I'm all in for our students. Facts not fiction tell story. | Superintendent Tim Smith

In my role as the superintendent of Escambia County Public Schools, I see myself as an advocate for students and a leader entrusted with guiding the teachers and staff who come to work every day focused on doing one thing – preparing all of our students to be productive citizens.

I am an educator, not a politician. But recent unfounded, unresearched, and incorrect assertions made by two local political leaders disparaging my leadership have left me no option but to speak up. While these comments are aimed at me, the impact of their words reaches far beyond me. One of these leaders recently wrote a letter calling for my forced removal or resignation.  Another has publicly called for a referendum to return to an elected superintendent. While I understand their frustration, I don’t agree with their solutions. No doubt we are in the midst of navigating some rough waters, but paddling backward will not get us to where we want to go.

Let me directly address some of the claims that have recently been voiced by a handful of people who have chosen to use their platform to advance an incomplete picture of the state of our schools. Specifically, claims raised in a recent letter from State Representative Michelle Salzman, as she called for my resignation because they are indicative of the inaccurate narrative that is being propagated.   

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Facts vs. Fiction

Workforce education

Fiction: We are not taking the actions needed to prepare students with the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace.

Facts: Since 2018, our district has nearly doubled the number of Industry Certifications earned by our students, from just over 4000 certifications earned in 2017-2018, to just over 8000 earned in 2021-2022.  We are on pace to eclipse that mark this school year.  The certifications allow our students increased opportunities for meaningful employment and sometimes even college credit.  Our programs at George Stone include electrical, air conditioning, and welding, just to name a few. Pensacola High School has started an on-campus welding program this year. To suggest we are idle in meeting the needs of employers in this community is just not true.

Student discipline

Fiction: Our schools lack discipline and are inundated with violence.

Facts: Our classrooms are orderly, and learning is taking place. However, since 2021, when we returned from COVID shutdowns, there has indeed been some uptick in disciplinary referrals for disruptive behaviors. This disturbing trend reaches beyond the borders of Escambia County to all corners of our country. The causes are complex, but the simple truth is that some students have struggled as they returned to the structure and discipline of the schoolhouse after being largely disengaged from the learning and socialization provided by our schools. The position of our leadership team is unequivocal and resolute. Schools must have orderly classrooms if learning is to take place. We are facing this challenge head-on and are providing meaningful consequences and valuable mental health resources for those who offend.  

I have directed principals to remove students who cause severe disruptions in our schools. Thus, the number of disciplinary referrals has increased.  I am confident these numbers will decrease as we reaffirm, through our actions, the behavioral expectations we have of all students.

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Military access to magnet schools

Fiction: Escambia County Public School System hinders educational choice for transitioning military families.

Facts: Our school district is in full compliance with all Florida Statutes, the Military Educational Compact, and district policies and procedures that are set to ensure the well-being of transitioning military families. Military families new to the area may apply for students to attend the school of their choice through the Enrollment Services Office. 

Escambia County Public Schools provides dependent children of active duty military personnel first preference for admission to special academic programs such as magnet schools, advanced studies programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment, Advanced International Certificate of Education, and International Baccalaureate programs, even if the program is being offered through a public school other than the school to which the student would generally be assigned.  Additionally, any military-dependent student that meets the eligibility criteria for magnet programs is automatically selected for the school to which they apply, bypassing the lottery process.

Warrington Middle School

Fiction: The current leadership and team at Warrington Middle School have failed.

Facts: Sadly, Warrington Middle School has earned a grade of D or lower since 2012.  As a reminder, I was appointed in 2020. I can attest that even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty, staff, and administrators at the school and district levels have been working hard to help students at this school overcome the many barriers faced by students, some inside the classroom, but many outside the classroom. This team made progress in turning things around, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t enough to meet the standards required. While the outcome is not what we would choose, we remain committed to working with Charter Schools USA to bring to the table fresh and innovative approaches to serving the students in the Warrington community.

Mental health/well-being of our students

Fiction: Escambia County Public Schools isn’t doing enough to meet the mental health needs of our students.

Facts: Escambia County Public Schools representatives have participated in the mental health task force created and led by State Representative Salzman. I was able to attend a couple of the sessions. The programs and initiatives offered by ECPS to meet the mental health needs of our students are far too numerous to list here. For example, each school in our district is assigned a licensed mental health counselor.  Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, navigators, whose work is similar to that of a social worker, help provide students and families needed resources and support in 32 of our schools. School counselors are available at each school to assist our students.  Teachers are trained in Trauma Informed Care.  Students are required to complete annual mental health lessons through Suite 360.  We have robust and successful partnerships with Gulf Coast Kid's House, Children’s Home Society, Pace Center for Girls, etc. We also have Mental Health Crisis Response Teams who respond to crisis situations throughout the district. Members of our Mental Health Services staff serve on EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Taskforce and actively participate in the Northwest Florida Mental Health Taskforce. These are just a few of the many mental health resources we offer our students.

Let's unite for our children

Yes, this is a time of challenge. Still, it is also a time of unprecedented opportunity to bring about the changes needed to make Escambia County Public Schools the choice of parents to educate their children, a place where great teachers choose to teach, and a source of pride for this community.

'If you want to predict the future, create it,’ was the underlying mantra of our strategic planning process. There is hard work ahead of us.  We will have some high points and some low points, some wins and some losses, and I know we may disagree at points along the way. I cannot say this journey will be easy, but I can guarantee my commitment and the commitment of our teachers and employees to doing our best for our children.

While I know the few voices of discontent can sound loud, I am grateful for the calls and many messages of encouragement and support I have received since becoming your superintendent.

We will weather this storm and continue the important work of educating our children. We will stay the course, and we will not lose focus on why we are here — to serve our students. To that end, I invite and encourage everyone in the community to unite with us in our mission of providing quality public education that embraces the uniqueness and potential of each student. Our children are depending on us.

I believe the Escambia County School Board selected me as the first appointed superintendent for this county because they recognized my deep commitment to public education and to educating all children. They understood deeply the challenges facing this county and saw in me a person ready for the fight.

They had other choices. They chose me, and I chose the children of Escambia County.

When I accepted the position of Superintendent of Escambia County Schools in 2020, I realized the job was a big challenge, but I also believed it was a challenge worth taking on. In case you are wondering, I still feel that way. I was All-In when I accepted the position, and I am All-In now.  Quitting is not an option.

Tim Smith is superintendent of Escambia County Public Schools.