Playing TOO Nice at NC DPI?
The state teacher union and the edu-crats have had their talons sunk into North Carolina’s public schools for so long. Republican superintendent Mark Johnson (2016-2020) made some effort to shake things up, but appears to have thrown up his hands and walked away.
In 2020, voters elected former Pat McCrory aide Catherine Truitt (R) as the state’s newest public schools superintendent. There was still hope for shaking up the public school swamp. Wasn’t there? Um, think again:
Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor is joining the team of Catherine Truitt, the newly-elected state superintendent of public instruction.
Taylor, a Democrat, will be the deputy state superintendent. Truitt has been serving as chancellor of WGU North Carolina, a part of the nonprofit Western Governors University.[…]
A Democrat serving as an elected Republican’s top adviser? *How Nice.*
MORE:
Taylor said his last official day at work has not been set. It is possible that will be determined today.
Truitt, a Republican, will take her position when the election canvass is certified next week and she’s sworn in on Jan. 4. Truitt will be replacing Mark Johnson, who opted not to seek reelection.
“I am super excited,” Taylor said. “This will be a great adventure.”
Taylor said that he was looking forward to starting in January, but he will definitely miss everyone he has worked with over the time that he has been in Bladen County.
“It’s a bit heartbreaking,” the White Lake resident said. “I have had so many offers to go other places, but I stayed.”
He said that he even had another offer about six or seven weeks ago, but declined it, thinking that he was quite happy with the district. Being in Bladen County has allowed him to work from his home, as well as keep his wife working at her job in Hope Mills where they have another home.
“He will be missed,” Board of Education member Chris Clark said. “We thank him for what he has done for the district so far.
“This is a well-deserved move. He has been good, that’s for sure.”
Vinston Rozier echoed similar praise.
“We appreciate Dr. Taylor to the max,” he said. “He was good for Bladen County. He came in with technology, and he had came up through the ranks.”
Rozier said that Taylor was previously a teacher’s assistant at Cumberland County Schools very early in his career.
“I think he’s done about everything except be a custodian and work in the cafeteria,” Rozier said. “We are glad for him. He stayed longer than anyone lately and longer than anyone about any place.”
Taylor said that his wife being able to continue her career, and not have to relocate, was a large incentive for him and his family.
“I love the community,” he said. “In Bladen County I was able to work and not disrupt my family.”
This position, as the deputy state superintendent, is the highest position in K-12 public schools education without being elected.
Taylor began his 10th year with the district on July 1.
Prior to coming to Bladen County, Taylor was the assistant superintendent for Clinton City Schools from 2003 to 2011.
He’s a 1990 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned his bachelor’s in history and political science. In 2001 he earned a master’s in school administration from Fayetteville State and later in 2009 his doctorate in educational leadership.
He was appointed by the governor to the board for the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching earlier this year.[…]
A Roy Cooper-appointee in the #2 spot at the allegedly-GOP controlled DPI? *How nice.*
Here Taylor is signing his name to a protest of the whole George-Floyd-‘I-Can’t-Breathe’ incident that so riled up the Democrats, Black Lives Matter, and the rioters. It was a local crime story in MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. (Nowhere near Bladen County.) Not one word condemning rioting or attacking police. *How Nice.*
How did Truitt connect with this guy? When she was chancellor of Western Governor’s University, the university and the Taylor-led Bladen County Schools formed an alliance and did a little business. (Taylor also served on WGU’s Board of Advisers while Truitt ran things there.)
Here Taylor is being interviewed by his alma mater:
[…] The title alone tells why I wrote for the Unheard Word. African Americans sorely needed a voice at the University and the Student Printz university newspaper was not always that voice. The Unheard Word allowed us to have an opposition voice that could not be silenced. When Riva Brown, with the help of Charlie Braxton and others, started this voice, it was a huge leap of faith. All too often, people applaud the effort, but are reluctant to get too involved. I appreciated the opportunity to lend to this voice, hoping that my words might get fellow students to see things differently, and question the things around them. The Unheard Word, in my opinion, recognized that The University of Southern Mississippi was in the most racist state in the Union, and that while historical focus has always been on the University of Mississippi, Southern Miss had a past that was tainted as well. The Unheard Word was a way to not let this tainted past go unaccounted for, but rather use its words to get Black students to think more deeply about what they expected from the University and from themselves. As an opposition voice, The Unheard Word forced the University to deal with Black students in a different way and recognize they had a voice the University did not control.[…]
Soooooooo — it looks like there won’t be any more arguments between a Republican DPI superintendent, the NCAE, the state Board of Education, and the other edu-crats. *How,um, NICE.*
My almost 14 year old grandson is now in private school. My two year old grandaughter and her soon to be sibling will also be attending private school. I have always been a public school proponent and my daughter in law is a teacher, who can’t wait to leave the profession. But just reading teacher comments on Facebook is enough to scare the daylights out of me. (no economic skills and willing to follow the lemmings off of the cliff)
Just another slap in the face to grassroots NC Republicans by the NC GOP RINO Establishment. Just like the UNC Board of Governors. Nothing changes. Actually it does change….it gets worse and more liberal.
you are correct things do change they get worse and more liberal #AmericaFailed
Saw/read a sound article yesterday. Premise was R’s as happy as Dems Trump lost and we are going back to ‘business as usual’. Pay for play, enrich ourselves and families/friends, big lobby $$, all about US and not America and Americans.
Seems to be same here. Isn’t this precisely WHY McCrory lost? Perhaps Forest as well? TOO Establishment?
When Dems wins, Dems wins. When R’s win, Dems win as well. Seems NC will NEVER learn and NEVER change…..
For Betsy above: 100%. My family has always supported public schools with our kids, grandkids and volunteered and continue to do so and give $$$. We have always advocated our children keep their children in public schools and they have, BUT that is becoming quite a topic. Their schools are at home while the private schools are in school. They know their children are NOT learning and they are concerned. May be the last yr they remain in public schools. IF Truitt and Cooper and DHS continue this path for NC public schools, I’m done. Dems look out ONLY for Dems yet R’s look out for Dems as well???
I’m DONE with NC GOP….I have NO faith in leadership and their past 4-6Y of leadership. I’ve seen many posts Forest wasn’t supported because of those seeking 2024 and didn’t want him in office???? SO, we give the state to Cooper for 4Y more????
Perhaps in 2022 and 2024 I don’t give one vote to the R’s UNLESS that candidate is a certified, very certified Conservative (NOT A REPUBLICAN). Saw Burr was on ‘the list’ of Senators opposing Trump…IF he runs, best believe I won’t give him a vote…
A lot of “Republicans” did exactly what you’re advocating. That’s part of the reason Cooper won. NOT voting for a Republican is the same as voting for a Democrat. It’s just math. In my book, a bad Republican is a bad Republican, but a bad Republican is better than ANY Democrat.
Just stating the obvious: There’s nothing left to do but get our kids out of public education. Public education isn’t going to be fixed. We have to do it ourselves.
That our new Republican School Superintendent would hire a liberal Obama Democrat as her top deputy is unbelievable. A slap in the face to every conservative in the state. Republican voters get screwed whether we win or lose.
Precisely HOW we are treated when supporting R candidates….and NC GOP wonders WHY nobody wants to be a part of that Party, contribute and volunteer. UNLESS a major swing the next 2-3 wks, this country is gone anyway and voting in 2024 is meaningless. Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Philly will determine the outcome and NC GOP will continue to have their heads in the sand and run terrible candidates.
State GOP officials need to step up to the plate and challenge Truitt on this horrendous betrayal. I doubt they will because many of them are RINOs like Truitt, but this matter demands attention!
Granted, the appointment of Dr. Taylor to the Deputy Superintendent position by Superintendent-elect Truitt seems out of step with conventional wisdom. (Some might assume she would staff up with conservative-minded school reformers.) Still, Superintendent Truitt is entitled to choose qualified people she is comfortable working with to flesh out her staff. She has worked closely with Dr. Taylor in the past as a board member of Western Governor’s University. Moreover, Dr. Taylor has some noteworthy awards and accomplishments running one of the poorest and most diverse school districts in the state. One thing’s for sure- Truitt has a very tough challenge ahead in seeking school reforms, particularly given her predicament working with a left-leaning governor and a General Assembly that has been slow to embrace true school choice and other reforms the past 10 years or so. I say, give the Superintendent a chance to prove her mettle. Let’s reserve judgement until she has a record as top administrator at DPI.
And WHEN do Dems choose Conservatives? Oh, right, they DON’T. Totally disagree with your assessment. Truitt wants to play RINO, got it. She needs to be primaried & defeated 2024. Seems all NCGOP can run are R-like, R-lites….
I am bewildered that Jim Womack would work himself into an absurd political knot trying to justify Truitt’s hiring of a liberal Obama Democrat to be her top deputy. No wonder the conservative cause is not advancing in North Carolina even though we elect so-called “Republicans.”
Exactly. Womack can pander, he can make excuses , he can assuage or he can just play stupid, but I’m NOT BUYING. DONE with this madness and NCGOP acting as if we citizens are too stupid to select reps that actually represent our values, morals, convictions and principles. Truitt can pound sand; already done with her. Shown her true colors and stripes. She’s a traitor and ran on one platform, policy only to do a 180 Day 1.
I have reached out directly to Catherine regarding this. I hope this is not true, but if it is, we MUST stop her from making this hiring mistake. Any Republican that chooses to hire Democrats should NOT be supported by the NCGOP or any Republican donors. I will post once I hear back from her.