Wayne Frazier has been tapped to restore order and bring control to Tubman Middle School, the much battered school that has struggled with discipline and academics for years.
The move made Thursday night takes him from Bungalow Road Alternative School, where he has made a name for himself as one who sets strict rules for behavior and unwaveringly enforces them.
Richmond County Superintendent Dana Bedden said Tubman could continue no longer the way it has been.
On Tuesday, he told school board members of teachers who refused to work at the school any longer and said he had to stop allowing transfers to prevent a "wave" of departures.
"(Dr. Frazier's) biggest goal right now is can he create an orderly and safe environment for teachers to teach in," Dr. Bedden said.
School board President Jimmy Atkins said Dr. Frazier, who is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, has a stature that demands respect, but he can also get down on the level of the student to get to the root of a child's problems.
His military experience also will help regain control of the school, he said.
Dr. Frazier is a retired first sergeant in the Army with 23 years experience of military service and 12 years of service in the Richmond County school system. For the past five years, he has been principal of the alternative school, where he frequently tells his students of all backgrounds that he loves them and has them respond that they love him, too.
"Everything is going to fall into place. I have no doubt," Dr. Frazier said of his new assignment. "We have the same caliber of teachers and students as any other school."
Only he remained at the meeting to hear the board's brief announcement followed by a quick adjournment.
Earlier in the day, Melody Wooten, vice president of the Tubman PTA, said she was sad to see Principal Thomas Norris leave Tubman.
"I thought he was making progress. Last year was just awful," she said. "I don't feel they gave him enough chance."
Dr. Bedden described the school differently, saying he received an e-mail earlier in the day from a parent who witnessed a pupil "openly using inappropriate language toward a staff member."
"What they described seems to be the norm, and it's unacceptable," he said.
For learning to take place, there must first be order, the superintendent said.
Mr. Atkins and Dr. Bedden said it was "unfair" to place Mr. Norris, a first-year principal, at one of the most challenged schools in the county.
"I don't think we were fair to Mr. Norris, I don't think we were fair to the teachers and I don't think we were fair to the students," Mr. Atkins said.
Mr. Norris will take Dr. Frazier's place at the alternative school, but he will also be assisted by Winnette Bradley.
Ms. Bradley currently serves as principal of the evening school, but previously was principal of the alternative school.
Teachers are leaving Tubman, despite the 5 percent raises and $500 yearly stipends given to them.
Dr. Frazier won't be getting any financial incentive.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Well I do applaud the board for replacing the principal at Tubman; however, sending a principal who couldn't maintain order in a "normal" school to the alternative school where ALL the students are there because of problems they experienced in their regular schools seems counterproductive. How can he possibly maintain order in THAT school? Give the board a touchdown for replacing the principal @ Tubman but only a field goal at most for sending that principal to the alternative school.
Well I do applaud the board for replacing the principal at Tubman; however, sending a principal who couldn't maintain order in a "normal" school to the alternative school where ALL the students are there because of problems they experienced in their regular schools seems counterproductive. How can he possibly maintain order in THAT school? Give the board a touchdown for replacing the principal @ Tubman but only a field goal at most for sending that principal to the alternative school.
Openly cussing at teachers is pretty common in just about all the middle and high schools. These kids do what they want. Just about every time someone tries to discipline them, mommy and daddy come down and throw a fit about how unfair it is....
Great point Coastaldawg. I thought the same thing.
I think Dr. Bedden is doing a great job thus far in the RCSS. He seems to be a man of integrity and has the interest of the children in the forefront. I applaud his efforts in the challenging role of turning the RCSS around. I don't know Mr. Frazier professionally or personally but I have heard GREAT things about him and the positive way he handled the Bungalow Road School. Many say he will be a great asset to the Tubman Middle School and I applaud and appreciate that. ALL children deserve the opportunity to learn in a SAFE environment, teachers deserve the right to teach in a SAFE environment and EVERYONE deserves RESPECT. Hopefully Mr. Frazier will ensure safety and respect for everyone. Hats off to you Mr. Frazier!
The alternative school has more order than tubman. Tubman is worse than the alternative school by far. I do believe teh story ran yesterday mentioned that Norris had been out for an extended time for illness. If one of my children spoke ill to an instructor, or other student, the last thing the school has to worry about is me coming down there to pitch a fit.
A great choice for principal. Doc will move Tubman in the right direction. He will need some experienced teachers to help him.
For the readers information, Thomas Norris, the former pricipal, was in an auto wreck and has been on extended leave.
Before the wreck, I have been told, he was doing a good job.
Unbelievable.. you are right on...I believe if parents don't back up teachers and or the school with disipline the child will do whatever they want to because of course they all THINK they are grown. If any of my children EVER did something to be in trouble about at school they knew what they would get at home..(and it wasn't just another talk with JESUS!!) I never had any problems with any of my four children ,I never beat them. only demanded respect and gave respect. I Thank God my children are grown and don't have to attend these schools.It is getting so bad the school system will probably have to close down in the next ten years. We need to lift them in Prayer and Thank God we have teachers who are willing to put themselves in harms way everyday so the children that are there to learn wil be given the oppurtunity.. Those who go to play around, cause trouble and not learn need to get out. It is not FREE DAYCARE.. and parents get a clue YOUR Children Can cause problems.. they get in trouble not because the teacher doesn't like them it's because parents let their children get away with too much and always back up these hoodlums...
That's where Dr. Welcher (Laney's Current principal) came from, before he got to Laney, we were not on AYP since he's been at Laney we have been on AYP. What does that tell ya... We need a new principal at Laney, it's time out for being a principal known for descipline, now it's time for us to come out of the academic mire. Dr. Welcher MUST GO...
You're crazy, Jack. Dr. Welcher is one of the finest Christian men in public education and has great compassion for the kids. Is it his fault that there is mass absentism that causes the school not to make AYP? Is it his fault that 40% of the 9th graders last year were 16 years old because they had to be placed into high school because the middle school feeder schools wanted to push their problems on to Laney? And of course, these 40% can't read or write, don't bring their book, pen, or paper to class and are constantly suspended. And when kids are suspended out of school, that hurts the schools attendance benchmark and keeps them from AYP. It's not Dr. Welcher who is the problem, it's the stupid attendance requirements in Bush's NCLB Act. That Act needs changes in the worst way. Dr. Welcher runs one of the tightest ships in any school in any school system. If he was principal at Lakeside High School in Columbia County and had some decent kids to work with, he would lead them to be a GA School of Excellence every year. Get off this good man's back!
jackfruitpaper833: what do you know about a.y.p.
trust its not that easy: who feed into laney tubman; these kids are not learning anything in school . it take more than the teacher it takes the whole community. my school has made ayp since ayp untill last year when the rcboe had to transfor all the students from the low perfrom schools to the higher perform schools. keep in mind the student who are transforing are the students with the bad grades and the students who don't attented school like they should. so what happen to mu school this year: we didnt make ayp!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Another reason Laney and other RCounty high schools do not meet AYP is because the middle schools are not doing their job. They are sending dumb as dirt kids into these high schools. Some of the kids at Tubman feed into Laney. Fix Tubman and the Middle Schools and you fix the high schools.
Thing is, almost if not all of the elementary schools make AYP. These students did not get stupid over night. All of a sudden when kids reach middle school age they are also old enough to legally stay home unsupervised. They don't have anyone there to ensure their school work is being completed. In elementary school these kids were at a Rec Center or Prime Time, where they have to do their work before participating in activities. Most parents look forward to not having to pay childcare cost anymore, let the kids stay home by themselves, and then don't follow through checking the school work.
Good point, mystery. Definitely the weak link is the middle school.
Laney needs new leadership, starting with the principal, it's time for Dr. Welcher to go. As far as the feeder schools get rid of those principals as well. What if, now this is what if, they take all the teachers from A.R Johnson or Davidson, place them at Laney and let's see if they can turn it around. Whatever they are teaching at these two schools, let Laney get some of it. Oh and bring the principals from those schools as well. Let Laney teachers and principals go to those schools and let's see what happens.
Are you kidding, jack? Surely you are. You take the chosen, motivated students from Johnson and Davison. Put rules in place that kicks them out if they don't attend, don't meet high acadamic standards, and don't behave, and you can have a top notch school in any school in the state. You take the principal and teachers from Davison and Johnson and put them at Laney, and nothing at Laney will change. It's the students that are the problems and as long as education is an entitlement which keeps the bad kids in school, you are going to have failing schools. The bad kids that don't come to school, do their work, and create chaos need to be kicked out.
green jacket, I agree with you its not all just the teachers fault and yes you have a hand full that are just there just for the paycheck. But when you do have a good teacher there trying to teach class and there are students that are in the class disturbing wanting to get attention. That child is recognized as reaching and seeking out for attention. These teachers that are going into the school system now should be properly trained to identify when there is a problem or something on with that child from elementary to high school. Think, you have 50min of learning in the classroom, but every 5 min the teacher is having to stop to correct or discipline a student for being disruptive she is having to go back over the same material to ensure that the others understood what she just covered. There should be more communication with the parents and there should be some type of system put into affect to have parents more involved with their childrend from elementary thru high school. I as a parent will pop at school and ask for a vistor's pass just to stand at the door to see how my child's class is being conducted or how the teacher is teaching.
I am a young mother 31 with five kids and I am a single parent and I want my kids to get all they can. I had to talk to my daughter and tell her that everything that someone says or do isn't funny. And for you to sit in class and cheer them on is what you are doing and being disruptive as well. I had that problem at the beginning of the year. Once I got that very first progress report in the middle of the first six weeks, I had my confrence with the teacher and my child and I had no more problems. I will email, call, and send notes to communicate with the teacher about my child. When you show no intrest as a parent what is that teacher going to care if she really don't have teaching and kids at. That is why learning and discipline starts at home. Hats off to Dr. Bedden for what he is trying to do. It's a task and job and we as parents should get with our kids teachers to make the system better. Of course we have parents that really just don't care. And will blame the teacher and say that the teacher is "just picking on my child"; or "don't like my child". Ok for you as a parent to say something like that, think to yourself why would you say that. Is it your child?
i feel like the school system is not fare to mr.norris to put him in that situation from the beginning without the experience, but at the same time i must say this ,once he gets over to the alternative school it will not work for him either b/c there are a lot of tubman's kids over there already that he has sent over there and yes they will not mind him still!! agaiin mr.norris was only out to have surgery he was not always away from tubman everytime you turn around!! he was always at work!!the problem lies with the ghetto parents of these kids who don't care what the teachers tell them b/c their child can do no wrong period!! i know i seen it go on day after day!no one is the blame here but the parents they are worst than their kids most of them that comes to tubman to speak to teachers end up cussing them out in front of their child instead of thinking to themselfs well maybe this time i'm wrong maybe my child is just plan rotten or what have you, they will not admitt to their childrens wrongfulness.tubman needs a new secatary as well! she is nasty as hell to all who comes inthe main office!! and loves to snap at you never is she nice.how about replace her as well.
Doesn't matter what they do in Richmond County. It won't work under the current leadership whether at the BOE or the county commission. The numbers don't lie. All indicators say your kids won't receive an education in Richmond County. Just ask the folks in Aiken, Burke, or Columbia Counties. Why don't you educate your kids where you used to live -- in Richmond County?
If Davidson and Johnson teachers are so good ROTATE them to teach at all the High Schools on AYP, start with Laney. Can they not help others come up and out? Surely the faculty and administrators from Laney if rotated to one of those two schools will keep them in the local, state and national spotlight. The BOE should try it as a pilot.
Jackfruitpaper rotating teachers is not the answer. The ambition to recieve an education is. George Washington Carver wanted to learn all that he could despite his hardships and what some would say was a lack of opportunity, and he did just that, by educating himself and not waiting for someone else to hand him anything. Booker T Washington walked and hitched rides for miles to reach Hampton University from his home to recieve a college education. Today we bus students in and out of school, feed them, provide supplies daily because of the lack of in their homes. Futhermore in schools such as Tubman and Laney more money is spent on technolgy that not even the newest schools in the county has. Stop pointing fingers, it is time for all to step up to the plate and work for their piece of the pie. WE should teach our children to stop expecting and waiting on a handouts. Teachers now it appears are overpaid babysitters and poorly paid wardens. Parents raise your children so that teachers can do what you expect them to do which is to teach your children. Expectations should be set high for parents, teachers and students.
When I was going to ASU to become a teacher we had to do a 3 week observation and study hall in a school in Richmond county. It just so happened that myself and 3-4 other students had to go to Laney. Upon arriving there we met with the Principal. I don't remember who it was but she told us that over HALF of the freshmen class would not pass for the school year no matter what they did. they were so far gone. She also told us that the percentage only grew as the grade increased. The old football coach (the one that just left) also met with us because he wanted us to work with his football players because he wanted them to be examples... they never showed up and when we confronted him about his players he said there was nothing he could do! There were kids in that school who could not do basic addition, spell, read, and/or write. Social promotion should be if not already illegal. So many of the teachers at Laney we so apethetic and I'm sure drained that it no longer was teaching it was controlling chaos. I have never been in a school like that. It was sad and I'm sure it's gotten worse. the community surrounding Laney & tubman must come together or they will surely fall apart.
i was in bungalow dr. frazier was my hero
Did anyone notice that mr. norris is not going to the alternative school alone. ms. bradley is being assigned also as part of the transition.
Problems at Tubman have existed for far too long. Mr. Norris is just one of many former principals placed there without the experience, support, or a true indication of what was required to be successful. The average administrator won't have the knowledge and/or experience to lead a school like Tubman due to it's unique challenges. Dr. Larke failed miserably in addressing the concerns of the parents and teachers of Tubman. He allowed a bad situation there to continue to worsen during his tenure.
I truly wish Dr. Frazier well and much success with his new assignment. He will need support from Tubman parents, the community, and the RCBOE central office. An area requiring immediate attention is the student population. Tubman continues to lack diversity. For years the majority of the housing project areas have been zoned for Tubman Middle School. Previous superintendents were content with this situation because it allowed them to contain a number of the counties academic and behavioral problems to one school. There have been many knowledgeable, compassionate, and enthusiastic educators to work at Tubman. Unfortunately, most left after challenges became insurmountable or hopeless.
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