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General Category >> Schools and Board of Education >> Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
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Message started by ILuvHoova on 07/25/07 at 9:02am

Title: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by ILuvHoova on 07/25/07 at 9:02am

As his high-priced lawyers claim?

Let's look at the facts:

Bishop was hired in July 2006 as a probationary/contract principal (seems they can't agree on the terminology)
Bishop's evaluation was completed in May 2007
The investigation makes the news toward the end of June
Barber met with Bishop July 6 to discuss the results
Bishop writes letter July 12 indicating that he believed that Dennis had a personal vendetta against him (shows his level of professionalism)
AC waits until July 23 to recommend his non-renewal

Could it be that the way Bishop handled the results of his evaluation influenced AC's decision to non-renew him?
Could it be that AC believed that Bishop lacked the professionalism required to hold the position of HHS principal?
Could it be that AC attempted to gather more information about Bishop's performance as HHS principal before recommending his non-renewal?

Where does this scapegoat stuff come in? Scapegoat for what?

Once again, Bishop has shown his lack of professionalism by crying politics when he just simply isn't suited for the job. I'm sure his lawyers are fighting to protect his reputation, but Bishop's blowing it. His fighting this out makes him look ridiculous.

If he gets his way and those BOE members overrule AC's recommendation, all hell will break loose in this system from here on out. Anytime a contract employee gets non-renewed, they'll have the precedent to "have an appeal before the BOE". That's exactly what's happened.

Since when do teachers and principals and other employees get to appeal their non-renewal to the BOE? We have WAY too many lawyers sitting at the BOE table.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by ILuvHoova on 07/25/07 at 9:05am

Bishop's evaluation: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/07/bishop.pdf

Read it yourself.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by HooverHooch on 07/25/07 at 9:10am

He is not a scapegoat, he is just not being renewed. This was not a spur of the moment action. It will make more sense when Bishop's replacement is announced.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by bonnie089 on 07/25/07 at 9:24am

what does not make sense is to have 6 principals since 2004!
Godwin
Long
Spivey
Nalls
Bishop
Replacement

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by superdolfan on 07/25/07 at 9:36am

HooverHooch wrote:

He is not a scapegoat, he is just not being renewed. This was not a spur of the moment action. It will make more sense when Bishop's replacement is announced.

You need to expound on this point.

At this time none of what is happening makes sense.

Regarding the evaluation, I read it. What's interesting his his communication/follow-up skills. I registered my child for school and in the packet they send you is a letter from Mr. Bishop. The letter mixes the student's grade up twice, which indicates that he did not proof the letter prior to sending it. Not a big deal, granted, as we parents "knew" what he meant. But it does coincide with the evaluation.

As far as scapegoat? Pleeze. The eval is sufficient to close this matter out. ILuvHoova is right on the money, though. If the BoE overrides AC, then his ability to function as a super is finished. He might as well color with crayons all day long because none of what he says is going to hold any weight.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by bonnie089 on 07/25/07 at 9:47am

here is my theory

they will replace Bishop with someone already in the system. Let him serve as "principal" for a year. During that year they will be finding someone to take over the 9th grade school so that Martin Nalls can become the HHS principal in 2008-2009.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by Walktall on 07/25/07 at 12:13pm

Bonnie, While Mr. Nalls would be the likely choice, The freshman center is a two year setup at minimum. Mr. Nalls has spent a lot of time preparing for this center and he has a lot more to get set. Make no doubt about it, Mr. Nalls is determined to make the Hoover Freshman center the best in the country.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by HooverHooch on 07/25/07 at 3:37pm

HooverHooch wrote:

He is not a scapegoat, he is just not being renewed. This was not a spur of the moment action. It will make more sense when Bishop's replacement is announced.

New Chief Academic officer Mr Jarnigan was announced as the new HHS Principal. Speculation is that Craig knew this when Jarnigan was hired and never had any intention of renewing Bishop. The Chief Academic Officer may have been a position created as a placeholder simply to get Jarnigan in the system. My understanding is that he has many years experience as a principal, but I know little about him.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by ILuvHoova on 07/25/07 at 9:39pm

Jarnigan won High School Principal of the Year in Tennessee last year. He's the man for the job, for now.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by Hooville on 07/29/07 at 10:34am

If you think Nalls will be the one to make the Freshman Center work, you're deluded. He's a politician, just looking to move up as fast as he can, at whatever cost. All he can do is spout jargon and spin ideas (usually not very well thought-out ones, just whatever he's latched onto in the latest article he's skimmed), then delegate the actual work to toadies, to whom he shows absolutely no loyalty but instead abandons if they are not politically convenient.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by synergis1 on 07/29/07 at 10:36am

And when will Nalls realize that he is just the "token" minority administrator for the system?

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by croggen on 07/29/07 at 5:31pm

The part I have a problem with is 6 Principals or Interim Principals in basically 3 years. I get the feeling that position is the scapegoat position.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by finalexaminer on 07/29/07 at 7:39pm

"If you think Nalls will be the one to make the Freshman Center work, you're deluded. He's a politician, just looking to move up as fast as he can, at whatever cost. All he can do is spout jargon and spin ideas (usually not very well thought-out ones, just whatever he's latched onto in the latest article he's skimmed), then delegate the actual work to toadies, to whom he shows absolutely no loyalty but instead abandons if they are not politically convenient."

Mr. Nalls a politician? That's why he went toe to toe with RP and football boosters two years ago when he suspended some of our best players before two critical playoff games. Yep, you're right he knows how to move up in this community.
Spin ideas? Usually not very well thought-out? Like the academies, huh? Do you know the academies came into existence? You're right, he doesn't have any idea of what it takes to implement new ideas!

"And when will Nalls realize that he is just the "token" minority administrator for the system?"

Maybe Mr. Nalls was a token when he was hired in 2001. To say he is token now, is a marginally racist statement , or statement from someone who is not informed enough to have a valid opinion. I hope the latter is the case.

I have disgreed with Mr. Nalls on many issues, but the aforementioned characterizations at contrary to what I have observed.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by superdolfan on 07/29/07 at 7:46pm

finalexaminer wrote:

Agreed with every item you bring up, final. I sat next to him the other night at the BoE meeting and have known him for five years. Look up the word "integrity" in the dictionary. You'll see his picture next to it.

No, we need more people like Mr. Nalls, Mr. Bain and Mrs. Barber (sorry LawMom and syngergis, but I happen to like her - I know how you feel about her) in the system.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by riverteacher on 07/30/07 at 12:50am

Martin Nalls listens to teachers and helps solve problems. I have seen him deal effectively with parents as well. I consider him one of the ethical people at HHS. In fact, there are lots of great teachers there. Many of them are appalled at the downward slide in recent years. Perhaps not all of them have the reckless courage of Forrest Quattlebaum, or maybe they just never had the "smoking gun" evidence. I would ask the people of Hoover to please take controll of your school system so good teachers and administrators can get back to the business of teaching your kids.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by Hooville on 07/30/07 at 12:49pm

I have worked for MN and stand by my assessment of his character. He's ethical all right. But only up to the point until a situation might affect his reputation. The he does what he does best: delegates it to someone else and/or distances himself from the situation. Bottom line: If something stands to benefit MN's career, he's your man. If not, he'll politely and coolly leave you to fend for yourself.

Now, Brian Cain is in a completely different league. He doesn't just talk the talk; he walks the walk. I've known him to take money out of his own pocket to pay for student's supplies, collect clothing donations so that his Crossroads students had required uniforms to wear, and personally work to help staff with both professional and personal issues, regardless of the political fallout.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by bucs568 on 07/30/07 at 1:21pm

agreed, Brian Cain is one of the most dignified, honest, people I know. He truly has his student's best interest at heart. Simmons got an phenominal leader!

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by LawMom on 07/30/07 at 2:48pm

bucs568 wrote:

agreed, Brian Cain is one of the most dignified, honest, people I know. He truly has his student's best interest at heart. Simmons got an phenominal leader!

And they need it after the mess Carol Barber left in her wake.

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by finalexaminer on 07/30/07 at 4:29pm

"I have worked for MN and stand by my assessment of his character. He's ethical all right. But only up to the point until a situation might affect his reputation. The he does what he does best: delegates it to someone else and/or distances himself from the situation. Bottom line: If something stands to benefit MN's career, he's your man. If not, he'll politely and coolly leave you to fend for yourself."

You said "worked" for Mr. Nalls, so were you fired? If so, that would explain a lot.

You also said that Mr. Nalls is ethical until a situation might affect his reputation. If this is true, why did he stand his ground against RP and the football boosters? Going head to head with RP and football boosters is a great to advance your career in Hoover, just ask Connie Williams and Jan Dennis.

A real politician attempts to keep everybody happy, and that is not at all the case Mr. Nalls. He's willing to make the tough calls when necessary.

Happy job hunting!

Title: Re: Is Bishop a Scapegoat?
Post by Hooville on 07/30/07 at 5:26pm

Nice try, finalexaminer. Nalls moved to the Freshman Center, thus, the use of past tense.