Standing up for Osceola School District teachers
Dear Editor:
I feel compelled to stand up for each and every teacher in the School District of Osceola County in light of the fullpage political ad run in the Osceola News-Gazette by Educational Facilities Solutions on July 14. It is interesting to note that Educational Facilities Solutions employs Mark Howard Gotz, manager and operator of American Classical Academy, a charter school in St. Cloud, currently in litigation with the school district over deteriorating financial conditions as well as with the owner of the building over failure to pay rent. Mr. Gotz is not a parent or a resident of Osceola County; he resides in Port St. Lucie, and to the best of my knowledge, he has never been in an Osceola County classroom, other than those he is responsible for managing at ACCA.
The claims in the ad are ridiculous and blatantly false. Our caring, dedicated, professional educators adhere to district and state standards for curriculum and instruction, none of which includes the teaching of sex education in kindergarten, sex education in elementary school, or critical race theory. This deceitful, inflammatory rubbish is disrespectful and insulting, and our teachers deserve far better. They are the champions who have consistently shown up to welcome our students back from the pandemic, who have risked their own health and well-being to perform essential work throughout COVID-19, and who have gone above and beyond to be there before school, after school, on Saturdays, and this summer to ensure our students had the support and care they needed to catch up on learning lost. They do not deserve to be used as political pawns.
Educators here at home and across the nation went from being heroes and essential workers during the spring of 2020 to some in the community blaming them unjustly for indoctrinating children. In Osceola County, our educators are amazing people who care about their students, who are passionate about their content taught as outlined in their Curriculum Unit Plans based on the state’s academic standards, and who have tried and trusted experience in what works best for kids. I remain extremely proud of the work our Osceola teachers do each and every day to best prepare our children to be successful, future-ready graduates. I will stand hand-in-hand with every educator in raising up the teaching profession, in celebrating the tremendous positive impact they have on our children, and fighting for the respect they so justly deserve.
Dr. Debra Pace,
Superintendent
Osceola School District
