As the Dallas Morning News editorial writers said today on the op-ed page, "We hope Dimitria Pope, the acting executive director, enjoys that new $600 office chair, since it sounds like she won't be sitting in it much longer."
RELATED: See these recent editorials calling for management changes at TYC:
- Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas Youth Commission remains troubled agency
- Lufkin Daily News: State agency doesn't do itself any favors
- Dallas News: Affront to Authority
.jpg)
133 comments:
Executive Director = ED
ED = Emotionally Disturbed
I hate to see anyone get ousted from their job, but after D. Pope gets replaced as E.D. maybe someone will pay attention to all of the "planted employees" she has across the state.
One question: Is Pope going to take Hawthorne with her? The powers that be would surely be smiling on us then!!!
LOL, Grits... nice profile of Will Harrell in Texas Monthly, BTW.
Bill B.
It is time for the State of Texas to pray for Mr. Nedelkhoff as he prepares to make this decision.
Sweeeeeeet!
Very impressed so far with the new conservator. He has sent out another update on what is happening in our agency.
Now if he would just tell us to throw away these wore out shirts that pope has made us clone's in the trash! Ha. Yes, before you beat me up, I am well aware that is a petty item on the agenda! But I can still wish!
Hey Pope and the shirts at the same time, boy what a deal that would be. Twofer! We want rid of her and those shirts would be a reminder of her! Ok, I will stop...
NO more UNIFORMS PLEASE Mr.Conservator.
D'ope will be out the door soon.
The press, as of late, has seemingly conducted a campaign to paint Ms. Pope in a negative light (deservedly, I should qualify).
First, the article highlighting D'ope epithet against "PhD-level white women."
Then, the article announcing Bronco Billy's abrupt "resignation." The article was sure to emphasize that Billy Humphrey was a Pope-backed lieutenant. The article's author could have easily left that out.
Then there's the article highlighting her lavish expenditures (though, I must admit, those carpets are pretty nice). Somebody, internally, must have coached writer Emily Ramshaw on which records to request.
Then there's today's DMN editorial predicting her proximate demise.
Granted, this "campaign" could be a serendipitous synchronicity of insights. But I doubt that. And I don't think it's based on clues supplied by some low-level clerk in the budget deparment. I think it is an orchestrated campaign promulgated by someone savvy in the ways of "public relations." Hmm...who could that be?
Signed,
reVAmp
I wonder if she shopped for those rugs and HDTV and office furniture on state time, when she should have been taking care of real issues for the state? Talk about misuse of state time!
I don't buy the conspiracy theory aspect, reVamp, I think there just finally late last year hit a critical mass of bad decisions that nobody could ignore any longer.
The media can talk around an elephant in the room, but once Pope let in a herd of TDCJ elephants, they finally couldn't help but say something, like, "Hey, these elephants are crapping all over everything - can we get them out, please?"
You go Grits! I couldn't have said it better myself!!!
Grace Under Fire
Maybe we needed to go through all this crap to get the politicians to realize that what we really need in this agency is sound management by forward-thinking juvenile justice professionals. If that is what we get from Mr. N, then maybe most of it was worth it.
d'Pope, in her arrogance, opted for the publicity she is now getting. Can't say that I feel sorry for her or anyone she endorsed, promoted or hired. There just wasn't any need to bring the agency to the depths of despair that she did. Nor was it necessary to wreak havoc on TYC employees, and destroy countless lives.
With the cushy salary she earns, she could retire into oblivion & thank the guv & lege for allowing her to retire in the style she's become accustomed to! Or they could let her decorate her cell at TDCJ with $10.00 so she could have enough left over to reimburse the state of Texas for her extravagant spending!!!!!!!!!!!! A regular Joe or Josie would have been charged and taken to jail immediately.
Enough,
2 cents worth!
D Pope had no business working as the ED. It is apparent that her elephans have almost crapped TYC out of business. It is time that those elephans be taken back to Huntsville, hopefully, to death row.
D Pope sent the HDTV back. There was no money for cable service.:(
She did not want people to think that she has abused her position.
ok hooray for the tyc but the clowns are still running the tdcj....how to clean that mess up?
It will be interesting to see whose character you will assassinate next IF Pope leaves and you find that nothing changes (or... conditions worsen). Consider a quote by Gandhi, "we must become the change we want to see".
Who are you, one of the chosen or Dementia's lawyer?
Where did my post go!
I deleted it. Try to express the same sentiment in terms and tone you'd be comfortable using in front of your grandmother, or your six year old.
Dear 7:13,
Huh? Are you for real?
How on earth did Pope get selected for this position anyway?
(Lame Duck Conservator) Owens called her up and appointed her Chief-of-Staff. Pope demoted, and then fired, the Chief-of-staff at the time, Kerry Davidson.
Were Owens and Pope chums at TDCJ? That's not the impression I got. My sense is that Whitmire, wanting to hook up his buddy Pope, pulled some strings to have her appointed as Chief-of-Staff. She was no more than marginally qualified for the appointment. When Owens receded into irrelevance, Pope became more prominent, and then took over the "acting" executive director position. Hers was a subterfuge and usurpation at their finest.
What an odd confluence of events!
She was no more than a mediocre, mid-level adminstrator at TDJC, facing marginalization as the head of her "RED" group. Due to compadrismo (as they say in my native tongue), she rose to her current position.
The State of Texas should bow its head in shame to have allowed this. Whitmire, in all his bombast and rhetoric (and according to some, his loyalty to his mistress) has disserved his fellow Texans. He is nothing more than an ogre who "hooked up" his buddy. I hope his constituency ousts him in the next election.
Ms. Pope is an absolute embarrassment as the executive director of our agency. There are a host of qualified, hard-working, ethical employees who are enduring her tenure. I didn't sign on to TYC, with my very expensive graduate degree, to be part of a laughing stock.
Please Mr. Conservator, vindicate me already!
Signed,
reVAmp
Let's not forget that Ed Owens laid this at Texas' criminal justice doorstep. It was his incompetence that got us where we are. For all Pope is, Owens hired her.
TJDO
Let's also not forget Jay Kimbrough. He is the person that started this big ole pile of crap. And of course, he is at A&M in a cushy job that his buddy Rick Fairy got him.
He should hire her at A&M. I have the perfect job for her "Assistant Deputy Chancellor for Grounds Keeping Affairs."
Would Pope be qualified for that position? Remember she is not a white woman with a PHD.
Amazing, how quickly did Pope become the most hated employee in TYC's history? She most have that special talent.
It's sad that this woman brings out the worst in everyone. She should bow out gracefully to save the agency further embarassment. She's had her 15 minutes of glory and messed that up. Time to move on, perhaps her own TV show on HGTV, Decorating for Dollars with Dementia!!
enough,
2cents worth!
The things that make go UMPH. The decisions she's made with the budget are absolutely irresonsible at best, gross fiscal management at worst.
How come ole' Elmer isn't calling in the SAO for an investigation into this debacle? Where's Keel now?
It seems like a double standard. We need the SAO to look at this situation. Anthing less than the SAO getting involved creates a double standard, and thus the SAO needs to be "sunsetted." Contract it out as well.
We need to stay focused also on all the "Appointments" made out in the field over the past 8 months. The gut that sits in Stans position (WP) is a nice guy but has no clue regarding his new position. This same guy places PB in Humsters position based upon his choices at hand (the other two regional directors, AO, SM), this whole situation is sad when none of the "Appointments" are qualified to do their current jobs let alone the Deputy Director of Juvenile Corrections job. So can we please begin demoting these "Appointments" and find qualified applicants that actually interviewed for the jobs rather than having the jobs handed to them?
Decorating for Dollars with Dementia!!
Thank you, I loved this one. Can't stop laughing. What a hit show that would be in Texas. Maybe she could show us how it is done on state dollars. Unlimited funds at that. Hell, throw in a little Special Ed Funds and she could do alot with a room!
Wonder what her theme would be? What colors would she use? Oh my I am so excited.
Let's not forget some of the field "appointments", W. Brown, L. Braly, D. Gibbs, G. Hawthorne. All of these need to be removed as well. They are all incompetent and got their jobs based on who they knew and who's rear they kissed.
Lets not forget the famous Ayo, he's one of Bronco Billy's picks!!
Arrogant and incompetentent beyond description. Mentored by Harrison, what wonderful quals!!!
Pope represents ineffective leadership, poor communication and abusive tactics.
Pope has alienated virtually every constituency that she has to relate with on a daily basis, from parents, legislators, employees, public, news media, etc
Unfortunately, in the process millions of dollars have been wasted and dedicated employees suffered, and the youth are living in worst conditions.
Pope go next door, find some decency, then go home. Remember to only take what belongs on your way out.
Look at Al Price, Chuck Jones was appointed as Acting Supt. before Fowler position was posted, he was on the team that came down to evaluate the facility when they were having problems,same thing that happened at Crockett but Williams was given another job, she had issues, but right is right she was not treated fairly, does anyone know what happened to that administration?
6:36 I agree with you. When you have a job working with these types of kids your actions should reflect a "give more than you take" not the other way around. It takes special people with special values to work with the kids best interest at heart. I thought it was understood that working for TYC meant that you were working for the "kids" not necessarily for the salary (because you knew going in that the salary wasn't the greatest). What example has D. Pope shown the kids at TYC? Nothing better than what they came in with. It's all about "Me", "What I Want", "I do what I want even if I know it is not right", "Who can I manipulate to get what I want". The list can go on and on. He "appointees" in the field lead with the same "values" that she has demonstrated. Ex. GNS employees are always being told that "If you don't do this my way, there are plenty of people out there that can do your job!" PA's were called on campus during the playoff football game so the A. Super. could show them "who has the power". These "appointed" employees really need to be looked into before campuses statewide get totally out of control.
Just an opinion
I don't expect much from Nedelkhoff. Anyone can fire one person and post a job.
If he were to say fire Amanda Johnson then I might think he has some vision.
So far he seems like just another chump with lots of credenitals and no competence.
Whats Bartush doing these days? He moved up the food chain rather quickly. I was under the impression that only "Yes men and Women" moved up into these type of positions during the Pope reign?
There was a man who was hated for his "arrogance" and because he challenged the way people thought things should be done. He brought in his own people who were not qualified by established standards. He pressed on, unpopular as he was, with his eyes set upon his goal. He changed the world. Consider James 3:5-6 "...the tongue is a small part of the body; but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body."
Are there any other parallels you'd like to draw between Dimitria Pope and Jesus Christ?!
Please, go on, I'd love to hear them!
The new conservator is great, he communicates with the field. He is bringing in juvenile corrections experts to help make the necessary changes to put TYC back on the right track. He has admitted he'll make mistakes along the way, but he will take full responsibility for them. What more do you want? Chump is rather harsh and if we are to turn this agency around, lets work with him and not against him. So far his actions are speaking as loud as his words. I'm not putting him on pedestal because he's human but I am willing to give him a shot. He's the best thing we've had in several months if not years. When the d'Pope came in her arrogance and direction were apparent at the state of the agency briefings. I've yet to see communication from her to the field. We've been spiralling down from the first day she came to work and haven't stopped yet. TDCJ is not TYC and never will be! No one is comparing him to a divine being nor do we expect or demand perfection. We want our agency respected and we want to be proud to work for TYC. As one commentor stated, we knew when we hired on that it was not about the money, it was about making a difference in a kid's life. So get real and support this new conservator. He seems to listen really well to the field and at least has some clue about juvenile corrections.
Scott I am with you! The comparison to Jesus if fully entertaining. Does that mean DP can also walk on water and perform miraculous healings and rise from the dead?
It is safe to say that DP is a text book example of narcissistic behavior and not Christ like behavior.
The Conservator has provided many exhausted people with some much needed hope.
He appears to approach each situation in a thoughtful manner which is a refreshing change to the knee jerk decisions TYC has been forced to adapt to for the last several months. He has ackowledged and complimented staff for their hard work and efforts which has not been heard in a very long time.
If he continues to guide TYC in this direction the cavernous division may begin to close and resemble the agency that was once a family of sorts. Maybe this time next year it won't be the old TYC staff vs. the new and instead it will be TYC united.
DP has lost her boy toy, does anyone have any idea what happened to her waterlily or was it waterhead? Rumor has it he was terminated.
I do like the posting has a 1 week time limit. I think he knows exactly who he wants to hire. We will have our new ED in place by March 1st.
Now if the rest of the hiring in TYC could only move that fast.
Conservator,
Please address the longstanding problem of retaining professional staff at institutions. If these staff demonstrate effectiveness and loyalty, why not work to keep them around? Pony up with the money and stop the constant rotation of professional staff in TYC.
Dementia said...
Sharks and Snakes and Barracudas! Oh my!
Sharks and Snakes and Barracudas!
Oh my!
But now she is worried because the next ED could be...
a White Woman with a Ph.d.! Oh my!
a White Woman with a Ph.d.! Oh my!
Dementia is not in TDCJ anymore... Hope she bought some magic shoes on shopping spree so you can find your way back to TDCJ!
Any truth to the rumor most of the YRS staff hired are from TDCJ?
To 10:06:00 AM
And after all of that, as I said, he has fired one person an posted a job.
I don't think chump is too strong a word at all.
7:29 or anyone else, who's Amanda Johnson?
No truth to the rumor about the YRS at all. Look at the names - most of them came from TYC. Go to the Employee Gateway on the TYC homepage, (the same one you use to input your time-off requests). After logging on, instead of going to the timekeeping module, go to the employee list module. Type in a name and you will get a picture and summary of the person. It also lists the length of time in current position and length of time with the agency. A few of them came from the outside, but most of them came from within TYC.
The civilian investigators (YCI) were cut way back from 21 to 8 positions. All of the YCIs whose jobs were being eliminated were offered the option of becoming YRS and many of them took the option.
This opens for discussion a whole new line - the overall reduction in the number of people conducting investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect. There are only 9 OIG cops conducting criminal investigations. In addition to investigating crimes against kids, they also investigate crimes by kids, fraud, property crimes and they conduct background investigations. Additionally, there are many (most) instances where abuse and neglect do not rise to the level of penal code violations. These cases are left to investigation by the few remaining YCIs. So much for the increased attention to allegations - we had a net loss of investigative positions. So much smoke and mirrors!
The new conservator is the last rally before the death of TYC. There are too many corrupt people left in TYC for it to do anything but continue to make headlines.
7:29/1:27
Sounds like Amanda may be sniffing up your bloomers.
1:28 A. Johnson is in Education in CO. She knows her job and for some she knows it to well.
1:27 p.m./1-26, you seem to have personal vendetta and a narrow mind. Why don't you apply for the executive director, you seem to think you have the answers! Go for it Chump!
To 1/26/2008 05:38:00
Nothing personal but nothing will be accomplished in TYC without force.
Litigation is the answer.
To 7:29/1:27
Amanda Johnson may know her job but she doesn't know the students.
No person with awareness would come up with opperation grade skip.
Sorry but students at the 4th and 5th grade level net to start at a level where they can move forward.
Sorry, but Amanda Johnson does know the kids. She taught a GED class at a facility for several years and her kids obtained their GED's..She knows the grade levels and the capabilities of the kids
How much of the bling that she purchased for her self and her cronies at the Austin Central Office Hide Out do you think will dissapear in the next month?
1/26/2008 06:52:00 PM
I have to wonder. If Johnson did that, I mean get kids to pass the GED, why would she discourage everyone else from doing the same thing.
All of these dogma mongers say they have taught. There success can never be verified.
She needs to demonsrate how to teach 4th and 5th grade students at the high school level. That is plan. She is the only one in the world who knows how to do it.
Dementia I hear you are looking for a job. Maybe you can convince the Governor to give a shot a rescuing TSU. They have grown accustomed to irresponsible spending habits like yours and they might even let you bring your new chair along too! Although, you may not need it because I hear Priscilla Slade had already decked the place out. You should feel right at home there.
The education people at CO are not phonies.
They have developed teaching techniques that cause sudden enlightenment to occur in struggling students.
Students can now jump from 4th grade reading skills the 11th grade level overnight. It is nothing short of amazing.
As soon as they show the rank and file teachers how, we will all be getting awards and certificates and passing out diplomas faster than they can be printed.
Whats even better is that it can all be done with no discipline whatsoever.
This is the real deal.
They should consider someone like the lady working for Harris County that came to our facility. She is the first person I have seen in a long time that really had the kids best interest in her heart. She really connected with the kids they all love her. I have a friend at Giddings that says the kids and the staff like her there as well.
Kids have to want the education before they can receive one. Teachers, CO, Judges, can send them to school but they can't make them want to be there and make them earn a GED or anything else.
You can skip grades, you can modify texts, you can do what ever, but if they don't want it, you can just blame the teachers and be done with it. Just don't blame the children!
If this fool proof plan or any plan worked every Public School in the state of Texas would win awards for Excellent! You can't whoop em into shape in the public school system either. Kid has to want to learn to learn.
There is no pill, no plan, no teacher that can make a kid want to learn that is focused more on his gang activities and when his time is up. Now that is where they screwed up, most mindset of the kids, "I can go home when my time is up" So screw you and school, I am not going back to school.
1/26/2008 08:55:00 PM
Sounds like the old saying "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink" may apply with the TYC youth. I am starting to think we tax payers are throwing good money away trying to force the little criminals to be someone good.
How about a system, where the TYC youth earn the chance to complete their education by displaying respect and decency to others. Go to TYC and you have 2 paths. One leads to prison if you don’t shape up or the other leads to graduation and trade school. The mentally ill need treatment then a life choice if they become competent. If you screw up the off to state jail for 6 to 12 months. This will get the never do wells away from the youth who want to make something of themselves or need mental health care.
The decisions about how to handle TYC youth will be made by highly educated people who have never had to work daily with the type of youth in TYC. After becoming one of the educated people and working for years with TYC youth I can tell you the individuals who wrote the text books must have never worked with TYC youth either. No program will work at TYC until the planners completely understand the youth they are trying to deal with. The TYC problem is enhanced by the diversity of the youth housed in TYC. There are multiple populations being treated with a single system which can never address the needs of the different groups. Couple inappropriate programming to a lack of real money to capitalize TYC operations at the needed level is a recipe for failure.
TYC has been gutted these past few months. The management still in place is tainted by the administration in CO. There is so much ill will in TYC it is like a cancer. The employees have been abused to the point they are leaving in mass. The future looks dark for TYC. Good luck Mr. New Conservator because you are damn well going to need it. The new ED needs to demonstrate they can walk on water.
2:39 you are correct IMO. I am searching for new employment. I want out of TYC, not because of the kids, really, but because of the adults that work there.
The few that run the program of the day and not the program. To many that think they are boss and are not. Adminstration that will not back anyone but their pets.
Don't dare report something or you will be labeled a troublemaker by your co workers. I am tired of people not doing their jobs but blaming others for doing theirs. If your a good employee at TYC, doing what is right then you are targeted. You are hated. This has been this way for years not just the Pope era.
Yes, he will never change the people at TYC, he will only change the process by which the kids pass thru.
Walk on water, seems that comparison has been linked to d'Pope by a previous commentor. I'm afraid if she gets the ED job, massive resginations will ensue. This will be the straw that breaks the camels back.
Quals for ED
Ability to lie without blinking.
Ability to grossly mismanage state money.
Ability to name call subordinates: incompetants, snakes, barracudas, sharks, white women w/PHD's, etc, etc.
Ability to Threaten: I'll smoke you out, I will get you, my way or the highway, etc.
Ability to be the final authority on grievances written against you.
Ability to remodel, redecorate and carpet offices at tax payers expense.
Ability to disregard treatment programs for the youth entrusted to TYC's care.
Ability to create hostile work environments.
Ability to do run personal errands and shop on state time.
Ability to purchase the lastest and greatest tech toys and not be able to use them.
Ability to place incompetants in positions of authority, only qual is that they be "Yes Men/Women."
Must possess big ego and dictator sytle manangement technique. White women w/PHD's need not apply.
Excuse me, I could go on, but I need to puke!! Isn't this the fine example of role modeling we have all grown to despise?? No wonder there is ill will. I would just like to know when someone is going to wake up to the disasters of Dementia and the shame and embarassment we experience in having to tell tax payers this is our leader?? It's time for the Nightmare on Lamar Street to end, please Mr. Conservator no sequels.
2 cents worth!!
I yearn for the day when people will comment meaningful thoughts on this blog as opposed to this slam dance. We all know Pope is done, so move on.
9:52 a.m. Go for it, your comment has no meaning, does it? Inspire us with your comments. Who's stopping you? Don't be critical be a contriubtor. Do you know for a fact pope is gone? Elaborate.
Lets hear the meaningful thoughts, we're all waiting with bated breaths!!
All I can offer is we have no leadership at Gainesville and the kids are well aware of it. In some instances, the kids are being neglected and they resent it, as they should.
The higher ups are ignoring that pink elephant standing square in the middle of their office that's crapping everywhere. What are they waiting on? Aren't they put in their positions to fix what's wrong in their schools?
Does Pope or whomever have to tell them when they can poot and when they can't?
I can't remember a time in any job where I've seen such do nothing incompetency.
Why should I elaborate on the obvious? It's all over the media and the ledge is pissed. Your conservator's "long pause" before responding to Emily's bit on the spending was pretty tale-telling. What's more to add? Would it change anything? I doubt it.
My point is this: as opposed to pushing the envelope on ousting Pope which we all know is going to happen, why not focus on what your agency should look like in the next few years under an experienced and proven leader? If you don't have a vision of what it should be like, then you're just going to be stuck in the past, and in my opinion, that would be a problem.
Exactly what I was thinking. TYC needs to focus on it's future, and by the way their conservator’s talking, he's getting there and thinking along those lines. But you now as well as I know, some people just can't visualize.
Hey when is Elmer up for re-elections and who is running against him? Got any information on that Henson?
I've spent a lot of time thinking about all of this over this past year...it will be a year since this whole thing broke loose on February 7th - and are we any better off? No. I've come to the conclusion that until we can get some competent people in CO leadership, it is every man - or facility I should say - for himself. We have to do the best we can with what we have and use our common sense. There are some good things still going on at my campus and I'm sure the same applies throughout the agency. It is my prayer the new conservator, along with a new ED, will halt all new programs, etc. until they can be studied by the juvenile justice experts and then make a determination as to their value. TYC has continued to operate with the mentality "let's jump in with both feet and we'll figure out how to handle what doesn't work later". What a crock of SH*&. We are all frustrated with trying to implement all these new programs, most of them stupid beyond belief, plus deal with incompetent leadership, inexperienced and unqualified superintendents, asst. supts, PAs, JCO VIs, etc. If I wasn't living it I wouldn't believe it to be possible. However, I refer back to what a friend said to me a long time ago - "We've seen them come and we've seen them go and we're still here". So take heart my faithful friends. This too shall soon pass. I only hope Brookins sees the inside of a jail cell sometime in my lifetime, but I'm not at all sure about that. And wouldn't that be the ultimate irony to this entire soap opera?
Oh I can visualize just fine.
I visualize Haider and Hawthorne being replaced by someone - anyone who can make a rational decision.
I visualize the PA's being replaced by someone - anyone who can make ANY decision instead of standing there nodding like a dog in a car window while doing nothing.
I visualize half the 6's being fired, not demoted, but flat out fired for their incompetency, total lack of giving a flip and their I'm a God like thinking, while most everyone else detests them.
I visualize those who are constantly sick and late, or other made up problem being demoted with reduction in pay. They can't figure it out, fire them too. Working 12 hours shifts would be a lot easier if I didn't constantly have to work for the slackers who suffer no repercussions for pulling such crap and in many cases, are promoted.
I visualize raises based on merit, not length of time, not on if your in the good ole boy system and kiss a lot of rump.
I visualize all employees who really care that these kids get another chance and do their jobs get recognized. But then that has almost been destroyed by the idiotic walking off of employees who had something in their past that TYC KNEW about.
Simple competency and common sense - thats what I visualize.
Seems so simple.
I believe we all visualize the same thing. But if we don't let administrators know who the bad apples are, so to speak, how will they know. It seems to me that this blog has allowed us to point them out with some shred of hope that someone who can do something about them, will. It's nothing personal but being in the field and working with these incompetant so called leaders, is nothing short of frustrating and irritating. I've been told that if I want to have a say so, get a degree. Well, I beg to differ, how many "dead weights" do we know with a degree?? A degree does not entitle them to come to work late, call in sick all the time, and leave when they are ready, whether or not its time. A degree does not give someone the right to treat one like a dog and look down their nose at us. Many of us chose our personal lives over a degree, because of finances, family or illness or whatever dictated our actions but that choice should not makes "lower class employees." There is a lot to be said for experience and it should count. I will not give names, as they have been mentioned twice over and Central Office should know by now who they are.
My vision for TYC is that we become respected once again and we develop treatment programs for all youth. That our success rate rises and employees are treated well and respected for whatever they can contribute no matter what department they work in. That we can say "I work for TYC" and be proud. Currently, we are the laughing stock of the nation and that does not bode well. We all know where the blame lies and are helpless to change things. Even though the answer is simple and we all know what it is. So when you say that you long for more meaningful comments, let me say to
you, that is all the commentors have been doing for months giving meaningful comments!! The MSM finally picked up on some of them, long after we screamed shouted about them.
Twentyfive years of service to this agency should be something to be proud of and instead, I'm looking for another job! When I signed on, I signed on to make a career and retire, not be laughed out of my job! Yes, there is a lot to work through and many things that need to left behind, work through and healed, but for some of us its too little too late! We must leave to heal.
@1:26, Whitmire is a) not up until 2010, and b) has more than $3 million in his campaign account! I don't think he's going anywhere.
Here's my vision:
Smaller co-ed medium restriction campuses for kids who meet certain criteria. All the violent bad asses in single cells.
I think we have several hundred kids who could handle a medium restriction co-ed facility. I think we do need more "step-down" facilities for kids who worked their program. It would be a hell'uva incentive knowing that if I remained in check, I could go to a less restrictive enviornment where there are girls and vocational programs and not so crammed packed with these bad ass kids which is the current problem. Get the ones who can handle it to a more "normal" enviornment as soon as they've proven themselves.
Co-ed, are you insane?
What kind of nut are you? Co-ed, get real. How long have you worked for TYC?
6:33 WTSS was co-ed at the beginning; ran into problems about the time boys and girls recognized being together was an "big incentive"; ended up with the girls being "rewards" for the boys; essentially pimping for good behavior.
When Mart 1 first opened, I recommended Mart 2 be set up for students who just wanted to "do their time" (remember, it would have been age 21 if they failed to make progress in the program); like some of the original boot camps that were housed in adult prisons or next door, kids could look "over there" and see what it was like... conversely, Mart 2 could see marching contests, family visits, special programs, maybe low rider car shows with TYC entries, GED and HS graduations. First step if you wanted to move to Mart 1, go to school and demonstrate social skills to be allowed to stay; attend a group (with our new specialized groups, this would be easy to set up as a visitor); success, welcome aboard; failure= nothing lost.
By the way, TYC might have to pony up top salaries for the special teachers and group leaders needed to deal with students who had years of giving up behind them.
No I'm not insane. I'm not advocating for conjugal visitation, because that's reserved for persons who are married, one of which is incarcerated.
A long time ago, I worked in a program where boys and girls had "socials." It was at CRTC before I retired in 1997. That was good program, and it had no fence. The boys acted right, the girls acted right, for that Friday evening social. No one had sex. No one ran. And those kids behaved.
I may be out of the picture on the current situation, but this old man knows one thing he'll never forget: hetrosexual males in adolesence have needs, and just having a girlfriend to look foreward to seeing in that place just might calm a few down. - Grandpa
you tell 'em grandpa. I remember.
Unspeakable Topics
Don't overlook the positive benefits of co-ed juvenile programs without more to go on than the jerk of a knee. Yes I know, there are always security concerns. But folks at Giddings and Corsicana will say it wasn't too much to handle especially given the benefits.
Sure there are security risks that come with any incentive-based effort you might employ. But...
But what if a dysfunctional kid or even an actual sex offender had an opportunity to learn to properly court?
What if a kid realized that he didn't have to focus the natural teenage lust his hormones generate towards the boys he's locked up with, but rather the girls across campus?
What if the girl locked up across the campus actually needed to see him for that too?
What if this was a chance for her to meet someone who has suffered like she has?
What if they met in the campus cafeteria and wanted to just send a note?
Who would be harmed?
Sexuality is something that does not stop when a kid is incarcerated. Sexuality is something difficult to discuss openly. But it is an integral part of socialization.
Denial of this topic is a recipe of for failure with these kids--not just the sex offenders.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
This will be scenario, girls will sneak into the boys quarters and boys will sneak into the girls quarters. Does the state of Texas have enough money to put the girls on the pill, to prevent pregnancies? Who will be responsible for the costs of a pregnancy? The state? I'm just asking questions? It won't be no hand holding affair? Especially with the older ones. We are short staffed as it is and who will get fired if that does happen? Think this through folks.
Grandpa the kinds of kids you had back then were far different from the ones we currently have now. Its a whole different can of worms from yester year to 2008. An almost retired Grandma!
Excellent, just absolutly an excellent comment. You're so right. That really made a lot of sence.
Rock on grandpa and e.fatso.
Still....Still...WHAT ABOUT LASHBROOK...SHE'S STILL AROUND!!!!
Grits,
People are complaining about the ED search process, saying it should be longer than a week and there should be advertising.
I agree somewhat, but really believe that anyone who would be interested/qualified in the job probably is keenly aware of the situation.
The sooner they hire a new ED the better. I am just hoping that the right thing happens. It simply cannot be Pope.
She came into an agency that was in trouble. She had an opportunity to fix things and come out looking like a "superstar." TYC was afforded funds to make things better. But for whatever reason Pope decided to destroyed innocent employees or anyone who disagreed with her. I guess so that she could hire her friends.
Unfortunately, for her and more so for TYC, she never understood her role. So, now it is time for TYC to move on without her.
I know that Pope's departure will not fix all of the problems, especially following all of the unnecessary damage that she has done. However, her departure goes a long way towards restoring TYC's reputation. I don't believe that it can be any worse than what it has been.
What facilities will be closed this year? Anybody know?
VFCA, Sheffield, and possibly Crockett.
Yes, Amanda Johnson taught GED classes at VFCA. And she was all too happy to accept all the credit for any student who obtained it. I'd say miracle worker was a better title. The teachers worked with the students for months if not years. They go into GED class with Amanda so they could watch her flit around the classroom or bend over her desk with her tight BDU's on and her butt facing the class. Then in sometimes days, they take and pass the GED. I'd say that the rest of the teachers had something to do with that a little bit wouldn't you. Be honest. How many times have you walked by that class and seen most of the students sleeping? Or visiting? Or out of their seats roaming around? I'll say that when she was at VFCA I've seen that enough to know that she didn't do it all by herself. Find out how well the students did when she left and Baber was teaching the same class. I may be wrong but I believe the results actually improved. Maybe that's why she thinks these students who are 16 and 17 years old and are working on the 4th and 5th grade level can actually do the high school courses they are enrolled in. They might be able to read the chapter and answer the questions at the end and watch the Mickey Mouse films etc. and seem that they are succeeding but put them in a course where they have to have some comprehensive skills and they simply can't make it. Nobody could. I think it's time to let the teachers do what they are good at and that's teach and quit trying to tell them how to do it. Most have been doing it a heck of a lot longer and better than the ones who are trying to dictate the curriculum.
One of the things the Legislature appropriated money for was for changing the open bay dorms to individual rooms. Now those plans are on hold because of the large amount of money that was spent on Central Office dressing up. Pope doesn't need to be replaced, she needs to be arrested!
That is a real good example of rumor mongering and an uninformed commentor stirring the shit. Screw Pope, but you're way off target there. Comment on something you know....
6:02 Well, when their system fails, I bet the teachers will get the blame. After all teachers are the most hated group of employee's in the entire system.
Tyc talks big about education but they certainly don't respect it in the field. Its not what is best for the kids in education, education is on the backburner when it comes right down to the daily routines that take place at TYC.
Classroom constantly disrupted by others, no respect for what is going on in the classroom. No help for controlling behaviors, always the teachers fault. Teachers undermined daily.
No these kids most of them can not do grade level work. They do not have the background to learn skills that are four and five grade levels higher.
But don't worry, they will blame the teachers as always.
To 06:02:00 PM
Lets give Johnson a chance.
My understanding is that she and Contrerras have made a DVD demonstrating how to teach 4th graders at the high school level.
The result is sudden enlightenment on the part of the student.
Using this new system, all of the discipline problems disappear. All of the clerical tasks that are now sapping the teachers time are resolved automatically.
The sooner we can start this the better. We are all just waiting for them to show us how.
They could start by blaming the teachers at Evins. To a t, they have got to be the worst bunch of blithering idiots employed by TYC. The youth there are absolutely short changed every day they enter the school building. What a waste. What a waste of salary which is higher than at any other TYC facility.
9:54
Thank you for valadating my point.
To 8:05
I am GLAD they are reconsidering the open bay dorms. What an unnecessary expense. From what I have seen in the places that have them, they have been abused. The kids spend WAY too much time in their rooms because staff dont want to have to deal with them.
A BAD idea that hopefully they will reconsider.
Sorry, I meant changing open bay to single cell dorms. Thats a gross waste of money.
If you think the open bay dorms are a good idea, you obviously haven't worked on one.
That comment about the money for the rehab of the single-bays being on hold came from several sources who are involved with money matters in TYC. It is not just sh*t-stirring.
I agree that open bays should be redesigned into single rooms. Open bays are dangerous and hard to manage the way they are currently designed. Some brilliant numbers cruncher must have thought it was a great idea to house 40 kids on a dorm with two staff at Hamilton. It can work with experienced well trained staff but the odds are against them. At HSS it was an unmitigated disaster.
Opens bays, if used should never house more than 16 youth at a time. Anything over, begins to become too dificult to manage.
The $ isn't to change the open-bay dorms into single-cells, it's to add privacy screens in the open-bay dorms, so that youth have a chance to get some alone time instead of always being right in each other's faces.
What about Mike Davis ? He's neck deep in the good ole boy club ?
Someone needs to make sure HR does not let the Pope see all the applications........where are those applications going? to her buddy M Wood?
First, I think open bay dorms are dangerous. On the other hand, single rooms are not common for the backgrounds of many if not most of our kids.
Then again, the demand is for single cell dorms... but no solitary confinement. As long as we have TDCJr staff around, there won't be much difference.
5:40, If Mr. N's pre-chosen one's application is lost, it could be Woods's job. So I think she'll be careful not to lose any.
Does anyone know this for sure??
TYC is bidding on a 1000 bed facility in the Houston area that they could possibly share with Harris County Detention. If they acquire it, CRTC and CRK will be closed.
It would make more sense to shut down Al Price.Hurricanes????
We're talking politics here. If this guy makes decisions that are truly based on best-practice, Whitmire will have a fit of apoplexy - hmmm... Since this all started as a Whitmire ploy to get to the Guv, and since Nedelkoff was appointed by the Guv...
7:52 Isn't the mandate of "best practices" to go smaller rather than larger? 'sides, with unmitigated arrogant, rude and inappropriate behavior Whitmire showed the Harris County rep at the hearings, who would want to work at a joint facility?
I agree. No open bay dorms should hold more than 16 for security reasons. The new 12 would be fine, too.
For the highest risk youth, individual cells might work, but sooner or later they are going to have to deal with people around them without going off.
There is a good reason that large facility in Harris County is empty. They cannot find people to staff it. Let's face it, TYC does not pay enough to compete in tight job markets, and the working conditions are horrible. Al Price has never worked because (a) it is in a tight job market, (b) it is poorly designed, (c) it is too big, and (d) ever since Marie Murdoch left, employees have been treated like crap. All that said, it is amazing to me how many really good employees do work there. Old Salty
To 1/29 5:31 PM
Yep, Mike was part of the good ole boys club...to some degree the but the good ole boys he was connected to are not part of TYC anymore (Steen and Robinson) so I don't see how he benefits.
Also, Mike is an ex-baylor linebacker who is too hard headed not to do things the way he believes they should be done. He used to annoy the hell out of Eddie Hernansez and Gaylon Garrison at BWD.
Mike, knows his stuff and is pretty straight forward. He also not as meglomaniacal as a former Supt. at Crockett.
Mike should be good for Crockett.
Rebecca Thomas was a good Supt, when she was at AL Price, she treated the staff good, morale was at an all time high after Hurricane Rita, but when she left and Fowler was appointed, things went down hill from there. However, I agree it is hard to beleive that they still have as many good employees left since Chuck Jones was appointed
Correct me if I am wrong but "Good Ol Boys" are not fired or nearly fired because of a bomb threat as was the case at West Texas. It appears more like a personal issue with the poster.
Have not heard how Crockett is doing but I would say it is a safe bet that it's doing better today than last month.
Marie Murdoch??? What? She was as much an unmitigated arrogant, rude and inappropriate person as Whitmire. She was definitely one of the biggest POS staff that TYC ever had. Glad she's gone.
I have a few random comments that may not mean much, but I want to say it anyway.
M. Davis is good for Crockett so far. I don't care whose good ole boy he was/is. He is supporting staff and not handing out icecream.
Marie was extremely rude and arrogant. No loss with her gone. She should have gone into politics - she'd be great.
Rebecca - I have only met her a few times but had the pleasure of attending a videoconference with her today. She was one of the few who was bold enough to point out the problems with the new "treatment program". I was very impressed with her and know some of her employees who say she is very fair and competent. Hey, that means a lot these days. I don't care what they say about her and the asst at CRTC.
12:42 - It is amazing what a difference a few weeks can make. We have a ways to go and some problems to fix but the kids are NOT in control and the staff are NOT scared to come to work anymore.
I see Freeman's folks are still hanging in there.
You people are so self-focused all you care about is your own little world. Grits has posted an excellent piece on kids of incarcerated adults and prevention and only 7 people have made a response. You TYC people only really care about yourselves. It is disgusting.
I'm glad Crockett is getting better. All campuses should be getting better as all the chronic behaviors are being sent to Mart II. Yep, that is correct. In the last weeks we've gotten in about 50-70 new youth from Al Price, Corsicana, Victory Field,and Crockett. Today we are getting about 15 from Evins. I'm sure we will get the rioters from Gainesville next week. If you have a riot, you send your students to Mart II and that's how you fix it! For the last 2-3 yrs that is all Mart II has done. We are the clean-up facility. No different rules, no different anything and we are supposed to clean them up and send them home. Don't even get me started about educational records and master files on these youth. It is a nightmare!
Don't count on getting the ones from Gainesville. We seem to keep our own and then inherit others as well so we know what you mean. We just got 7 of VFCA's worst also. Now we get to deal with them along with our own. Good luck to you guys. We're all going to need it.
5:51...you may have gotten 7 from Victory Field, but trust me, you did NOT get the worst ones.
This is another TDCJ technique. There are some inmates who almost literally live on the white busses. They keep moving them around to keep them off balance. Welcome to TDCJjr.
They just know the corruption at Mart II will allow them to become magically rehabilitated in time to be released at their minimums and with the last violent incident happening at least 31 days ago (and not because it didn't happen, the paperwork just disappears).
oh yeah i forgot, then they recommit within 3 months and come back as sentenced offenders and are sent to Giddings.
I am curious folks at Mart 1. Are commitments down or just the same as they ever were?
GRITS,
Just checked and the posting is gone. Damn, I thought I had until tomorrow?
9:01 Perfect timing, don't you think? Interview in the morning, offer by noon, press release by 5 means we can all celebrate Friday night, but be back in time for the garage sale. So far I have a bid of $6 for the chair, and $11 for the rug. Just how much is Black Crown Vic worth these days?
7:45 -- What are you referring to? I heard about an incident in HR where the Director lost some applications. I heard that she left them in her car. Then someone broke in her car and took them.
If I were one of the applicants, I would be sueing TYC for anxiety of identity theft.
Is it true, 7:45, to what you are referring to on "losing applications"?
You're going to have to top staying in security nearly their entire time at VFCA along with 400 225's for the little time they were out if you got worse kids than Gainesville did from VFCA.
6:43...VFCA can top that!
Did Will Harrell apply for the ED job?
can anyone list currect caseworkers and pa's at gainesville??? i use to work there (95-99). i saw corruption before it acually hit the news. (Eddie Martinez, Britt Canary, Wayne Coats, Melissa Hallman and the hefty Paul Bartush)
Post a Comment