Beamon deserves support as Seminole schools chief
Nationally and locally, the 2020-21 school year was one of the most difficult and challenging in recent history due to the pandemic and resulting impacts to most facets of daily life.
Educators and parents did their best to provide opportunities for continued learning via face-to-face, remote and virtual options to accommodate the health and safety needs of students and staff.
Seminole County Public Schools faced additional challenges related to Superintendent Walt Griffin’s retirement, the difficult process for securing his replacement and the retirement of an additional five members of his senior leadership team by the end of last month.
Despite recent calls to investigate the hiring of Griffin’s replacement, it is time to move forward and support our school board, new superintendent Serita Beamon, and SCPS educators.
Seminole County Public Schools has been acknowledged as a high-performing district based on state and national metrics and is known for research-based innovation and a relentless commitment to providing access and opportunities for students.
The school district is a key economic driver and primary reason many families and businesses choose to live and work in Seminole County. Our strength lies in our willingness to respectfully acknowledge different opinions and the maturity to accept final decisions so that educating our students remains the primary focus of our work.
Beamon has the knowledge, skills and attitude to successfully serve as the superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools. In my role as a deputy superintendent, I can attest that she was at the table for all major system decisions.
Her K-12 instructional knowledge, as well as her deep understanding of district operational functions, allowed her to make powerful recommendations and contributions. She knows the SCPS culture and has built solid relationships with staff and community members.
Students of all ages learn a great deal from not only what we say, but how we say it. We are truly blessed to live in a community that respects different beliefs and opinions and provides an opportunity for all voices to be heard.
Although those speaking at recent board meetings regarding the superintendent selection, as well as the policy regarding wearing face masks, represent a very small percentage of families, it is important to listen to their perspectives.
Students will understand they have a right and obligation to share their views. What message, however, is sent to students when adults choose to be disrespectful, threaten elected officials, disrupt meetings, demean staff and in some cases share inaccurate or incomplete information publicly or via social media?
On Aug. 10, the district will welcome over 65,000 students to their first day of the 2021-22 school year. Many decisions must and will be made to ensure a safe, healthy and smooth opening.
The common thread in all of these decisions is that staff, families and community members genuinely want what is best for all students, despite different opinions.
Supporting the Seminole County School Board and Superintendent Beamon will move us forward. How adults work together to process and respond to these decisions will send a clear message to our students.
Despite recent calls to investigate the hiring of Griffin’s replacement, it is time to move forward and support our school board, new superintendent Serita Beamon, and SCPS educators.
Anna-Marie Cote spent 30 years as a Seminole County teacher, curriculum specialist, and district administrator, serving as the Seminole County deputy superintendent of instructional excellence and equity from 2006 to 2021.