SKRLA ANNOUNCED NEW DIRECTOR OF COUNSELORS AND PEIMS
Brenham ISD announced today that Steve Skrla, Principal of Brenham High School, will be the new Director of Counselors and PEIMS for the district. Steve has over 20 years’ experience in education and has served as Career Counselor, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Steve received his Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling and Mid-Management Certification from Sam Houston State University. He also holds a Superintendent’s Certification from Texas A&M University.
Brenham ISD will be accepting applications to fill the vacancy at Brenham High School. In addition, the district has posted openings for a Director of Public Relations and Special Projects and an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
“We are excited to offer opportunities for professional growth for our current administrative staff and welcome new administrative to staff to our district. Mr. Skrla has served our district well” stated Dr. Walter Jackson, BISD Superintendent of schools.
Press Release courtesy of: Brenham ISD
Posting those positions is a farce! The public should be aware that no one should bother submitting applications for the Director of Communications and Special Projects, as that position is likely going to be filled by _____________. Also, don’t bother with the Coordinator of Community Education and DAEP/Pride Support; _____________ will be stepping into that brand new job. In answer to the person wondering if those positions have been filled – Yes they are filled
I am saddened by this bashing of BISD. I am a teacher at Alton and I have seen very few people in this district, no matter their position or pay grade, that do not want success for our district and all of its students and staff. I love my Alton family and how they always put kids first. Our administrative staff is always in the trenches doing everything in their power to help teachers and students be successful. I have seen our principal hold math tutorials in his office to try and help our students. Our staff gives up countless hours with their families to help our students. The success of our students is paramount with the entire staff at Alton!
Do I get frustrated at times? Yes I do! Do I have all of the resources I need provided to me? No! Is that a BISD only issue? No! Teachers and administrators around the country are faced with low budgets and a shortage of supplies. Are teachers paid what they deserve? Usually not! Are paraprofessionals paid what they deserve? Absolutely not! At BISD I have seen a push to bring pay to a more competitive level and I appreciate that. And kudos to the district it has been without a tax hike.
Is discipline a problem at BISD. Yes! Are all of the children discipline problems? Definitely not! Are the discipline problems the fault of the staff or administration on each campus? No! The discipline issues at BISD are not unlike the discipline issues across the country. Children in today’s society have no consequences for their actions! This problem is not limited to the school setting. Walk through wal-mart and observe how children are allowed to behave. Listen to how they are allowed to talk to adults. Discipline starts at home. The administration has very few options when it comes to discipline. Very few parents give BISD permission to give their children swats. Most students, who act out, do not mind in school suspension so that is not a deterrent for bad behavior. Students who act out do not want to be at school so suspending them is not a deterrent. What is so sad the state even punishes the school in a roundabout way if they suspend students. If a student is not in the classroom they are not learning. If the student is not learning how can they ever pass “The Test”. If they do not pass the test the school is held accountable by the state. The icing on the cake is that if the students are not at school, for whatever the reason, the school loses funding. What options do administrators have? Very few!
There are so many awesome kids, paraprofessionals, teachers, administrators, and support staff in our district that are not praised enough for their effort and successes. We as a community are challenged to raise the next generation of scientists, business owners, nurses, doctors and parents…it takes a village…we need to come together and support each other and quit tearing down the system. If you see problems, make positive suggestions to help rectify the situation. Do something rather than just complaining. Help the school system get better rather than tear down.
Please consider that by highlighting the problems we see that we are trying to help the district. I think it is very likely Dr. Jackson may not be fully aware that teachers are not being given even the basic supplies they need to do their jobs, and that teachers have been told not to send kids to the office because it looks bad. This is the perfect forum to safely make that known. I have kids on two separate campus sites and a family member that works in the school system and I hear about what is going on. I serve on two different committees to help my children and other students succeed. However, what am I supposed to do when I hear about students openly cussing at teachers, talking back, and refusing to do as they are told. It is up to the school to find a way to maintain order in the classrooms so all students can learn, and a teacher cannot do that alone, they need strong and committed support for this. To say that discipline is a hopeless situation and that we have to live with it because some students have a bad home life is just plain wrong. I would venture an educated guess that if the schools could do a better job of restoring order, the quality of every students education would go up, state test scores would go up, and teachers and students would be happier. Teachers have had enough of watching high paid directors and specialists positions get created while being insulted with a mid point raise that is never as much as it seems to the public. Lets put those resources back into the classroom instead of the offices and make a real difference. This is not bashing, this trying to make a difference.
I love the replies from Alton and appreciate the few teachers who are newer to the school and their responses. It is well known that Alton has been in a bad place and major moves are being made in the district to try to fix those issues including realigning how students are assigned to various campus sites, additional resources that are not available at other schools, and lots of attention by the administration. However, check out what is happening at other schools and you may not those viewing the schools through such rose colored glasses. I am familiar with another elementary school where teachers are using scrap paper to make copies, or being forced to buy their own because the school will not give them the basic supplies they need. A meeting was held recently at another elementary school where a chart of office referrals was shown and the teachers were told to quit sending students to the office because the state monitors that it looks bad. What are teachers supposed to do??? One of the campus locations has expressly forbidden teachers from giving spelling tests! How are kids supposed to learn to spell? Again, I urge to dig a little deeper and really hear the growing frustration of many teachers.
I am a teacher at Alton Elementary. I have taught for 27 years at several different districts in Texas including Bryan, Conroe, Montgomery, Sherman and Bonham. All schools have issues with discipline and instruction. I have never taught at a perfect school, although I have loved my years at most schools. I feel I have a different perspective than some teachers since I have been a several districts. Some of these complainers need to experience other districts. I can only speak about Alton for now. I have never felt such positive support. The admin. at Alton does so much more than any other school I have taught. The admin. at Alton is at early bus duty, late bus duty, car duty and lunch duty every day. Let’s get real. I have NEVER had admin to lunch duty every day. They know the students and are sincerely able to love and support them. I have never been told I could not do anything or purchase something if I can justify it for the students. Alton’s love for these students is evident every day. Walk down our halls. You will see smiles, love and support in all direction. Yes, we do have discipline problems, but how can you not? We don’t have perfect people. We do need help in this area, but it is not because of our admin or teachers. I can say that I’m grateful to work around such amazing people. I am so thankful I choose to work here.
Dang Steve deserves this. He’s always working hard. I see him always busy. Teachers r tripping. Get education like Steve before y’all start tripping. He’s dedicated just like Dr. Sh shaner* can’t spell it. If our teachers were dedicated like them which there r very few of them like that, our school would be so successful. CONGRATS Steve ?
What I am seeing from the comments above is that a lot of people are concerned for the students in Brenham ISD and that is a wonderful thing! I also read several comments about asking the teachers what they think so I will gladly give you my perspective.
I have been an educator for 18 years. I have taught in Arrington ISD, Austin ISD, and local private schools. This year I had the wonderful fortune of becoming a classroom teacher at Alton Elementary. I can only speak to my own personal experience as an educator at Alton and as a parent with children in three different BISD schools, but I couldn’t be happier with BISD and the changes it is making.
I can tell you that Alton Elementary is an incredible school with absolutely awesome administration, staff, and faculty. I have never been apart of a more supportive and united group of people. I have been given resources and support since day one. The only reason I can be the best teacher I can be is because of this adminstration and support staff. The individual attention, energy, consideration and love that is poured into the students at Alton is truly inspiring.
Are there areas that BISD needs to improve? Of course there are, but that is precisely why Dr Jackson was hired. I have personally seen the incredible work that Dr. Jackson has begun at BISD. For anyone that has had the incredible task of management, you know that there are so many components to consider in every decision. I would not even begin to pretend to know what Dr. Jackson must consider as he moves this district forward, but what I do know is that he is an incredible visionary. He sees wonderful things in the future for this district and I believe he will take us there.
I’ve have lived in Brenham all of my life and have devoted my life to teaching in my home town. Sadly I hope to leave. I’ve had tough years in the past but this year is the year that broke my will to teach in Brenham. Discipline doesn’t exist in BISD! It’s a joke that when administration doesn’t do their job they get reassigned to a new position. We have added multiple new created positions at each campus that are paid more than a classroom teacher yet do nothing except take up office space. Taxpayers it’s time to take accountability of where your money is going and stop letting the good ole boy system use our taxes to reward friends of the system.
Folks, this is all about protecting their own. They know their curriculum is failing, they know there are massive problems with discipline, and they know they have put resources in the wrong areas( admins and specialists who do nothing, instead of teachers). They want to get everyone in a new position before scores start to come out for the state standardized tests. Once those come out, some of these high paid people including at least one elementary principal will be given new positions because they know the state is about to land on them hard because of their failures. Why do you think we are about to have a massive new system for assigning kids to elementary schools. This is all about self protection and has nothing to do with a need for new positions. These key people know how and why the schools are starting to fail and the last thing they (the administration and school board) need is for knowledgeable people to be on the outside looking in and telling the public about disgrace our schools have become and whose fault it really is.
I beg you, talk to actual teachers and find out how bad the schools are. Learn how teachers are being told they can’t have basic supplies to run their classrooms, how they not allowed to refer students to the office because it looks bad, how they are being told not to fail underperforming students with little regard for actual learning, how they work massively long and the army of specialist and administrators do not. Ask them about the lie of mid point raises and how this fraud surrounding teacher wages makes them feel. Go ahead, ask them.
My son attends Alton Elementary. What are your thoughts on that school?
My child as attended Alton for the past few years. He is very happy there. He has made some great friends there and has had many good teachers. Like at any school, there are the ups and downs (My older daughter went to school in another district and we have had good times and tough times there too). As long as my son is learning and is happy, then I am happy too.
I too have a student at Alton Elementary. From what I see when I have been on campus, the students are happy, the teachers seem to care, and the hugs and hellos are endless.
I encourage anyone who might have questions to stop by and talk to me or the staff at Alton Elementary. By no means should the staff and students, my children, be considered failures. Do not count us out so fast. We have done many incredible things this year and we would love the opportunity to share that with you.
Mr. Ogg you are a fantastic principal! My child attended Alton for one year. The love, attention, and teaching was over the top awesome. My child still talks about you! You are doing a wonderful job taking care of those babies! I have issues with the way this district is going. I moved here from my hometown because the schools were so bad. My best friend was a teacher there. She started telling me things like she is not allowed to send referrals because it looks bad to the state. She quit teaching the public school system
I’m watching Brenham schools heading down the same path as my hometown’s school district went. I’m so saddened by this and hope that BISD stops this detrimental pattern of of good ole boys club and poor decisions that are harming, not helping the students. Parents and community members need to ask questions and demand accountability. And remember that the schools decline affects the whole town. My hometown is a testament of that. I pray that the administrators wake up before it is too late. God bless Brenham, God bless Texas and God bless America.
“Senior” is right. We did elect our school board members. How can we find out who voted for these new positions? We can’t vote them out if we don’t know how each of them votes. There are way too many chiefs when the money is better spent on those who actually carry out the plans — the teachers and their aides.
Oh my what an interesting reassignment!! And more positions added!! Is this what our school board wanted out of a new superintendent?!? Come on school board where is YOUR accountability!?! All talk and no enforcement. Do we really need a public relations person? I thought that’s why the current superintendent was hired….to be more of a people person. I am really confused now!! Once again this school board is a JOKE!!
Well the school board approved these new positions behind closed doors, and just like city council members, they are ELECTED by you, the voters. If voters in the county and city could look outside their “check the single box” voting habit, other, REAL, fiscal, conservatives may feel inclined to get on our voting ballots. Anyone from any political party can be fiscally conservative, don’t believe everything you hear and read, investigate, research, be a responsible voter. It takes work to responsibly exercise your voting right. A last name of certain ethnic origins has nothing to do with qualifications, nor does gender. But until voters can think “outside the box” in all local, state, and federal elections, look for more of the same, big admin, big government, and remember you asked for it.
Of course we create new positions in Brenham ISD, and we all know we have competive salaries compared to other districts in the area, or Somerville, Bellville, Hempstead betc. What a joke!!!
Are you kidding me?! How do we know Skrla was the best candidate for this NEWLY MADE UP POSITION? He was obviously the ONLY candidate since the position was created and filled having NEVER been posted! This man can’t even manage to keep order at the high school, yet we are going to reward him with a nice new position! He will even be tucked away in an office not having to deal with the chaos that is Brenham High School. I sincerely hope that the district is able to afford a raise for all the people in the trenches who really do the day to day work with and for our children: teachers, aides, maintenance and cafeteria staff. The superintendent has managed to create several new, highly paid positions, yet there is no money to really bring the pay up to par with other areas! I am incredulous that the board has allowed this action. Teachers are being made to provide their own supplies, but lets go ahead and create new positions with exorbitant salaries. Let me just say to Dr. Jackson, THIS IS NOT HOUSTON, WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO ADD ALL THESE FLUFF POSITIONS THAT WE DON’T NEED?” Our student population is stagnant. Why add high dollar personnel? One more note to add: the article cleary states that there are several more positions posted for which the district will be accepting applications, however at the time of this comment they are NOT posted….hmmm……wonder if those positions are already filled as well?
We’re able to create new positions but not able to pay our teachers competitive salaries? This seems very wrong, especially if it’s not possible to give our teachers a significant raise this year.
My exact thoughts !! Hmmh…………. another new position created.
Is this a newly created position at central office? I haven’t heard that we have a Director of Counselors and PEIMS before this…
C.O has a PEIMS coordinator. Has had one for years.
So is Skrla replacing that person or will both of them be there? I think that’s the point here!
Pretty sure he is not replacing that person for the same salary!! And wonder if he can survive without a secretary!?!