Update: Bring The Receipts
Talk is cheap, but facts and evidence bring change
After publishing my last article on my reasons for leaving, my inbox has been flooded with folks, most of whom I had never met, offering information on the issues I raised. Normally I get a few folks reaching out per week, but in the last seven days it has been overwhelming and the information has been eye-opening. I’m currently working on a few articles, but I need something from you first. My friends, I need receipts.
I need to impress a hard truth on everyone. Coming to me with grievances won’t change anything. I’m not a lawyer. I’m not even a real journalist. I once thought I could change things. I marched up to the podium at a school board meeting, armed with multiple complaints from parents against Greg Dolson, and spoke on behalf of the community like the righteous crusader I thought I was. It changed nothing.
Some of the things I’ve heard and read in the last week are concerning to say the least. If any of them are true, lawsuits are in order. Some accounts border on criminal. While that sounds intense, it means nothing without evidence. While some of you gave me something to work with, and articles are on their way, much of it can’t be used because it is nothing more than hearsay or opinion.
I hear you when you say that you’re worried about retaliation on your kids. I heard it again just this evening. I never worked here, my kids no longer go to school here, and after next week I won’t even live here anymore. It’s easy for me to urge you to speak out when I have no skin in the game. Please know that I understand your hesitance. If you want things to change, I’m asking you to speak out anyway.
I made a lot of mistakes in the last year while writing this blog. I let my personal bias seep through when I should have been objective. I took the gloves off with some in this administration but kept them on for others. I hear those I spared from my rants can’t wait until I’m gone. I thought so highly of myself that I thought I could determine who was righteous and who wasn’t. I can’t. I’ve been wrong too many times.
It’s all about the receipts now.
That being said, I have a duty to protect those in this administration from slander as much as anyone else. While I might sympathize and relate with you, again I cannot publish something unless you have receipts. I’m at the point where I’m too busy to even hear it if it’s not something I can publish. Without receipts, it’s all for naught. We’ve all been angry for years. It hasn’t accomplished anything.
Folks like Greg Dolson are fair game because I’ve personally witnessed, and been the victim of, his blatant lies. I use this as an example because I came with receipts:
I confronted Dolson
I tried to escalate to Irish.
I tried to get Edustaff involved.
I went to Hilton with names, dates, emails, and screenshots.
When none of that worked, I wrote about it and included as many receipts as I could. I went public only after I had exhausted every other option, and kept receipts of how I exhausted every other option. That’s what you need to do. Many of you already have, but I’m going to say it anyway. Come with receipts.
If you know someone with a grievance that’s willing to talk, share this article with them. I need one or both of the following:
A statement you’re willing to attach your name to
Proof (screenshots, emails, etc). Names can be redacted if necessary.
For those of you who have already provided them, know that I’m gathering additional info and will publish when I have enough evidence to make a solid case. Lawyers, law enforcement, elected officials, union reps, and neighboring school districts read this blog. Apparently, folks at the Detroit Free Press read it too. We’re now up to 6,000 views in the last 90 days. The goal is to get the facts in the hands of those who can do something about them, whoever that may be.
One last thing. The absolute toxicity from Tecumseh High School administration is personal for me. It’s personal because I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It’s personal because it represents the toxic management I saw in the military that drove me to go into the org psych field in the first place. The stories I hear and the events I witnessed make my blood boil with the heat of a thousand suns. While I can’t always promise we’ll have time to write about every issue in this district, I will personally make the time if you are a student, educator, or parent who has been victimized by anyone in that building. I’ll make the time from Florida. I don’t care. You deserve better.
As always, thanks for reading.