When Theresa Davidson was growing up she used to talk with her mother, who was a school secretary, about what subject would be the most fun to teach.
While they were doing dishes each night Davidson saw the look in her mother’s eyes when she talked about teaching.
“You could see this gleam in her eye,” Davidson said. “It made me enjoy the idea of having that kind of impact on someone, that I could help them be successful.”
Davidson would go on to be a French teacher, school counselor, principal, associate superintendent and, now, superintendent.
On Wednesday night Davidson was named superintendent of Emporia public schools.
To read complete story see the print edition or the online print edition.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
CONGRADULATIONS!!! And you will find in Emporia that everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects. WILL ROGERS.
January 27, 2011 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Let me see, came to Emporia USD as an assistant, so that means that she is very familiar with the same old way of doing things !
Thats really, really nice to know, no real big change coming there !
Just saying, why not try some new blood, possibly with some new ideas ?
January 27, 2011 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
Um, reddog?
It's congraTulations. Ignorance is bliss, huh?
January 27, 2011 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Mellisa, you gots it. I have no respect for anyone that can spell a word only one way and they tell me this is modern education, you don't want to hurt anyone feelings in this new world order propaganda education.
January 28, 2011 at 1:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
"No results found for congradulations:
Did you mean congratulations?"
That's how you spell it though?
I don't understand you, there are certain words you can only spell one way. You can't write "u" on a paper and expect a teacher to say its ok because in text speak it is.
I would give you that technically someone isn't spelling colour wrong...
But did you seriously just tell MelissaE that you had no respect for her because she can properly spell congratulations and would not spell it congradulations?
January 28, 2011 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
CONGRATULATIONS MS. DAVIDSON,
SPELLING QUESTIONS ASIDE,
I am offering best wishes to you in your new job in these tough budget times.
I would like to offer a suggestion to help with USD 253 budget woes.
I noticed your salary is listed at $128,000.00,
Does that include a car, or any other benefits?
Now I know you will have a lot of responsibilities in your job including shrinking revenues to our district.
If you led by example and told the board to cut your salary (as well as the other supers) by 5% that would save the district about $21,000.00 wouldn't it?
If you took 5% less pay, ($6,400.00) per year, your salary would still be $121,640.00.
THAT IS OVER 4 TIMES the average median household wage in Emporia of $30,133.00
The average for Kansas is $47,817.00
My figures are dated, 2009, but I would imagine the averages have gone down since then
If my figures on salary savings are anywhere near correct, the savings would equal the state base aid for 5.25 students. And that is what we are all about, isn't it?
"IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN"
isn't it?
January 28, 2011 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
And the figure noted:
THAT IS OVER 4 TIMES the average median household wage in Emporia of $30,133.00
is in some cases a 2 person income.
January 28, 2011 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Steve, how much does it cost for a Doctor's Degree and how many people achieve this? Some College Presidents make over 1 Million a year. Some of the big east schools put these kids into debt for a quarter of a million dollars. Ron Paul wants to do away with the Department of education, maybe that's the answer, what do you think? And a lot of people don't know that these kids cannot bankrupt their school loans even though many are still living at home after graduation.
January 28, 2011 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
This is a very shocking video on public education, please view.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G6gZuOFsaw
January 28, 2011 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I DID SOMETHING WRONG.
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/20...
January 28, 2011 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G6gZu...
January 28, 2011 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2gDdJ...
January 28, 2011 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
reddog,
I know that degree cost a s**t load of money.
But if you go for that degree for the money it affords you pay wise, then at least admit it and go where those wages are being paid.
Some in Emporia feel like we have to pay our public servants the same wages as they do everywhere else, NOT TRUE!
Our cost of living is VERY low compared to other areas, and would be fantastic if it were not for the tax loads.
What trips my trigger is those public servants, (who almost always make more than those same jobs pay in the private sector) say, " I have a PHD, I'm worth it." And then say we have to cut 4th and 5th grade orchestra because the state is cutting our base aid per student.
if you look at our school districts budget the actual cost to the taxpayer per student is over $14,000.00 per student.
How much actually goes into TEACHING the kid?
Every time School administrators want more money they cry,
"it's for the children".
I say "prove it and take a pay cut, before you ask me for anymore."
January 28, 2011 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
And as some in the private sector have taken more than 5% cut in wages,(if they still have a job) I think the 1% cut in admin pay mentioned in an earlier article is a slap in the face to tax payers and students.
COME ON !
IT'S FOR THE KIDS !
January 28, 2011 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Reddog,
The president earns a $400,000 annual salary, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment.[36][37] The most recent raise in salary was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 and went into effect in 2001.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presiden...
That's nowhere near $1M. Actually, his base salary is only $72,000 more than the superintendent of the Emporia Public School System. Stop me if you know where I'm going with this.
Matt
She doesn't however, have the launch codes for every nuclear weapon in the United States.
January 28, 2011 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Whoops, disregard last statement
Misread a "4" for a "2" lol.
My apologies.
January 28, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
It is pretty easy to sit back and say that someone does not deserve whatever salary they make but until you have to do their job you really have no idea.
Would it go a long way towards earning a ton of respect if she were to come out and say please cut my pay until things turn around? Heck yeah, but she has had the job for like 2 days and you want her to cut her salary already? Seems a bit premature.
January 28, 2011 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I take exception to your comment about the cost of living. It cost more to live here than it does to live in Denver or Chicago and I sure don't make as much as I did living there. It's not just the taxes, it's the cost for repairmen (when they show up) to fix things, the cost of utilities and gas prices are higher here than they are in Topeka or Wichita. Besides, dealing with the populace here must be worth more for those poor folks working the public sector. No I don't hold a public job either.
January 28, 2011 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Whoa whoa,
I did not say she didn't deserve her salary, My point is can we afford to pay it?
My point is do we really need to pay it?
My point is the admin people in USD 253 should take a 5% cut in wages before they stop offering some classes.
You know, Classes in classrooms ;
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place.
A point to reddog.
Just because someone has a sheepskin or diploma hanging on the wall doesn't make them magically smart like the scarecrow in The Wizard Of OZ.
Current events in Emporia prove that some "degreed" people in Emporia
ARE DUMBER THAN A BOX OF ROCKS!
January 28, 2011 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
tHIS SOUNDS LIKE ROCKY TALK==PRETTY GOOD SONG!!!
January 28, 2011 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPj0ho...
January 28, 2011 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I don"t believe everything on these videos, take what you like and leave the rest.
January 28, 2011 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC5wj9...
January 28, 2011 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
What the devil is a song called " ROCKY TALK ", never heard it !
I do know a song called " ROCKY TOP " and it is a pretty good song !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9prN...
January 28, 2011 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Ms Davidson,
Please explain to the people of Emporia why we are being asked to send food to feed hungry children. What is going on with the school lunch program? What about the breakfast program? Wasn't that breakfast program first put into place in order to combat the hungry child to begin with? I'd really like to hear some answers here.
January 28, 2011 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
create--
The "hungry" children have nothing to do with the lack of school provided lunches and breakfasts. It is the meals that the kids are not getting at home when they are not in school. I think you might have misread the article. The food that is being provided for the "hungry" kids is for dinners and weekends when the kids aren't at school. Lots of teachers in the district help out these less fortunate kids and put food in childrens back packs without anyone ever knowing it. The teachers pay for it out of their own pockets. I think the point of Ashley's article was to create more awareness to the general public that this going on.
January 28, 2011 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
Steve--
My bad. You are right you never said she didn't deserve her salary and I understand your point.
It is a very valid question. I think that lots of things need to change before we start dropping classes...some examples are a $3 million building expansion and an astroturf field.
January 28, 2011 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
educ8253 (anonymous) says...
Create: You were a teacher and yet you have to ask why we have to feed the hungry kids? Even with the breakfast and lunch programs? I think you have been out of school for awhile. I'm not trying to be critical, but come back and take a look. Yes, the students are provided breakfast and lunch. However, there is no supper in the deal; there are not weekend meals. It's a long way from Friday noon to Monday morning. By all means, ask all the questions you need, but help out a child. Donate, please?
January 28, 2011 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
yev and educ8,
Yes, you're both right. I had not read the article closely enough, and did not realize that this was for weekend meals.
educ8, I wrote a check the first day this article appeared, thank you. No need to patronize, dear.
January 28, 2011 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
delostboy (anonymous) says...
Steve,
The more shocking thing, is that Ms Davidson will be making less then our EHS principle makes ..... He's at 140,000 and no mention of a cap !! Someone mentioned the football gold(Ooops ! I mean grass ) . At the present day cost . It will be approx. 300,000 every 6-8 yrs to replace it . Notice again, "at the present day cost" ....
January 28, 2011 at 8:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
The thing is you vote for someone for office, whether city or school board and you do it because you think they have the same common sense values that you have. Now I only know 2 school board members, Helbert and Crouch. God, am I disappointed. What are you thinking?
How about a little backbone fellas.? If you are really caring about the kids, how about a little less," this is they way we have always done it", and a whole lot more of "this is how it's gong to be done"
DID YOU FORGET THAT YOU ARE THE BOSSES?
Or you just don't care?
January 29, 2011 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT.
January 29, 2011 at 12:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )