Bryce – there just isn’t enough room for me to say all I want so I will be succinct. My son was in 5th grade STEM at CHE so I have some firsthand knowledge of this new program. Its potential is unknown but it deserves a chance before we throw it under the bus due to a perceived leadership conflict. Mrs. Lyon is one of the most passionate educators I have ever met and I believe that she does a phenomenal job in her role. She is not in charge of the teachers that have STEM classes – they report to the campus principal. Maybe that has changed. Her role is curriculum, guiding instruction, and helping the teachers be the best they can be at leading our children forward in STEM – subjects that U.S. kids MUST do better in. I agree that this program should be watched carefully and critically evaluated for success but it needs more than one year for that to happen. I do not think that the budget for STEM adds to the burden of the district taxpayers since these kids would be in a classroom anyway – no net teacher add. Yes, “stuff” is needed but all classrooms need things. Anyway, so much for being succinct but let’s give this a fair chance before we deem it a failure.

PS – I completely agree with your statement regarding unequal spending between the schools in the district. I wonder what the taxes collected v. money spent analysis would look like per campus?

I never cease to be amazed at the level of hypocrisy of which humanity is capable. In 1996 and 1997 there was enormous criticism within the district regarding perceived conflicts of interest. Now, these same critics are strangely silent. We are now aware that these folks wanted jobs, and when they got them they got quiet, but it is still aggravating to see the level of difference in the way things are handled by the body politic. I wish Dr. Ellen the best and hope the STEM program is a major success. And I hope those critics of those terrible years, who hurt so many people, know that we will never forget and that there will be “no peace in the valley” for them should they decide to reenter the public sphere. And, we wait, ever patiently, to hear just a smidgeon of explanation from the district regarding the many complaints of Mr. Bales.

Memo to Miss Becky Camp: I am a firm believer in graduate education and concur with the premise that Dr. Ellen Lyon adds value to the school district by bringing graduate education at the doctorate level in her toolbox of skills. Let’s hope that the regrettable practice of holding graduate education against teachers in the school district is defunct. We have thankfully ridded ourselves of the worst of the lot who ruined academic progress in the district, but we need to be on guard against seeing a resugrence of this sorriness.

Mr. Will: Perhaps I was a little cryptic in my first post. In 1996-1997 a power change came into the school district. Essentially, we threw out the baby with the bathwater. I don’t know if there is enough space here to discuss everything that happened, but there was a move on to get rid of senior people and to challenge any initiatives of prior administrations. The replacement initiatives, coupled with inexperienced implementors, resulted in coillosal failure and the school district went on a downward academic spiral. Dr. Lyon is doing a good job and I am one of hjis principal supporters, but HCISD has a tortured past and we need to be on guard to prevent a recurrence.

Wouldn’t it be just as misguided to not hire an excellent candidate for a job because of their relationship to another employee as to hire them because of the same relationship?
Let’s not just look at jobs as plums for the hiree but duties to our students. Hiring the BEST person is the most important thing.
BTW—the AP, son and daughter-in-law had been working here long before the “cuts.” And before the two teachers married.
And–everyone who was cut who chose to interview for other positions was hired.