on a sinking ship. Taught me the importance of working under people with integrity and good morals. There are MANY others teachers besides these two who feel this, but they can't come forward out of fear of losing their job. The ones you saw picketing represent only a small percentage of great educators who wish they could tell their story anonymously. This story needs to be heard.
Mrs. S
12:20 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Good for all involved for speaking up and discussing your situation. It is such a shame that people that are in higher positions can get away with such cruelty to their employees. Bullying is not acceptable whether it's a kid or an adult! What is this teaching our children today that it's okay to do this!
Kathy "Kat" Lambert
2:30 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
I am the only write-in candidate remaining for Pasco's Superintendent of Schools. Driving by Connerton on the way to a board meeting, I noticed it must be a "development school," built for the Connerton development. I see here on this page that many of you want change. If you want change, you as adults must move your demonstration and commentary to the Board meetings, not the school campus. No, I am not a personal friend of Heather's or Kurt's. Best wishes. Kat.
Educator
12:21 am on Friday, April 5, 2013
Here is the problem... District states what teachers have to teach or what policies Administrators have to follow. Picket outside the front of the District building not an elementary school. You say Mrs. Falcone is a bully...however did you ever stop to think she is doing that she is being told to do? Have the teachers being "bullied" never had a problem with another administrator? Sadly, this was a situation that needed to be discussed and expressed at the District not the school level. Children should have never been exposed to that. The protestors may have felt it was okay to involve their children, but what about the other parents? They had no choice in their child's involvement. Unfortunately their children were exposed to all this drama whether they liked it or not. Did anyone consider the consequences for Mrs. Falcone's children? Can you honestly say that no other children talked about them or bullied them because they were involved in the protest or influenced by their parents openly bad mouthing Mrs. Falcone. As adults, we need to think before we speak. Social media makes it easy to create online bullies and tarnish a person's reputation when you don't have all the facts.
Jennifer Lowachee
7:51 am on Friday, April 5, 2013
Anna Falcone brought this school to an A school. You witch hunters be careful karma will bite you in the butt. You are nothing short of a disgruntled bunch of people who couldn't control a school prinicipal and get special attention for your children so you blame it on the principal. She wouldn't play your political games so you start your smear campaign. LISTEN UP WITCHES EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AND YOUR KIDS ARE NOT SO SPECIAL THAT THEY SHOULD GET SPECIAL ATTENTION. BTW When your evil comes back to bite you it will be 100 fold. And for the others gloating, your turn will come when you or your spouses are let go from their jobs. HUGE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. I am sure a lot of you have skeletons in your closets. Better be careful those skeletons don't come crawling out. ALL OF YOU MAKE ME SICK.
Jennifer Lowachee
5:58 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Mr. Levering I applaud you. You have hit the nail on the head. These people care only about their own children and Ms Lopez who is leading this crusade was never a teacher at Connerton. She seems to be a bored person who has too much time on her hands to malign a person's character. We need to get rid of lazy teachers who are not teaching our children. We need educators. Sadly Anna Falcone was chosen to do that job and now she is the fall guy. The Pasco community, educators and parents all need to stand together to correct this wrong. Our children need administrators like Anna Falcone. It is also very sad that educators who support Anna cannot come forward because they are afraid of losing their jobs. What kind of democracy is this? Doesn't an accused have the right to face her accusers? I would be afraid for my children and these people with their children holding signs and protesting are teaching their children to be just like them. No morals.
Jennifer Lowachee
6:01 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Mr. Levering you should write Kurt Browning on your findings in this group. We need people like you to speak up,.
An Insider's Opinion
9:03 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Your comment... "It is very sad that educators who support Anna cannot come forward because they are afraid of losing their jobs. What kind of democracy is this?" actually mad me laugh because I thought the same thing about all the people who couldn't come forward in disapproval of Anna last year because they were afraid of losing their jobs. The few who came forward represented a lot of people who just could not take that chance.
Jennifer Lowachee
9:26 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
The fact that Anna asked for the district to verify the accuracy of a climate survey as a means to protect her school community from unnecessary and inaccurate negative school publicity, caused the Superintendent to find her guilty of "gross insubordination" and "misconduct in office". After listening to her story, we stand by her as she contests these charges. She has dedicated over 14 years to this county and we believe that the Superintendent unfairly and without complete information placed her on leave, with the intent to recommend termination at the April and May School Board Meetings. Educators like Anna focus on student success. We are deeply upset with how this situation was handled, communicated and politicized to the community. Her merits and achievements were ignored as was the impact that this abrupt change would have on Connerton students, teachers and families. Our goal is to provide Anna with a positive support network all across the community. We must retain leaders like Anna in our county who are passionate about having a positive impact on education and our students. What happened to Anna could happen to any Principal at any time. This had a huge impact on Connerton Elementary School and we must speak up and be heard in order to preserve highly qualified professionals who work hard to maintain high standards of education within Pasco County.
Henry Grady
11:06 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Jennifer, in the same way that Anna would have expected the people that worked for her to follow her directives to the letter, the Superintendent has every right to expect the same thing from his direct reports. According to the news media, Anna was told on several occasions to stop trying to gather confidential information. Anna, however, chose not to respect the wishes of her supervisor. This is the crux of her current situation. I am sure there are employees who at some point disrespected Anna's wishes in the same way, and Anna followed the protocol necessary to deal with that insubordination. I would expect that Anna knew how things worked, and would understand that she would face punishment for her misbehavior. Or does Anna follow a different set of rules?
Sherri Lonon
11:21 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Hi folks, we appreciate the passion behind the comments, but please do refrain from personal attacks on other users. Thanks so much!
Jennifer Lowachee
9:36 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
I am so sick of this mess. The school board has been bombarded with emails from these trouble makers using different aliases to malign this principal and make it look as if it's coming from different people when it's the same people all the time. It just goes to show what Cathy Brown is made of. She sits in the background and fuels the fire and uses Peggy Lopez as her mouth of the south. I am so sickened by the evil that's going around I thank God that my children are not at Connerton. BTW did you people see there was a marijuana grow house right in your Connerton neighborhood and a man was murdered there?