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It is so important that the R-8 superintendent be allowed to spread the story of how he started school on time three years ago after the Joplin Tornado that he has scheduled at least four speaking engagements, all during the workweek, during the fall semester.
Preliminary advertising for the events shows that Huff will speak in Illinois, Kansas City, Saskatchewan, and just for good measure, Joplin.
Huff will open his Mission Accomplished Three Years Ago Tour speaking at the Rotary Zone 30 and 31 Institute, 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 5, at the Intercontinental Kansas City on the Plaza.
His topic, according to the advertising, will be "The Joplin Experience."
The description of the speaker reads as follows:
Dr. C. J. Huff is currently in his 18th year serving in our public schools and is in his sixth year as superintendent of the Joplin Schools in Joplin, MO. Joplin Schools have more than 7,600 students with over 60 percent qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Through the development of a tiered system of support and more than 280 collaborative partnerships between businesses, faith-based organizations, and human service agencies, the district is now able to successfully meet any child's basic needs in less than 24 hours. The success of the model resulted in the formation of Bright Futures USA, which now serves over 76,000 children in 17 affiliate communities located over four states. Dr. Huff was superintendent in 2011 when an EF-5 multiple-vortex tornado devastated Joplin, MO.
On Thursday, September 25, Huff will be the featured speaker at a National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) event at Addison Trail High School in Addison, Illinois. Those wishing to hear him at the event will have to pay $20.
The speaking engagement is being advertised this way:
In May 2011, a deadly tornado struck Joplin, Mo., devastating the area and destroying Joplin High School. Dr. Huff led the efforts for Joplin Schools to deal with and recover from that tragedy, and he will share his story with INSPRA members, their guests, and any community members who want to hear this compelling story.
Huff's third weekday speaking experience will be right here in Joplin, at the second annual Bright Futures USA Community Engagement Conference Monday, October 13, and Tuesday, October 14, at Missouri Southern State University.
The advertising for the event does not indicate when or how many times Huff will be speaking at this event, which is advertised in this fashion:
After one of the most devastating tornadoes on record destroyed a third of Joplin, Missouri, Dr. C.J. Huff, Superintendent of Schools, led his community in an amazing effort to rebuild—transforming this disastrous tragedy into the town’s finest hour. Dr. Huff’s demonstrated leadership helped Joplin schools and the community literally emerge from the rubble in what has been called “A model for those who study resilience” by U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen. He was named one of People magazine’s 2011 heroes for his role in bringing the community out of despair and providing the focus necessary to unite and mobilize recovery efforts. Dr. Huff has received numerous awards, including 2013 Missouri Superintendent of the Year, the 2012 National School Public Relations Association Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award and the 2012 Missouri National Education Association Horace Mann Award. He was also one of four finalists for 2013 National Superintendent of the Year.
Huff will leave the United States to serve as the "opening keynote speaker" for the annual 2014 Joint Conference of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, the Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials, and the League of Educational Administrators, Directors, and Superintendents of Saskatchewan.
The conference is scheduled for Monday, November 17, through Wednesday, November 19, at the Saskatoon TCU Place. Huff will speak from 12:45 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, at the Saskatoon TCU Place. The advertising for the Saskatchewan event is the same as for the Bright Futures and both are identical to the wording on the Washington Speakers Bureau website.
Advertising for the event does not indicate whether Huff's trip and services are being funded as a speech arranged through the Washington Speakers Bureau, through a private source, or whether it is the latest of a series of thank-you speeches to those who helped the school district in the aftermath of the Joplin Tornado.
7 comments:
Let's create a sound track for this. I swear the song "Born Free" went through my mind when I read about our sad little district full of teeming masses yearning to be set free by Dr. Huff. About brought a tear to my eye. "You are the Wind Beneath my Wings" might make everyone sob and pass the hat during the tornado hero myth speech. Maybe this could be the alternative source of income that Paul Barr referenced. We need little urchins to run around with collection plates while the Great Miracle Doctor gives his canned speech. It would be golden.
I'm so glad he's gone on these speeches. It's safer back here when the delusional one is gone.
Since Kim Vann is ALWAYS at his side, who does her job when they're "on the road again?" And who pays their travel expenses? Better not be my tax dollars!
Maybe with any luck this will be dubbed the "farewell" tour. I'd pay some other district to keep him.
I am so sick of this jerk promoting himself as The One who pulled Joplin out of the depths of despair following the May, 2011 tornado. He acts as if we all sat around on our thumbs waiting for him to show up and tell us how to proceed.
Well, here is a news flash for you Mr. Huff. After checking on each other immediately after the tornado, my neighbors and I then went to help our neighbors in the area South of Parr Hill Park and helped pull people out of the rubble. Some of those people were alive, others barely clinging to life, and some already perished. There were body parts and bodies that were barely recognizable as human. We didn't need you to tell us what to do. How many people did you pull from the debris that night in May?
In the days, weeks, and months following the tornado we managed to pull ourselves together with the help of our neighbors, volunteers, and others who weren't there to promote themselves. We ate at and got essential supplies from some of the church tents set up in various locations. Never once did I see you there or driving around handing out bottles of water to those of us digging through the mess of what was once our home.
Kudos to you for finding suitable temporary facilities to hold school the following year. That was a huge accomplishment and also what you were supposed to do be doing. You had plenty of people helping you and I have serious doubts that you did much of the legwork.
I've heard your "I Saved Joplin" speech and find it and you to be disingenuous at best. So go on your little tour, take all the credit for anything good that happened in Joplin after the tornado, and be paid to tell your self-promoting story while we stay here and work to pay the outrageous price tag you've left for us.
Does he have to have his salary docked when he goes to do these things?
CJ Huff is a complete joke. Makes me sick that my kids are in the district.
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