Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Documents: Great minds think alike when praising Joplin's Race to the Top application

When the Joplin R-8 School District submitted its first application for the federal Race to the Top grants in 2012, a part of the package featured letters submitted by various people in the community.

Some say great minds think alike. I wonder about that when I see that great minds all made the same grammatical error.

Judge for yourself from these excerpts from the letters:

Gary Pulsipher, CEO, Mercy Hospital- The Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Rob O'Brian, president, Joplin Area Chamber of CommerceThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Cary Beasley, Workforce Development Coordinator, Joplin Area Chamber of CommerceThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Ryan Spriggs, Store Manager, Walgreen'sThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Brad Graves, lead pastor, Calvary Baptist ChurchThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have made in the past.

Nancy L. Hutson, president, Cycle ConnectionThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Lori Scott Dreiling, Human Resources Manager, Modine Manufacturing Company-  The Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Kenny Neal, owner and president, Mid-Land Erector CompanyThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Clive Veri, president, Commerce Bank- The Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.

Christie L. Barnhart, External Affairs Manager, Missouri American WaterThe Career Pathways Initiative merging Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is a perfect next step for the district as they build upon the many positive changes they have implemented over the past ten years.


Or consider these excerpts:

Rob O'Brian, president, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce- We believe Joplin Schools' vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Cary Beasley, workforce development manager, Joplin Area Chamber of CommerceWe believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Gary Pulsipher, CEO, Mercy Hospital- I believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Chad Greer, Corner Greer and Associates- I believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Brad Graves, lead pastor, Calvary Baptist ChurchI believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Nancy L. Hutson, president, Cycle ConnectionI believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Lori Scott Dreiling, human resources manager, Modine JoplinModine-Joplin believes their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Clive Veri, president, Commerce Bank- I believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Christie L. Barnhart, external affairs manager, Mid-American WaterI believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

Crystal Harrington, executive director, Homebuilders Association of Southwest MissouriI believe their vision is a perfect fit with the ideals Race to the Top represents.

 
I am curious as to whether any of these people actually read the Race to the Top application before endorsing it, especially since none of them have anything to say about the specifics of the $10 million request.

As noted in an earlier Turner Report, Superintendent C. J. Huff asked representatives of both Joplin teacher organizations, MSTA and MNEA to endorse the proposal, handing them only one page of the report- the page that says they have read the whole report and support it.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooops!

bwaahaha!

Annoyed Taxpayer said...

I knew there was the proverbial rubber stamp at the bunker on 32nd street, but never knew they were bought in bulk by many other businesses and community leaders.

Anonymous said...

Enough tools to fill the shed, there. Assuming they even knew they "wrote" the letters. I'd be denying it at this point, if I was one of them. Distance...distance,,,distance.

Anonymous said...

Those letters sound about as real as that district chat email from "Anne" the other day going on about their brilliant choice of Shawn McGrew for the board. Sounded just like the emails we get from central office. Smarmy. I wonder if she read it before it was sent. Or if she even knew she "wrote" it. No matter how you package it, McGrew was a bad choice. Even your staff is smarter than to buy that.

Anonymous said...

Once again, CJ Huff manages to embarrass the entire district and community. And he wonders why that money didn't just fall on us like manna from Heaven? Fool. But yet, Suzanne Sharp will betray her community to keep her little pet in place. Good job, Suzanne. Good job.

Anonymous said...

I beg to differ with you, Mr. Turner. I have read this several times over and can't find any evidence of great minds at work anywhere here. Just the work of a pack of dolts. But thank you for sharing. Highly entertaining and highly enlightening, in its own sordid way.

Anonymous said...

Birds of a feather flock together.Even dodo birds.