I know nothing about Ms. Townsend, but before her gig in Nevada, according to this brief bio:I am pleased that I am able to tell you today that I have hired Cherie Townsend as the agency’s new Executive Director. While she officially comes on board October 1, Cherie will be attending some agency functions prior to that time.
Cherie brings a wealth of background and expertise in juvenile justice, having established a national reputation as an agent of change. I’m pleased someone of her caliber is joining us at TYC to help lead the agency forward, and I feel very strongly that she will provide the agency with the leadership needed to complete our reform efforts.
Cherie’s experience in juvenile justice spans more than three decades, including 18 years in previous positions at TYC. Most recently she served as director of the Clark County Juvenile Court Services in Las Vegas, NV where she was responsible for the leadership, planning, management and delivery of court services in one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Prior to that, she served as director of Juvenile Court Services for the Superior Court of Arizona’s Juvenile Court Center in Maricopa County.
During Cherie’s 18-year tenure at TYC, she served as director of community services where she developed and updated programs to meet the changing needs of youth and families and to improve results and better manage at-risk youth in communities.
Ms. Townsend served as Director of Juvenile Court Services in Maricopa County, Arizona. She has worked for the Texas Youth Commission in various capacities, including Director of Community Services. She also served as Director of Victim-Witness Services for the Travis County District Attorney in Texas. Ms. Townsend has earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas.Her past experience with TYC may help some; certainly you wouldn't want someone with no Texas experience at all leading the agency through the Sunset process at the lege next year. But otherwise it's hard to say from this information whether they've selected the right long-term leader for the troubled agency. I hope so. Time will tell.
UPDATE: See TYC's press release on the announcement.
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97 comments:
Maricopa County?
Sounds like a very good reccommendation. (Tongue in cheek)
That's funny. I was at work all day today and I just checked my work email and I haven't received any email from The Conservator. I guess someone is mistaken about it going to all TYC staff. I'm guessing that's what someone said but it didn't actually happen. I'm rather sure that none of my colleagues got anything either because there was absolutely no discussion about it. Sounds like the TYC I'm used to working for. I wonder why it's so hard to actually tell the truth on something as simple as this? It does explain how easily the other big truths get distorted even more and people who do not know the difference accept them as truth.
6:35 - I took the notion that it went to all staff from the header to the email I was forwarded. It read:
"From: Richard Nedelkoff
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:21 PM
To: Employees - TYC
Subject: Executive Director Announcement
Importance: High
Dear TYC staff:"
So I inferred that was "all" TYC staff. That could have been my error.
To 6:24 - I also cringed when I saw Maricopa County on the resume. But perhaps working on the juvie side she wasn't in the same running circles as their fool sheriff and some of the real crazies out there. One hopes not, anyway.
I'm no longer at TYC but was forwarded the e-mail by someone who is. Mine also says Employees - TYC.
I worked several years with Cherie and she's great, though as far as I know all of her experience is in Community Corrections and Probation. But she's progressive, so she may be able to lead TYC to be an agency with more community programs and smaller institutions, just like the lege supposedly wants.
Just checked my email again and still nothing. Maybe I'm no longer an employee. Stranger things have happened. Possilby some sort of computer glitch. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and see if it shows up tonight or tomorrow. I don't know Cherie but I sure hope she has some common sense and can lead us out of this mess. We need help badly and too many who are at the top tend to rely on some of those that are still giving them bad information and they tend to believe it. Hopefully she is one that will get out of her office and actually come around "unannounced" and see what is actually happening at the facilities. When they let the facilities know in advance, there is always a nice show put on when they arrive.
Maybe we can set up our very own Tent City. That would be progressive, huh?
On another note, have you heard anything about the supposed 20% pay raise TDCJ CO's were hoping for? I see that TYC's JCO's are getting a whopping 2% bump. Maybe that will pay for half a tank of gas.
I would love to see inspections run by the honcho having an aide go around and pick out junior staff at random for private interviews. I figure things like the mess at Walter Reed and all sorts of similar things can't be hidden when the people furthest down the ladder are asked "What's here that your boss doesn't want me to see?"
Victory Field got the email from Nedelkoff a little after 3:00 this afternoon. I can't help wondering if he handed the newly appointed executive director the ax he's been holding over our facility.
Governor Rick Perry is to be commended for approving the appointment of Cheryln K. Townsend – a person of national prominence in the area of juvenile justice – as Executive Director of the troubled Texas Youth Commission.
My friend Cherie, whose distinguished career exceeds three decades, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Rockford College, a Master of Public Administration degree from Southern Methodist University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas.
In 1975 she began her career with the Texas Youth Commission as a community resource specialist in Dallas, Texas. Cherie held a number of positions within the Texas Youth Commission, all with increasing responsibility: Parole Supervisor for the Dallas area; Administrator of Halfway Houses; Administrator of Residential Contract Programs and Parole; and Administrator of Contract Services.
In 1987 Cherie was lured away from the Texas Youth Commission by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office in Austin, where she served as Director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Division. Two years later she returned to the Texas Youth Commission and served with distinction as Director of Community Services.
In 1996 Cherie was appointed Director of Juvenile Court Services for Maricopa County, Arizona. She remained in Phoenix until 2006, when she was named Director of the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During her distinguished career, Cherie has been active in a number of professional organizations. She has served as a member of the Delegate Assembly of the American Correctional Association. In addition, she has held membership in a number of committees of the American Probation and Parole Association and the National Juvenile Court Services Association. Cherie is a past President of the National Association of Probation Executives.
She is a former member of the Advisory Council of the National Resource Center for Police-Corrections Partnerships and is a long-time member of the faculty of the Executive Orientation Program for new probation and parole executives, a joint initiative of the National Institute of Corrections, National Association of Probation Executives, and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas. Cherie has also served as a consultant for a number of agencies.
In 2001 she was the recipient of the Sam Houston State University Probation Executive of the Year Award given jointly by the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center and the National Association of Probation Executives. In 2003 the National Juvenile Court Services Association recognized her with the Outstanding Juvenile Court Administrator’s Award.
Cherie is a leader, an innovative administrator, and a dedicated public servant. The State of Texas is indeed fortunate to have a person of her caliber take command of the Texas Youth Commission.
My late father, who chaired the Texas Youth Commission during a much better time in the agency’s history, would have praised Governor Perry for this appointment.
Here we go again, another Arizona transplant. Didn't that IDIOT Bexar County chief probation officer come from Arizona? I hear he's screwed that department up.
Mr. Beto also praises Chief Fitzgerald of Bexar County Adult Probation...........need I say more?
Community Corrections and Probation is the key here folks. No need to say more!
I believe I also read that Cherie also serves as a Director on the ACA Accreditation Board. Since TYC is going to again become involved with ACA, this will certainly help.
I suggest that staff give the lady a shot at pulling the agency together and leading it into the future. We don't have much to lose and everthing to gain. She is big on education, and on youth being held accountable. She has to know what is at stake. She does not appear to be a political appointee, and that says a lot right now.
Let's get excited to at least see that something is moving forward.
She is also is involved with the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative which is a movement which represents the cutting edge of best practices.
Fitzgerald is from AZ......here we go again!!! Hey, Fitzgerald call this Az. Cherie and get a new job with your Az. Cherie......so we can get our Texas Sheri back to work. We wait for your depature and take Kline!!!!!
Did you not see the 18 years of TYC experience.
While the contract expertise and community based program experience will certainly be useful I don't see much positive in the hiring for the current problems at institutions.,,
Since Whitmire thinks he's a stud, it might not hurt to have a female Executive Director again. And this one will be competent.
Siince I read this I realized that she came up with Chester and Dwight. Is that good or bad?
Maricopa County?
Clark County?
Sounds like another Steve Robinson to me, I just wonder what her political ties are.
8:19 a.m. she split (like many of us should have) when Robinson reorganized the agency, placed Dwight Harris as the ADED of Juvenile Corrections and her under him. Wonder where we'd be if Robinson had placed her above Dwight? Probably not where we are now.We all assumed Robinson was getting board pressure to make that happen.
She's going to be a hardass, but fair, and you all need that now.
“I look forward to working with Cherie,” said State Rep. Jerry Madden. “Having already met her one-on-one previously, I certainly was impressed with her knowledge of TYC issues and her people skills.”
People skills is something Dwight Harris lacked. Very well put Jerry.
I too worked with Cherie years ago and can't think of a better choice for the ED job than her. TYC is such a messed up agency today and I would'n recommend the job to even my worse enemy. It will take time, months and years, to restore the agency to where it needs to be. I just hope she goes in and identifies all these negative "all about me" employees and fires their asses, then goes about her business.
Plato
Better yet Plato, I hope she identifies the employees who are trying their best to bring the agency down because of their own failures and the frustration that comes within. You see a lot of their comments on this blog.
Thanks Mr. Beto, I knew I recognized that name from somewhere. I remember a visit with her when I got out of Gatesville and came back to Dallas. A unique name, Cherie. I remember her as being very nice, yet serious about me staying out of trouble. Back then TYC kept us as close to our 18th birthday as possible, so we wouldn’t come back and I was just making the one (for show) report to the po and spoke with Ms. Townsend who encouraged me to get my stuff together and perhaps I should think about going to college. Pointed out that I come from a good family and I should make something of myself. Thanks Ms Townsend I did go to college and life is good.
From the picture that was posted in Clark county of Ms. Townsend in 2006 I can see that she is still very attractive, and that’s one up on that last thing they had in charge, y’all refer to as the pope.
Mozel Tov Cherie, may you be successful in your endeavors, and welcome back to Texas.
Btw the sheriff in Maricopa county is well respected and has a low recidivism rate as I understand. Perhaps TYC's JCO's could use a little Maricopa county control technique on their offender population.
Sheldon
tyc #47333
wow...has she got her work cut out for her! A week ago staff at Mart 1 were told that only kids who assault others could be sent to security so the kids are pretty much out-of-control. They understand that there are no longer any consequences for even extreme disruptive behavior. This will inevitably lead to more assaults since the kids get fed up with those who consistently cause major disruption. It will also lead to more staff injuries (it already has) and more staff resignations. We are already losing staff every day (hello, we are dying here!). I certainly hope our new Executive Director comes to the rescue....and soon.
This is a good thing for the agency. She'll be good for the kids and good for the staff. She listens, but she doesn't play around.
8:45
1987 was well before Steve Robinson, who came in 1995, upon the retirement of Ron Jackson. Dwight did not ascend to ADED until 1997. In 1996, Ms. Townsend took a position with Maricopa County.
Your grasp of the facts seem limited.
You can’t make a sow’s ear into a silk purse! TYC is rotten to the core so this lady hasn’t got a chance in hell of turning it around. I remember all the hype when Mr. Ned hit town and what was he able to do – not much! Same show all over again folks, just different players.
Can we give her chance before we... wait, YOU give her a chance before YOU start knocking her to the ground. TYC needs help in every aspect, in every direction. I welcome the addition, and the help. TYC staff need to buckle up, it's going to change,.. you can't rise out of the ashes if you're wallowing down below. Welcome Cherie - now let's get to work!
I hope she can turn it around.
The kids know they can do anything and not get into any trouble.
Last night I was assaulted by 2 different youth at 2 different times.
Both youth were back on the dorm within 1 hour.
We have to do something to regain control or someone is going to get killed.
We presently have 4 staff on our dorm alone that are out with injuries from the youth.
She left in 87 and came back in 89. She left again in 96 after Steve Robinson came in and started his big reorganization. She was Director of Community Services, (Parole, half-way houses and contract programs) from 89 - 96. She was very big on continuity of care between institutions and follow-up programs. She was a demanding boss, but she listened to input from the field.
New ED, new programs, and a new year. Along with all of this comes the uneasiness of realizing that the cheese has been moved. It will take an extra measure of commitment from all experienced and new staff, with education and correction facing an almost total philosophical realignment of our professional world. As a seasoned educator, it behooves me to strive for excellence and encourage my fellow faculty to do the same. All of us need to utilize experiences but not become hide-bound and cling to negative behaviors and attitudes.
If TYC is to move forward, new ideas need consideration, and if implemented, evaluated. People tend to resist change....we are no different. Established ideas are useful as well...tune them to meet new situations. Your dissension is your right. But why not let it be constructive...if you note a problem, present a solution along with it. This blog is a great place to discourse but measurable change evaluated on a continuum from great success to abject failure takes place at each facility and it comes from us.
Veteran JCO's and educators...we need to take yet another brave step..are the new programs perfect? Probably not...but with mature attitude, sane evaluation, and eliminating prejudices, IMO we will go a long way towards really helping the students in our care and re-making this agency into the respected institution we all should want it to be.
This year will be a time for introspective evaluation. Personal philosophies will be challenged and priorities rearranged. It will be challenging. Some will rise to it, others will succumb. Only after we have gone through with this will we have the ability to judge whether or not we were successful.
No 1:31 a.m., we actually worked with her before so some of us can speak from experience. We never worked with Nedlekoff, but we were just happy to see he got rid of that crazy ass TDCJ crew. So if you haven't started looking elsewhere, you might want to (1) change your attitude, or (2) brush up your resume because like Sandy Burnham, Cherie will sence it and move you right along.
Please Hurricane "G" - please ruin the CoNextions programs - please just drown that program - please. Please spare the children, but please get rid of CoNextions. Thanks "G." See yall when I get back!
Is it weird not to feel anything? I have seen many "band-aids" but yet to see a cure - I know she will need some time to spring into action but I am numb to feeling excited when I see a new face.
You TYC folks that have stuck it out deserve a commendation. Unfortunately, none of this, including a new ED, will change the fact that Whitmire will dismantle your Agency and change it to look like something that never resembled TYC. Run like you're from New Orleans and get the heck out while the getting is good. DFPS and TDCJ would be a good start so your benefits would continue. Best of luck to those that don't heed this warning.
Do you honestly think TYC would have hired an executive director with Perry's blessing if it were all coming to an end? Do you think those way above us would allow that to happen?
Here's a better question. Do you think Whitmire would continue his rampage if his Pope were selected as ED? Hell no he wouldn't. This is all political.
I say give the new lady a chance. We all know we're getting scaled down because we're smaller now. But that can happen over the next year by not filling certain positions.
Oh, I think she deserves a chnce, but I can see the writing on the wall with Whitmire. Jump ship, it is sinking within the next year. I honestly KNOW.
Hopefully Ms. Townsend will shake up her Administrative staff in CO and find qualified personnel. This ship has to start heading in the right direction. If it was not for a few of the old guards this ship would have sunk by now.
It sounds like she's a TYC insider. That has been a formula for disaster in all previous cases. Is she different? It remains to be seen. However, at TYC we have always raved about the worst of the worst.
The disaster was the Pope and her TDCJ cronies.
No. The first disaster was Kimbrough. Then Evans. Then Pope. Three disasters...
The new ED may have been an insider 12 years ago. Most of her inside, is probably out, now.
"The first disaster was Kimbrough." So true, so true. Breaking things is his forte -- he didn't offer TYC anything else. But really, I hope he doesn't know we are saying so, but it would only make him happy.
So is Whitmire a snout or a jackass, or a cross between?
Color within the lines folks... from off the "other blog site,"
When Jack attacks
"I pass the following along with amusement but no comment. In that email exchange between Jack Rains and Joan Huffman that I highlighted yesterday, among the things that Rains flung against the wall was this:
A great deal of pressure is being applied to this race behind the scenes. I am advised by several sources that State Senator John Whitmire, Democrat Houston, is soliciting support for Joan Huffman, who is running as a Republican. Senator Whitmire has reportedly received a large donation, some say $10,000, from Joan Huffman's husband Keith lawyer, Mr. Lawyer who is heavily funding his wife's campaign, some say to the tune of half million dollars, has an extensive number of bars , which presumably serve alcoholic beverages. John Nau is the Budweiser distributor for Harris and several other surrounding counties. Incidentally the event was organized by Joan Huffman's consultants, Sue and Dave Walden, who were consultant to Lee P. Brown, a democrat partisan and clearly Houston's all time worst mayor.
You already know that I think he's making up that allegation about Sen. Whitmire, who I'm told is not happy about being dragged into this little spat. Turns out some other feathers were ruffled as well. Here's an email exchange that resulted from this, which was passed along to me:
From: David Walden
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 10:02 AM
To: jack@jackrains.com
Cc: Sue Walden
Subject: Joan Huffman Campaign
Jack, once again you must not have been sober when sending out your email claiming that I am a consultant to Joan's campaign. I am not involved in her campaign. My wife is. Just her. Not me. I don't work at Walden and Associates. I expect you to send a correction asap to the poor souls on your email list or I truly will deal with you like the dog you are. Understood fat boy.
Dave Walden
[here's the reply:]
From: Jack Rains
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:43 PM
To: Jack Rains
Subject: Dave Walden attack and request for clarification
Importance: High
Dear Dave,
"In response to your message below, I of course apologize for and deeply regret any angst I caused you, or Sue, by mistakenly assuming you guys were a team. I assure you both I intended no offense.
Pursuant to your request I will make everyone aware of the facts by attaching your email below. Since I have received no clarification from Sue, are we to assume you speak for her in this matter?
On the subject of your personal remarks and threats; first I assume you speak, as usual, only for yourself. To properly address the matter may I suggest the two of us schedule a time when we may enjoy a quiet stroll together in Memorial Park so that you may personally express your feelings. If you were serious, and not merely popping off and exhibiting your famous humor and keen political skills, I must warn you, as an attorney, that physical attacks against poor old elderly, physically infirmed folks constitute a felony under Texas law. You should also consider that if attacked such actions in turn permit us to defend ourselves...... even from apparently deranged Chihuahuas.
Chill and stay out of the rain, I look forward to seeing you soon and personally resolving this unfortunate matter.
jack
I believe it was Molly Ivins who said that politics was the finest form of free entertainment ever devised. I think we can all see why she thought that."
?
Can't be any worse than what we've had so far...yes she can.
8:30, 2:51
Reasonable words but I cannot simply support a program that does not have policy. TYC has long been prone to making changes without thinking things through and catching up with itself. you cannot implement an agency wide program that does not take into account such major things as an integration of specialized treatment...policy by which you establish treatment progress or the lack thereof.
The majority of resistance has not simply to do with change but is resistance to change without thorough preparation for implementation.
09/04 9:47pm - Well said. A good example is the redirect program. Wasn't there supposed to be a policy in place within 90 days of the admin directive? Perhaps Smith should stop flying all over the country, spending the states money and take care of business at home?
Good point, but he would first have to have a clue about what he was doing.
It would be nice if Mr. Smith would bother to fly around Texas and visit the institutions and talk with staff and kids to find out what is actually going on instead of holing up in Central Office and only leaving to fly out of Texas.
Word is that Ms Townsend, even though not yet on the payroll, has been spending a lot of time in Central Office already, asking some very tough questions. I think this may bode well for the future. I would not be surprised, as soon as it is legal for her to travel in a State vehicle, to see her out in the field. Come on October!
hello.........Hello.........HELLO.......
Who is -IN- Charge at Crockett ? ?
No posting and no boss
WAKE UP CO ! ? !
Debra Gibbs is the Acting Superintendent at Crockett.
Pope installed lost wannabe Get Real. Not a good Actor.
8:08am watch what you wish for, you may get a Superintendent but not what you expect.
It's funny...one minute TYC staff complains that CO is coming out to the facilities changing too many policies...the next minute you're complaining that Smith isn't coming out to the field enough. It's starting to sound like you don't know what you want.
Its a sure sign of resistance to reform! Either you want it to improve or you don't. But CO cant possibly be the blame for everything. Hope you don't think that a new Deputy Commissioner wouldn't see through these games too. The new ED has seen so much more than TYC so dont think she'll be fooled either. Maybe some of you should leave TYC too and see how the rest of us operate facilities. Then when you read this blog, you'll see how so many of you don't realize how much you're adding to TYC's problems instead of adding to the solution.
You'll also see how Superintendent's and their direct supervisors can play both sides of the game by blaming their staff for the poor practices then blaming CO for poor policies. And you'll also see how those who should have been fired a long time ago, have become a cancer in the agency. If you work on a Unit, be smart and watch closely. Its easy to see who's trying to sabotage improvement by pointing fingers at CO. Ask why those Superintendents and their supervisors aren't standing up for you in CO? The answer is "when they meet with CO, they point the finger at you". Not every Superintendent does this but if you watch closely enough, you'll be able to point them out. I believe that most TYC staff are good people who just want the resources to do a good job. People want to come go work and feel that their safety is a priority to CO. Those of us who aren't from Texas want the same thing for TYC staff that we do for our facility staff. That's why I question the motives of those who have direct responsibility for advocating for their staff first instead of putting their careers first. But, when you take care of your staff first, the staff will take care of the kids accordingly. When you don't put staff safety first, then they are forced to take care of themselves. Ingredients for staff assaults, child abuse allegations, high turnover, and riots.
Excuse me, but I believe we complained about Bronco Billy coming out and wreaking havoc. Now we are complaining about Mr. Smith being out of touch, and mostly out of state. Decisions take forever, and when they are made, are obviously not totally thought through.
Ms Townsend really has her work cut out for her. But, from past experience with the lady, I believe she is up to it. I wish her well.
There are a couple of places where those superintendents would be right.
So first you complained about someone wreaking havoc and now the complaint is that the next person isn't around because he's "mostly out of state". Are you serious? Do you actually think that we're to believe that if Mr. Smith wasn't coming to work because he's "mostly out of state", that TYC staff wouldn't have complained to the lege or Statesman by now???
What exactly is your angle? Do you care about staff safety and staff morale or are you a direct report to Mr. Smith and upset that you didn't get his job? I hope the new ED comes in and recognizes those who care about improving working conditions within facilities and promotes that mentality.
I hope she recognizes you as someone who puts wanting to further your career over staff safety and morale. Put your mirror down because this isn't about you...it's about the agency. TYC isn't the military, you can leave anytime you'd like. But if you stay, stop trying to deter reform.
If someone recognizes that Superintendents do not put staff first then why are they still superintendents? The buck should stop with them - why does CO let these "leaders" point fingers at staff? Remember, reform startsfrom the top down.
Advice for the new ED - interview the veteran staff (without admin. present) talk to the middle management (JCO IV,V and VI) that way she will get the truth and not a dog and pony show - middle management is key - start there.
Give us back our right to be safe and make decisions - get rid of micromanagers - let people in the right places do their jobs!!!
Amen 7:28pm. That's how you prove that you're a part of the solution and not part of the problem.
The new ED should appreciate your advice because it's well intended and sound.
Sounds like we have quite the apologist for Mr. Smith posting here. Standing in the way of reform? We are standing in the way of reform because we don't think Mr. Smith is doing a very good job? Be real!
Actually, I was standing up for TYC staff. If you call that apologizing for Mr Smith then so be it. Anything to keep the focus off of you huh?
You've proven your angle because you didn't even bother to respond to 9:28pm. Way to follow up the positive with yet another negative thought. The Superintendent's supervisor is looking for a new position. Why not use your current one to help your staff instead of yourself. Good luck TYC staff...this guy's got his own back instead of yours.
Okay, please explain what Mr. Smith has done to improve working conditions for staff?
Since when is a JCO IV "middle management"?
BTW, "Apologist," I don't know about the other critics of Mr. Smith who have posted here, but I do not work in Central Office - I'm out here working with kids every day. I point this out because your last post was in response to my post.
So if you "really" work in a facility, why are you giving the Superintendent and his/her supervisor a pass on your criticism? What have they done to improve working conditions? Most people don't hold one person responsible for all of the ills of an agency unless its personal.
It's a typical response to change though.
BTW-Anything positive to say about your own agency yet.
5:23 PM - "SINCE WHEN ARE JCO IV's MIDDLE MANAGEMENT"
JCO IV's are critical to the dorm and should be the staff we are grooming to make that move to middle management - if the V and VI are not on the dorm then staff should look to the IV's for guidance, mentoring and coaching - I figured you would know what I meant since you are on the front lines. JCO's and I mean all JCO's are the bread and butter of TYC, without them we have nothing - by the way - you do not "have" to work for our agency - there is always McDonalds - their staff is full of complainers like you.
I don't think that poster meant that JCO IVs were not important. I think the objection was to calling them "middle management". JCO IVs do not supervise staff. Most ways of describing levels of management have supervisors, then middle-management, then executive management. Middle managers would be Assistant Superintendents and Superintendents and the next two levels up. Supervisors are JCO Vs, VIs and Program Specialists. I seems to me that the person so vigorously defending Mr. Smith is putting the blame on middle managers.
Actually, I am not defending Smith. I am asking what about the layer in between facility staff and CO? Most JJ facilities have a Supt, Director of Residential Ops and a Asst Dep in their chain. Then you'd have the Dep and the Commissioner.
Since I am not from Texas, I asked why not hold those people responsible too. How can one person, a Dep, be the problem. What about his direct reports. Our Dep has so much that he's responsible for in the agency that we couldn't have blamed him alone for poor working conditions in our facilities. If we would've let the Supts, Dir of Res Ops and Asst Dep off the hook, things would've have never improved. Those people are responsible for translating CO mandates to the staff and many times the message gets purposely twisted. Those people are also usually transferred from facility to facility (sometimes spreading the cancer).
My last point was about out of state travel. Our Deps are in so many meetings in CO and all over the state that they have to cancel out of state trips. It seems alittle funny to me that a JJ agency with so much national and legislative attention would allow an exec to be out of sight so much. I questioned the validity of the statement because I don't recall reading anything about that before.
Mr. Smith must be reading this. He finally surfaced with an e-mail to employees thanking them for their efforts in the Gustav evacuation.
Who is going to Crockett to save the sinking ship? Gibbs was barely treading water as the Asst. - She and her "PAs" are sinking fast and trying to take us all with them.
Reap it, you get what you deserve after screwing over the real Administrators that have been at Crockett in the past. No help comin from the hill anymore. Enjoy your pitiful program that will fall soon.
Crockett is the new HOME for Beaumont. Not much left in this district. How much has Beaumont cost the taxpayers of Texas due to hurricanes? 3 years ago a hurricane shut it down for over a year. Every time the wind blows North they bus them out of there. This storm may take Beaumont to Houston and sit it on Whitmire’s porch. Carma…
6:17
you are so full of BS. If the "former administrators" had done there job properly trained people rather than micromanaging the whole campus then Crockett would have been able to survive their loss.
10:08,
You can't keep putting off your incompetency on the "former Administrators". You have to step up and take responsibility, the facility has gone through alot of losers since the Campus was stable, so continue to flounder in your incompetency.
Sorry, 11:31 a.m.
I never floundered anywhere I have worked in TYC least of all Crockett. I have seen the aftermath of "that" administrator at several of the facilities he as been at. I am sure that he is arrogant enough to believe that the turmoil after he leaves a facility is due to his "great" management skills (whoa...just threw up in my mouth a little)but it is more akin the mindless "yes men/women" fighting to become the top "shark." Unfortunately, he is threatened by competency and intelligence and tends to eradicate it wherever he goes....
Seriously folks, the former administrators are gone, have been gone, and for those wishing them back (only 2 or 3 ) please leave as well. Maybe you can leave on your own rather than getting terminated. But then again a person with your low intellect will most likely get terminated as well for covering up some of those past misdeeds that were occurring back then.
12:55 and 6:12,
Ya'll sound like disgruntled ex-employees that the former Crockett Administrator gave the boot to. Keep throwing your pity party and making up lies against people. There were no "misdeeds" or "coverups". The program has fallen because there is no leadership or direction. You may call it "micromanagement" but the truth is, Crockett was better off 2 years ago then it is now or ever will be. Just look at some of the people making decisions now, what a joke.
Whether you loved 'em or hated 'em, they have moved on and it is high time the rest of us to put the past in the past and move on. Old Salty
I would agree but the clerical staff who keeps defending them (him) just cant leave this alone, I wonder who this could be?
Wrong again 10:34, why would you think I am a clerical staff? I guess you think I am JH? You must be one of the genius Program Specialists that has sunk Crockett to an all time low. Maybe the Al Price crew will finish us off before they leave.
You do not have to worry about the Al Price crew, it's the Crockett Boys on roofs acting a fool. If you would spend some of your old time logic you profess to have learned form the vanquished administrators you so love maybe these Crockett youth would behave. But of course that might require work and not threats of throwing the kids from the roof tops.
Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a supporter of DF, but let's be fair. Despite popular legend, he did not tell anyone to throw the kid off the roof. I was standing right behind him when that comment was made by the person who was standing next to him. The person who made the comment was a notorious wise-cracker, and DF's response was to tell him not to say anything like that because one of those &#$@'s was liable to take him seriously and do it. Old Salty
Old Salty, I'm just trying to make a point to the bonehead who keeps defending a person/persons who will never darken the doorsteps of TYC ever again. It sounds like some bizarre love fest straight out of a romance novel.
The point is, if the old administrators did their job at Crockett the staff would have worked together rather than taking sides which occurred for over a year.
This was not a good place to work and we spent all of our time making sure we did not step on the wrong toes. Lets move forward and quit worrying about past Administrators and look forward to the next one.
Thanks for making my point 3:44, you must have been on the wrong side, the one with the incompetent folks that sat on their butts and complained and never did their job. Damn, shame they missed you. But the next capable Administrator that comes to Crockett, if we ever get one, maybe the one that sees just how worthless you really are. Old Salty, I agree, and thanks for speaking the truth which is rarely done on this site, especially when talking about Crockett and the past Administration. I stand by my original point, we need someone to make this Campus safe and run like it did in 2006. "Like em or hate em", Crockett was safe. Yes, I know you will now respond that you do your job, and past Administration intimidated the youth and/or staff. Save it, I have heard all the lies and have been shown no evidence.
Evidence, can you say their unemployed!!
Can you say wrongful termination and big lawsuit?
Your hilarious, seems like everyone on this blog believes in these "Big-lawsuits".
Point being, there not coming back, go to work on your next romance novel, and this time have Fabio as the cover boy of the book, it might sale better than this last version you've been trying to pitch to everyone.
I will. You can continue jerking off the State and then robbing them before you leave. I never said anything about "them coming back". Just that we needed more like them to get rid of people like you for being so pathetic. My sources tell me that they wouldn't come back if given the chance. But there are others that are as good as them, and we need them to make this campus safe again.
Fabio, do you and your "Sources" have secret de-coder rings and shoe phones?
No, we have the truth, but by your response, you have proven that you were born and raised in Crockett.
Hey 10:15, only one of them is unemployed (retired) the other is still working hard for a living everyday, unlike you, and he has more integrity in his pinky toe than you have in your entire body.
wasn't born there but worked there under their regime, so I can honestly say it did not work. Can you explain to me why he wanted women to tuck in their shirts, I guess he wanted all of us to LOOK professional.
Yes I'm still employed, and when I retire it will be on my terms, unlike others.
I haven't seen any butts in Crockett worth looking at, so stop flattering yourself. It was a safety issue, and if you knew anything about operating a secure safe environment you would understand. By your comment, I guess that you are no longer with TYC. Good, we don't need people like you. Maybe the "regime" didn't work for you because like was said previously, you probably didn't work. Where ever you are now, I doubt that you work now. You sound like one of those constant complainers that think they shouldn't have to lift a finger to get a state paycheck.
To those of you who would either demonize or idolize past administrations at Crockett and elsewhere, get over yourselves. You sure are making a lot of assumptions about each other.
Crockett will reap what they have sown. Whitmire will shut it down, and all ya'll have now as Administrators are yes men and yes women. The past Administrators that were unjustly forced out would have at least stood up to the jerks in CO. Too bad, it was a great school at one time, good luck finding jobs in the awful economy of East Texas.
Stand up? Freeman threw Nicholson under the bus. So much for loyalty!
They maintained control through micromanagement and intimidation. The folks in Crockett were reaping what they sowed. I'm glad that ole Mike Davis spent some time down there to turn things around. Despite a lack of experience on the part of administrators, things are running fairly smoothly down there, thanks to him and a few others. Those who want to criticise Crockett need to visit some of the other facilities around TYC.
Crockett was safe under Freeman? Why then, did workman's comp claims go through the roof under his administration? Before him, Crockett regularly had the lowest WC claims and lost time injuries in the agency.
Under him, staff who used de-escalation skills instead of unnecessary restraints were labeled as cowards. One JCO VI, (now deceased) who consistently ran the most orderly dorm on campus was publicly ridiculed and denounced as a coward by Freeman because he very rarely relied on physical restraint to control youths.
OMG. Are you not aware of the talks in Austin about the Crockett campus. Let the past be the past. Now is the time that you have to come together. Don't give them additional ammo to strengthen the argument that Crockett should close. I was forced out of TYC but I still know quite a few employees. There are some good people at Crockett who want to do the right thing. Closing the campus would devastate the county.
The campus was unsafe when Freeman went to Crockett. It took years to get it under control. Keep foolin yourself that things are fine at Crockett. Maybe its not as bad as other schools, but ya'll are slowly going down hill. Whitmire will put the final nail in the coffin. Mike Davis helped push it down the hill. The only staff that felt like they were intimated and micromanaged were the ones that didn't do their jobs. It is called accountability and the ones that failed to follow policy are the same ones screaming intimidation and micromanagement. Once Crockett is closed and you have to go to work for Wal Mart or one of the convenience stores, you will probably holler intimidation and micromanagement there. People who don't work and fail to follow rules in TYC will have a difficult time on any job. That is if anyone will hire you.
Beware, Crockett trolls here! whine moan, whine moan, bitch bitch bitch!!!!
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