The following is an email H. Peter Stolz of Palm Coast, a former insurance industry consultant and executive, sent Gov. Charlie Crist in support of Senate Bill 6, which calls for the abolition of teachers’ tenure, among other revamps of the public school system. Stolz copied his email to the five members of the Flagler County School Board–Chairwoman Eve Shellenberger, Colleen Conklin, Andy Dance, Sue Dickinson and Trevor Tucker. Conklin responded by way of an email to the governor. Read Conklin’s response here.
The email is reprinted as written, serious inaccuracies (such as the claim that teachers are not evaluated or receive pay increases “solely based on years of service”) included. Stolz describes himself to the governor as “a former teacher.” His public resume, where he describes himself as a “mostly retired insurance professional,” lists only insurance jobs since 1968. He taught high school literature at Holy Name High School in Cleveland for four years, presumably between his graduation, in 1964, from John Carroll University (with a BA in English) and his first insurance job at Aetna in 1968.
From: H Peter Stolz [underwriter1@msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 6:15 PM
To: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Cc: Dance, Andy; Conklin, Colleen; Tucker, Trevor; Dickinson, Sue; ShellenbergerE
Subject: Teacher Merit Pay
As a former teacher, I fully support the legislation passed by the Florida House and Senate and trust you will sign it. Too often I saw non-performers in the classroom who could care less if students learned – they were tenured so there was little that could be done.
I am tired of teachers hiding behind tenure; of teachers shirking their responsibility regarding accountability; of teachers wanting to be treated like the bus driving staff (increases based solely on years of service – but even horrible bus drivers can be let go); of teachers not wanting to be evaluated; and of a managerial staff that refuses to evaluate teachers based on how prepared their students are in relation to where they ought to be. Teachers should be employed at will, as everyone else in business, who isn’t shielded by a union, is.
Business knows that the only way to find and retain the best performers is to have a merit system that rewards improved results vs. objectives and therefore benefits the entire corporation. Lack of achievement of measurable results weeds out the non-performers. There is no tenure in business. There is no tenure among true professionals. Until teachers’ unions stop pushing agendas that make accountability and results non-issues, there will be no progress in getting our students prepared for today’s realities and challenges.
Peter Stolz
Palm Coast, FL
Krysten Ascol says
Great article as usual, thanks for writing all this informative content on a regular basis.
Tina Jeffe says
I wonder what country you lived in where teachers were not evaluated and got automatic raises. You should get your facts right before you spout off like this. Has it occurred to you that Florida’s children are the losers in this battle.
BW says
Mr. Stolz, it is obvious that you did not read anything past the tenure component of the worst legislation ever written for education. I am a parent, and not a teacher . . . and applaud Mr. Crist for his veto. Mr. Crist puts politics aside, and did what was the right thing to do.
Just as it is not ok for any teacher to just put in their time, it is not ok for any legislature to just throw a bill together without thought that could wreak havoc on our educational system. They need to get it right.
Mr. Crist did what is almost unheard of today in politics . . . he did the right thing for the people. He is who we need in Washington. What has Rubio done? Nothing, and if elected he will simply be another lackey towing the ‘party line’. Well done Mr. Crist.