Diaz's Possible Reinstatement Reaction

Reinstatement! What would we as a community or district be thinking -- let us ponder what real leaders have had to say. "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." -LaoTzu and from Mother Theresa herself, "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Education is not an industry for sharks; it is an institution which promotes civic responsibility, human kindness, and honesty, a truly honorable profession.

Tuesday at 1 p.m. is the closed meeting... is anyone up for a protest? Let's get several thousand people to attend the meeting and flood the building with concerned people. I will be there that afternoon, will you? You don't have to be there exactly at 1 p.m. but should be there by 3 or so to make a statement. Join me.

I actually feel ill. How sad what LCPS has become. I am not sure I want my kids to go to school here when they are old enough. Where are all the good leaders?

Reading Norman Todd's letter to the board is probably one of the most productive ways to spend one's time in trying to understand Dr. Diaz and the mess she's made of LCPS. I was also a community member who interviewed the four finalists. My first response when the board chose her was that she would NOT have been my choice. The fact that speaks Spanish seems to me to be the only thing that recommended her. She obviously has no regard or respect for our district or for those who work so hard to meet the needs of our students. She has managed, in a mere four months, to alienate most of the community. Even Louis Martinez had supporters as well as detractors. Sadly, though, I think the hiring of Dr. Diaz is only a symptom of the degree to which our school board members are out of touch. They need to be replaced as soon as feasibly possible. Their appointment of Liz Marrufo as interim superintendent was a poor choice as well. She and Dr. Diaz have much in common in terms of their lack of people skills. Good luck with that.

I'm not an employee, but I have had kids in the schools now for almost 20 years and have experience working in large organizations, so I can empathize with all of you. It's time for all the staff of LCPS to get themselves an anonymous e-mail account at Yahoo and send some well written letters to every single state representative and board member who was present at the meeting with Diaz! THEY need to inform themselves before they speak and take sides in what is obviously a complex issue, which contrary to what the Board said, might involve financial misappropriation, which could be a crime.I counseled domestic violence offenders for years, and I can attest to the amount of effort and sincerity they can muster to try and convince others that THEY are really the ones who are the "good guys", the victims, etc. Just because she is not a man, and the employees are not her wife doesn't mean she doesn't play out the same dynamics with people who she perceives to be lower in the power hierarchy. It is obvious to any one knowledgeable that Diaz is an abuser, and unfortunately, many people who will want to hold the Superintendents job will also have her personality type. In a female dominated workplace, she will be able to instill fear and intimidation far more easily than if she was leading a bunch of guys because women are more sensitive to these tactics. However, there is no reason anyone should be humiliated, intimidated or caused to feel fear in the workplace. Make sure you all document every incident you have had with her in writing, follow all the personnel policies and procedures, and remain the professionals you are until the end. When the time comes, remember that if you don't speak out, nothing can come of this, but that "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" should be the motto you all hold. Be courageous, focus on the future. And take care of each other. Justice WILL happen. God Bless you all!!!

This is a response to those who are skeptical of comments made by "anonymous". My choice to remain anonymous in submitting comments to this blog is simply a practical matter. Currently I am an LCPS employee and fearful of the hostile work environment that I would face or even of losing my job if it were known that I submitted comments here. While I can understand your skepticism, please remember that the USA has a long history of anonymous commentary that has been effective as an agent of change. Remember Silence Dogood.......

Aren't Liz Marrufo and Joni Gutierrez buddies? I am afraid we have reentered the "good old boy" system that we had before Mr. Martinez was here. Unfortunately, his vision (which was for the children of the district, not the teachers and administrators) was halted by certain prima donnas who think that whatever they do behind their classroom doors are "best practices" for children and who are uninterested in improving their practice so that our children can receive a better education. Whether you liked him or disliked him personally, you have to admit that whenever you heard him speak, you heard about goals for our children. Those of you who blame NCLB for this mess-are you afraid to better your practice?

I hope that our high school will now be able to order needed text books! Just to clarify, our district has very high quality literacy textbooks and an ongoing plan to improve literacy in elementary schools. Dr. Diaz ordered new text books for her own reasons and not because the district was lacking appropriate text books. In other words, she decided to replace perfectly good text books with new ones without a good reason and at the cost of our high schools not having appropriate text books. Why did she do this? Was it because our teachers requested a text book chance? NO Was it because there is research that says the new text books are more effective? NO Could it be that Dr. Diaz has been employed by Houghton-Mifflin as paid consultant? Well, that's the rumor! Was she scheduled to get kick backs? Talk about fiscal issues! This could be fraud!

I think there are documents out there that could prove certain board members have over-stepped their legal limits as to what they can and cannot do.They are to set policy and Hire the superintendent. That is it. This does not include hosting a BBQ for special interest groups, writing letters of reprimand to school employees or going into offices or schools and admonishing staff in a job threatening manner. Let's investigate this!!!

To The School Board: If Sonia Diaz is not fired, we will seek recall election. I am prepared to spend several hours each day gathering signatures and going door to door against you. I am sure others in the community are prepared to do the same. If you do not listen to us, we will re-elect someone who will. Your past performance in these matters makes me think long and hard about gathering signatures regardless of the outcome with Dr. Diaz.You obviously think we are all a bunch of backwater yuppies incapable of producing quality leadership within our own ranks. Several people previously employed by LCPS are now superintendents in districts around the country. The only explanation for your lack of promotion from within is a low opinion of our town, its people, and the district. We don't need losers from New York running the train, and contrary to what you perceive, we don't need you either.The sword of justice is hanging over you precariously. Don't tread on us. We are not as stupid as you think, and there are more than just one or two of us.I also feel that Sonia Diaz should be imprisoned, and fortunately for us, that is not up to you. If we let her go on her merry way, she will use her charms to con somebody else in another town and start the cycle anew. She must be stopped. The children of our country deserve better. We owe it to them to take people like Sonia off the streets. At least she will have a shower in her new 'office' at La Tuna...With the highest levels of sincerity, An Educated Citizen of Las Cruces, NM

Anything with Michael Swickard PHD must be taken with knowledge of his agenda and live in girlfriend who has a vested interest in the promotion of "her" promoted reading program at Valley View. What a scam!!!

If you want to know how most people at central office feel about Dr. Diaz being on administrative leave, think about the Chronicles of Narnia when the snow and ice have begun to melt when Asland returns! The white witch is not dead yet, but there is hope! In the last two days, people have actually been smiling and laughing and feeling free to talk with colleagues! The four months of winter, imposed by the white witch have broken! Let's hope the school board makes it permanent!!!

As a school employee in central office, I am relieved to know that Dr. Diaz has been placed on administrative leave. I do have hope that the board of education will do the right thing and terminate Dr. Diaz' contract. The board said that they were investigating claims of inappropriate personnel and fiscal decisions. The board's own actions today indicate that they found significant problems with Dr. Diaz' actions. By cancelling the text book order for elementary literacy (rumored to be in excess of $1,000,000), reinstating department budgets, cancelling lucrative contracts that Dr. Diaz initiated, and reinstating an assistant principal, the board has already acted upon and corrected several very serious personnel and fiscal issues that Dr. Diaz created! These actions clearly indicate that the board has already found Dr. Diaz to have failed her duties! Come on school board, do the right thing and fire her! Central Office, our schools, our children, and our community does not need more of Dr. Diaz' lies, fiscal mismanagement, and self-serving actions. It is time to cut our losses and move on!

There is a lot more wrong with the schools than Diaz. I like the comment that each school is its own community that is very true. However, for the most part teachers are treated with little or no respect in those communities. I am a teacher and quite frankly I am tired of begging for the supplies and equipment I need to do my job. It is humiliating to have to go to the secretary and beg for a roll of tape, a pen, or an expo marker. It is crazy. The desks and chairs our kids have to use or too small or broken. We have been told for the last three or four years that we can't order furniture. If we don't get some soon the kids will all be sitting on the floor.

Viva Ogas!

This statement in one of the blog comments: "doesn't flirt with employees" is ... seriously in error. Please check this out if you really want to do this district some good. This comment is NOT in favor of or against Dr. Diaz. It is only an observation of something that has been 'overlooked' in the past in our district.

It is ironic that Diaz has brought in "Consultants" and "Transition Team Members" from out of the district, yet all teaching-job-postings are labeled that only in-district personnel are eligible for the job. I know of two very experienced teachers from GISD, one with 28 years experience, that have tried to get hired by LCPS but are turned down for being previously employed by another district.