In related news, Dimitria Pope ascended from TYC chief of staff to assume Owens' former acting Executive Director position. Consider this an open thread to discuss Jay Kimbrough's legacy as conservator and whether Mr. Owens is the right leader for TYC.Jay Kimbrough, who was appointed conservator over the embattled Texas Youth Commission in March, was replaced Friday by Ed Owens, who had been the agency's acting executive director.
Mr. Kimbrough was recently appointed deputy chancellor of the Texas A&M University System and said he told Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday that the timing was right for new leadership.
See also:
- Ed Owens New TYC Czar
- Adios Jay Kimbrough! Ed Owens new TYC Czar
- The Back Gate: Ed Owens wrong leader for TYC
- Settled lawsuit alleged Ed Owens covered up TDCJ sex abuse scandal
- Is the party already over for TYC's Ed Owens?
- New TYC chief threatens employees?
- Owens: TYC is safe for kids: What?
What ever happened with the concept "Most Qualified For Position". This appointing folks based upon friendship and political affiliation is not conducive for morale nor how to run an agency or business.
ReplyDeleteI understand the scratch your back syndrome (you scratch mine I'll scratch yours) but lets stop at the back and not venture to any other area's.
oslomJay Kimbrough's legacy? What legacy? He fulfilled his intended purpose of diverting media and legislative attention from the Governor, the AG's Office, Senators Whitmire, Madden, Hinojosa, who all knew about the WTSS scandal two years ago and did nothing about it. He also reinforced the fact that high ranking government officals manipulate policy to suit their personal whim with impunity ...right Mr. Harrell?
ReplyDeleteEd Owens simply laid low and let Dimitria Pope handle all the dirty work so as not come under any serious media scrutiny for his role in the TDCJ version of the sex scandal. Dwight Harris is gone from TYC for his role in one, why is Ed still here?
Dimitria Pope has taken fear tactics, threats, intimidation and retaliation to a completely new level in TYC. I thought that the new administration was supposed to fix these problems and restore ethics, communications and professionalism to a beleagered, floundering TYC. Instead what we have now is a systematic purge of a governmental agency that would make Josef Stalin proud. And if the rumors are true, there are a number of their TDCJ cronies waiting in the wings to fill in the empty slots in TYC.
Some legacy...
In the budget meeting earlier this week, Mr. Owens said he was returning to TDCJ later in the summer, perhaps by the end of July. It doesn't look like he wants to stay for two years as Executive Commissioner. He mentioned wanting to return home to Huntsville.
ReplyDeleteIf he (Ed Owens) goes back to TDCJ "HELLO" Dimitria!!!
ReplyDeleteIt does not take a rocket scientist to figure out who will get what, the good old boy/girl system has been taken to a new level.
What did happen to the most qualified?
Just when you think it cannot get worse; it does at TYC! I will keep reading Grits to see what comes next. I know we have not seen the ultimate in bad management yet! You would have to be totally crazy or on drugs to go to work for TYC!
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about Owens or Pope, other than what I've read in the papers after their appointments to TYC. I have not read one rave review between the two and it certainly doesn't make for a good night's sleep.
ReplyDeleteI understand that they both have egos the size of the US and the blogger who stated the "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, couldn't have been more accurate in his/hers description of how these people were appointed to their current posts.
Suffice it to say that all those who knew about the Pyote scandal two years ago and did not act, shame on you! You will answer to higher power than we have here on earth. It does not matter how you attempt to justify not acting immediately to protect the children of Texas. You did fail to act!! Don't attempt to wash your hands of it. There are just too may factors pointing to your knowledge of the whole sordid mess. Some of you even have/had the famous book written by a former Pyote employee about coverups at TYC. Some you even had contact with the writer! Who are you trying to kid???
Owens & Pope beware of the superintendents, assistant superintendents and the Human Resources people. They will tell you what you want to hear, not what is really going on!! If TYC values it's employees, show it by communicating the truth to us. It will raise morale, produce loyalty and respect in return! Be ware of the silver tongued devils, they once ran TYC and a few still remain!
anon 5:34pm what are you smoking? How many of the remaining supes/assistants do you even know? At first I thought you had a point, but after your mini-rant about the wrath of the "higher power", the "famous book" and all those "silver-tongued devils", I can see that I was mistaken. Better luck next time.
ReplyDeleteJust when you thought it couldn't possibly get any worse....
ReplyDeleteAfter giving this issue considerable thought, I now know that there will be no winners in this fiasco. Under the reign of Owens and Pope TYC, the agency, has already lost all chance of a reasonable recovery. The program is in disarray (The new TTP is just a stripped down version of Resocialization, with some new names for the same old components). Most of the staff doing the day-to-day work in the field and in CO are demoralized to the point of total apathy and are slowly, but surely dwindling away due primarily to the feelings of utter hopelessnes about their continued employment and their ability to take care of their families. And then there's the kids, the real losers in this drama. How many of those kids who have already released and are soon to be released will be back in TYC or worse yet, in prison? What will be the cost to the state and communities where these young men will (and they will!) commit their new crimes? To their families? And wait, the judges will have their revenge, too (No more misdemeanants? Okay here's some felons for you TYC!).
The saddest part of this scenario is that I don't think our current executive leadership cares one bit about what they're doing to TYC, its people and the kids. They can only see themselves as nothing less than god-like...all powerful, all knowing, all seeing, incapable of doing wrong. They see nothing wrong with using of fear, intimidation and retaliation to achieve their personal goals. What a shame! What ever happened to "Treat people as you would like to be treated"?
anon @ 6:39, did I touch a nerve, are you a superintendent or an assistant? I've been with the agency for over 25 years. What about you?? You were critical, judgemental and accusatory, all the prerequisites for being a "supe/assistant." Sounds like you need the luck more than I do.
ReplyDeleteIt is no shock to me that Dimitria Pope is the new Acting Executive Director. TYC has never had a black female executive director, and it does not matter whether she is qualified or not. TYC and most state agencies only care about looking good, so it now looks more "diverse" with a double minority in power. You can call me racist and sexist, but I think that "merit" should be considered before race or gender.
ReplyDeleteWell, if the gossip is correct, the last 2 exec's are now gone! Lets see..1 more to go?
ReplyDeleteanon @ 12:04 pm
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to Paula Morelock???
Paula is leaving at the end of this month..
ReplyDelete"State of the Agency", starring Dimitria Pope her amazing "State of the Agency" planning committee and focus group. Playing six strategically planned, state wide engagements featuring limited seating and times scheduled to ensure limited participation of TYC staff. Plan on attending unless you are working a shift or just got off a late night or a 12-hour shift or you won't be able to make it to your shift on time if you attend. Thanks for caring, Ms. Pope!
ReplyDeleteI have uncovered the top secret blueprints of the NEW TYC. It involves TDCJ dumping their trash on TYC, in the form of lesser-qualified people getting top level jobs at TYC. Wait a minute, this is not a very well kept secret, is it?
ReplyDeleteTDCJ to TYC:
ReplyDeleteCan you say "Hostile Takeover?"