David Blinn is and or WAS a guidance counselor at Willow Run high school who has his professional life turned upside down in August when the Willow Run school district bumped him to teaching sixth grade English and sixth grade Social Studies. Certainly not anything he asked for. Both he an another school counselor sued the school district over the change in assignments.
Fast forward to Thursday night. Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson and the school board, who helped create this mess of moving qualified high school counselors to the newly created position, done solely for the benefit of WIllow Run, "high school placement and career guidance facilitator", told everyone they were awarding Mr Blinn a Silver Star award. These are awarded to an employee who has gone above and beyond in their day to day work.
In his speech, Mr. Blinn began to relate how he speaks with his students all the time about character. He tells students their character is one of the few areas they can have full control over in life. Mr Blinn obviously lives his words.
Instead of accepting the award, he told Hope-Jackson and the rest of the board:
"The way I've been treated this year ... it would be unprofessional for me to accept this award"
As he went back to his seat he received a standing ovation from his fellow teachers.
And Doris Hope-Jackson and the rest of the Willow Run School Board got a hard lesson in character.
We think what David Blinn did was outstanding. Too often people are afraid to stand up for their beliefs and simply play along with the powers that be. We could all learn a lesson in standing up for our beliefs from Mr. Blinn, the WR School Board sure did.
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6 comments:
I have known Mr. Blinn for many years. He is definitely a man of character, compassion and honor. He cares for his students like they are his own children. When they laugh, he laughs and when they hurt, he hurts. The Silver Star of Honor is only a title, David Blinn is the real deal.
He stood up and spoke his conscience, very rare these days.
Like in the song 'Minutes to Memories' by John Mellencamp
"An honest man's pillow is his peace of mind"
Mr. Blinn and many of the most qualified and senior teachers at Willow Run are being pushed around and moved around to make room for the relatives and cronies of school board members and school administrators.
With the previous administration, it was "Dr." Ron Ciranna who promoted his live in girl friend from an unsuccessful classroom teacher to an assistant superintendent. School board president Clifford Smith had his wife, who had little education or qualification, as "Director of Community Relations" at $90k+ on the payroll. The new superintendent, Dr. HopeJackson, also hired her friends and relatives (special ed director) and several other buddies into jobs and pushed out others. It is about time for Willow Run to be taken over by another school district and throw out the thieves running the district.
Meanwhile, Willow Run's School Board finally figured out it was $1,100,000 MORE in the read! More cronies were hired. The Supt. got herself a $10,000 bonus for "saving" so much money and a 5 year contract. The principals and paraprofessionals a raise. The teachers all took a $2500 pay cut.
My kid's education is no better or worse than the teacher they have. Recall the school board. Fire the superintendent!
Mr. Blinn should have never been a counselor in the first place. He hurt the dreams of so many high school students by telling them they should go to trade schools or find a job right out of high school, and not telling students try harder and harder for to reach their goals. If I wouldve listened to him and gotten a job at Ford, where would I be now? Another laid off production worker wishing I would have gone to college. I do commend Mr. Blinn for speaking up, but I feel as if he got what he deserved.
--Former Willow Run Student
now in my 3rd year of my residency at John Hopkins Hospital (No thanks to Mr. Blinn who told me I could never be a doctor)!
..er, are you REALLY at John Hopkins? 3rd-year resident? Seems that you'd know the name is actually JOHNS Hopkins. If it's true though, it sounds like Mr. Blinn actually motivated you after all.
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