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Should Jon Fernandez be retained as superintendent of Guam DOE? (Poll Closed)

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Total Votes: 638
42 Comments

  • Lianae - 9 years ago

    I dont believe he should continue to be the superintendent. Its great how he "listens" to the students but the students need to know their place. Its so easy for every student to graduate now because there is almost no more learning. Every one just wants to hop on to social media just to speak with him since its what everyone else is doing. Seems ling is much about actual learning.ke nothi

  • Lianae - 9 years ago

    I dont believe he should continue to be the superintendent. Its great how he "listens" to the students but the students need to know their place. Its so easy for every student to graduate now because there is almost no more learning. Every one just wants to hop on to social media just to speak with him since its what everyone else is doing. Seems ling is much about actual learning.ke nothi

  • FesPac First, Studends Second - 9 years ago

    It's still a bad idea. And you are missing the point again. The superintendent suggested it to the school board. He thinks it is a good idea to shorten the school year? This is not in the best interest of out kids!!!

  • FestPac can be educational - 9 years ago

    Clearly, the board has the authority over the calendar, not the superintendent. AND the law changed, requiring 180 days or its equivalent. Read up on your Guam law. Then form an opinion.

  • FesPac First, Education Second - 9 years ago

    Janna (sorry misspelled your name.)

    Besides, the law states the educational requirement in the number of days, not hours.

  • FesPac First, Education Second - 9 years ago

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjhapI5C4aU

    Jana, according to this article, it was GDOE that presented the revised schedule to the school board, not the other way around.

    And I couldn't find the report for SY 14-15.

  • Janna - 9 years ago

    You might want to replace the board or the people who put those members there, then. That was beyond the superintendents control, and the law still stands...that's why there is a new schedule to allow for the same amount of instructional time. Fest Pac is a collaborative government event...You might want to review some of the archived news articles. It's all there.

  • FesPac First, Education Second - 9 years ago

    I too am sorry for the hate I hold inside me. I should just sit here as our students perform poorly in the SAT testing. Don't graduate from High School. Don't graduate from our university or college because they are not prepared. I shouldn't be alarmed that most of our schools don't have working fire alarms. Ignore the law that requires our students to attend 180 days of instruction. What's wrong with me? I should also vote in the same senators that almost have us bankrupted!

  • anonymous - 9 years ago

    I enjoy him being a public school attendant. who wouldn't? he's helpful all the time and ALWAYS keeps us updated.

  • Anonymous - 9 years ago

    I'm sorry for all the hate I hold inside of me , I like the old days when that guy in the wheelchair was the Superintendent or when Mrs.underwood was in control because it was chaotic then and I thrive in chaos , now that there is a little bit of progress happening I cannot cope with the change , the change in a more positive direction scares me and my natural reaction is to hate it and all it has accomplished . I'm a sad person , disgruntled and never satisfied , I have an insatiable appetite for despair and dysfunction and thus I dwell in anonymity , hence my name.
    I'm will forever be a black cloud hovering over positivity and rain delusional opinions unto everyone and everything that shines hope and progress. Forgive me for I cannot control myself , it's how I was raised .

  • Anonymous - 9 years ago

    Is your definition of "cleaning house" moving the "dirty laundry" from one department to another or one school to another because of familial or gachong connections? Come on, you sound like someone from his team!!

  • @ymko_thya - 9 years ago

    Mr.Fernandez has made a huge impact in the last few years & I don't think anyone can accomplish what he's done. He's helped voice out concerns straight from every student. He's so passionate in all that he does and ensures better for our future of education. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't extend his job as a role model for our kids future education. He deserves every right to extend his role!!!

  • Janna - 9 years ago

    For those who want to know what's been done by the GDOE team in the last few years, may read the annual reports:

    SY12-13
    https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Z2RvZS5uZXR8Z2RvZXxneDo2ODRiOGVkYWViYjU1Zjdi

    SY13-14
    https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Z2RvZS5uZXR8Z2RvZXxneDo2Mzg2YmRhY2E5NWQ1MWZl

    Also, fact GDOE has been under federal high risk status for many years...this requires the Government to pay 4 million dollars annually to a receivership. While we are not completely in the clear, earlier this year USDOE acknowledged how much better GDOE is handling their finances under the leadership of the current superintendent- putting GDOE much closer to getting off high risk. This means that 4 million dollars can be put into the classrooms.
    Links: http://archive.guampdn.com/article/20150216/OPINION01/302160010/Resolve-Guam-DOE-needs-finish-work-get-rid-high-risk-status

    http://youtu.be/H5QtwcQL8TQ

    Jon Fernandez is not an actor, he is a leader with a clear and distinct mission: to help a once troubled agency, start focusing on the students. When he took the helm, GDOE had problem after problem after problem...that were not even classroom related- Building issues, financial management, & administrative issues. Those all needed to be addressed first. His focus is and always has been the children, but in order to do that he had to first clean house. Change doesn't happen overnight.

    If they choose not to renew his contract it would be wise to do so now, so that they can find another qualified candidate before the school year is up...that way the school children of Guam won't suffer through another series of interim superintendents.

  • Mcklyde from JFK - 9 years ago

    Mr. Fernandez should bw fired. We want a new superintendent

  • Education First - 9 years ago

    I've named several things that have not changed, can anyone who supports him name one thing that has improved using facts instead of just saying he listens to the students.

  • Anonymous - 9 years ago

    Mr. Fernandez is all about show. He doesn't really care about kids, teachers, and parents. If he did, he would've pushed for the school year and day to not be affected by next year's Fest Pac. How could you allow schoolchildren to wait at bus stops before 6 am? You wonder why test scores are so low? Look into research about students starting the school day too early. It's not beneficial to them. What has he done for the teachers? Why hasn't he pushed for the teacher's contract to be renewed? Why does he keep moving around ineffective principals from one school to another? He wants his contract to be approved early? Maybe he wants it done before people really see him for what he is: a good actor!

  • Hannah Mendiola - 9 years ago

    Mr. Fernandez is the only Superintendent that I have ever seen actually attempt to reach students on their level. He has acquired social media sites to persobally hear us out. If anybody should be questioned about retaining their positions, look towards administrations. They do NOT hear students out about improvements. THEY do the bare minimum to cover their reputations. They are NOT there for the good of the students but for the betterment of themselves. They have no initiative WHATSOEVER. Yes, Mr. Fernandez has some improvements to be made, but the difference with him is that he is ABOUT THE STUDENTS. I support Mr. Fernandez 100%.

  • Southern Student - 9 years ago

    The superintendent is one if the best we can possibly have. He's done so much to try to help all the schools yet no one shows appreciation. He's come so far and that I acknowledge alot, he inspires me to be quiet honest and makes me want to attend school everyday. He listen to the students weather its bad or good, that I love the most !!!!! He finds ways to connect with us and thats pretty smart because not all adults would think of that. Latley no one wants to listen to the students, but he thinks students should be heard and that I love !!!! I'm on your side Mr. fernandez 100℅ please keep him as our superintendent he's the best of the best !!!!

  • Teacher - 9 years ago

    Mimi -- DOE no longer certifies teachers. That was give to the Educator Certification Commission before he came on board. They set the certification requirements. DOE just tries to keep in compliance with the law requiring certified teachers. UOG requires its graduates to pass the Praxis before graduating with education degree. Just letting you know the facts regarding certification. I'm sure DOE doesn't want to have to deal with all the teacher vacancies every year.

  • Mimi C. - 9 years ago

    where do I begin with the Superintendent. He mentioned he was going to make certain that all teachers are highly qualified and certified. Well that didn't happen. What DOE really needs to focus on is revisiting the teaching certification. Those who have earned a bachelors in education degree doesn't seem to be enough. Instead DOE wants to test teachers on a computer based test which does not prove their competency in the classroom. What good is it for teachers who earn a degree by our local university and trained by our islands professors. Does that mean the University and Professors have failed these teachers who have not passed the certification test? DOE wants to be up to par with U.S. Standards include U.S. teachers pay as well and provide a better solution in getting teachers certified. Enough said!

  • Islander 2 - 9 years ago

    Ok So the consensus is Mr.fernandez is going a good job but there's still a lot to be improved on in our public schools , some are complaining their butts off but does anyone remember Mrs.underwood ? She was the Worst DOE Superintendent I can remember ! Wait ! no there was another before her that was also really bad , compared to those two ding dongs Mr.Fernandez is a rock star ! Give him credit for he deserves it .
    Oh by the way one of the former ding dongs has been elected to Senator ! OOG ! p.s. No pay raise please ! Guam can't afford it !

  • Tiyan Senior - 9 years ago

    A lot of people are saying how Mr.Fernandez has been listening to the students more than the administration , but if you really think about it , shouldn't he ? Like one of our admin says all the time , The adults in the school are already done and school is for the students. So why should Mr.Fernandez prioritize administration and teacher needs over student needs? He understands that a student will be more likely to attend school and try their best, if their legitimate needs are met. For example , if you ask students what they would want they would say things like : maintained restrooms and more use of electronics in the classroom (to keep up with the centuries). Also , yes he has never been in a classroom , but he really is trying his hardest. Lastly, the fact that he makes an effort to communicate with his students and listen to their concerns shows that he really does care about the problems in the schools and not just what "the adults" in the schools believes are problems.

  • Geckoscare - 9 years ago

    I don't think he gets enough credit. He did so much for students! I'm not gonna talk down on him because he made a big impact on the students. Parents are only going their input because they ain't seeing it getting done the way the students due

  • Anonymous13 and a half - 9 years ago

    He has a law degree and a public policy degree and experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. He was born and raised on Guam and made it to Harvard, representing our island. While he may not have taught or been a principal, he knows how to work with our elected officials to get things done. Jump on in to help our students. Don't just criticize them and render them failures. You sound like you might be a disgruntled GDOE employee or an administrator who might not like the shift in focus to students rather than maintaining the hierarchies of the past where superintendents sat in the office amassing power and ignoring kids and parents.

  • Anonymous 13 - 9 years ago

    Got to give him credit, he uses his skills as a lawyer (not educator) to influence the public with emotion (ignoring the facts) very effectively. Too bad our kids won't be able to get jobs after high school using his popularity.

  • Selene Castro - 9 years ago

    throughout all my years ive been attending school never once did i know who the superintendant was or how the superintendant looked ! Mr.Fernandez you truely are a great superintendant , you put all your hard work & effort FOR US STUDENTS & i really admire that i've never once seen a superintendant work as hard as you ! Thank You so much for doing whats best for us students & making it a bigger & brighter future for us !

  • Islander2018 - 9 years ago

    You guys cant be blaming Mr.Fernandez for the SAT scores. The people that give those results are the students. Mr.Fernandez cares more about the students than any other admin I have ever met. I never even knew what a superintendent was until he came along. Yes, he hasn't fixed EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM, but he does way more more than fix. He gives us HOPE. Us students never had that before. He is trying! You guys are so unappreciative. You think getting things through with the government is easy? You think money just falls from the skies?
    YES he did get offered a pay raise. BUT DID HE TAKE IT?

    no

    So, stop complaining and let him do him.

  • Shark0823 - 9 years ago

    Jon Fernandez is truly an innovative and inspirational superintendent who connects with and reaches out to the parents and students to create a better future for the students in all GDOE schools. Mr. Fernandez seeks a better outcome for the students in public schools and I believe that he is trying his best. In all the years he has been the superintendent for public schools, I have seen incredible improvements in schools. Sure there are some downfalls and problems that needs to be resolved but, Jon Fernandez seeks to fix these problems and I can see that happening. /Education First/ addresses these problems but, said person, surely has not noticed that he is working toward fixing all of that. In the end, this is all for a better and brighter future for the students. He may not be able to control the students with their graduation rates, for their fights, or any other excuse for you to speak of him ill but that is all on the students' part. /Education First/ says SSHS looks like a war zone. I am aware that the expression is exaggerated and I can't help but to truly agree on the status of the infrastructure but if these rumors about getting our school fixed in the future is true, then I really do not mind. I know that I am getting a vastly good education from the teachers in SSHS and with these innovations thanks to Mr. Fernandez, the way our school looks does not really matter to me. To note, Mr. Fernandez is also vastly involved in school related events that don't even occur inside school. I believe he truly deserved that pay raise but he humbly declined it because he said that there was a better place to put that money. This is all for us, students, and we should stop hating on Mr. Fernandez when he is doing so much good. I vastly appreciate all he has done and even though I may not agree with some of them, I know that this is for the best of the students.
    - Junior from SSHS

  • student pov - 9 years ago

    As a student, there was never a time where i knew who the superintendent was. This is the first time that as a student, if i voice out my concerns about my school i know i will be heard. Twitter doesnt work? It does work because thats where most student go to voice their concerns because most of their administration staff will never listen to the concerns that they have. Low test scores are not the superintendent's fault. Its always been with how a teacher teaches their material and how a student wants to take that information in. There are some things that still need improvement but these things take time and everyone, especially us students see the progress that are happening now. We know what is happening around us because the superintendent himself keeps us updated. Mr. Fernandez please keep up the amazing work and all of the students are thankful to have you as our superintendent.

  • Anonymous - 9 years ago

    Mr. Fernandez doesn't have control over everything. With students and their SAT scores or the amount of fights that take place in schools does not under any circumstance fall under the Superintendents job. Those things are within the students, its inevitable. He doesn't only listen to the students, he hears us out. There's a difference. Yes, Mr. Fernandez falls to twitter, social media is something's kids are on nowadays. How many leaders do you think made accounts to interact with the students on a professional level? A LOT. Now don't get me wrong, there is still a lot to improve, but give Mr. Fernandez more time, he's slowly building a great foundation towards the future of education. He encourages students and his work is acknowledged because he has done a great job so far. He isn't asking for a pay raise, that was brought upon him. And when the new came about, he didn't accept it, but to have that money go towards the efforts in the supplies for the schools.

  • Why is everyone anonymous - 9 years ago

    Thirty years of issues and problems. And this guy gets two clean financial audits. Works with Givernor and legislature to secure $100 million to begin fixing school facilities. Begins more focused training for teachers. Begins investing in laptops for all teachers and mobile laptop carts for all schools. Finally fixing an alternative school that merely staged students who were heading to being dropouts. Secured support of the private sector to create a Foundation for Education. Adding solar energy to schools. Moved towards a better college and career readiness assessment. Created a new Tiyan high school and renovated Untalan MS. Much more than needs to be mentioned and much more to come. If people want to go back to the good old days, that's one thing. But with the department moving in a positive direction, who would want to change right now. Give it a few more years. And even better, he declined a pay raise. Whatever happened to the $200k hospital administrator who came in around the same time? But no one complained when it was Verga. Only complaints about a local boy who came back to serve our kids.

  • Anonymous 13 - 9 years ago

    Don't forget the Sat test scores haven't gotten better either.

  • Education First - 9 years ago

    Are their enough books for students to take home to do homework - no. Has the graduation rates of high school seniors improved significantly - no. Do all schools have fire alarms - no. Do SSHS and BMS look like war zones - yes. Is he having meetings with the teachers to hear their concerns - no, only students. Does he pay teachers for training - no. Is there still a lot of fights - yes. Is the food service issue always a problem - yes. Are there enough teachers? Are there enough school aids? Let's wait before we give him too much praise and a big raise.

  • anon15 - 9 years ago

    Honestly what is even trying to do? He doesn't even have experience in the classroom. He doesn't know what you go through as a teacher "Sure Twitter works", but it doesn't. I haven't seen any real results with what he has been doing. What has he even accomplished? Pay raise??? he hasn't done that much to deserve it

  • Anonymous - 9 years ago

    I disagree with what's been said about Mr. Fernandez. I highly doubt those comments came from students. I'm sure if you ask the island student body they all appreciate the work he has done! His work and intentions are for the kids. When it comes down to student input asked by the administrator's it really doesn't matter because what's been said is done. I feel as if they only do that to give us students a sense of hope, but more than likely we end up with disappointment. Mr. Superintendent cares about our input and hears us students out. Our opinions matter. Until we've known of him, our voices weren't heard and now, we as a student body can speak up and make a difference thanks to him. Yes, some students go overboard with some things but for the realistic stuff, he does his best to make it happen. With all the constant change within the last 2 years or so he always made sure that it was okay with the students. & even when it wasn't, he did what was best for us. He has done a great job so far and he is a man of his words. I can't wait so see what he has in store for the future of the students and the Department of Education.

  • mako44 - 9 years ago

    Anonymous - I don't think you know what you are saying or posting! about not getting administrators input!! Administrators reports directly to Deputy Superintendent Erika Cruz, their inputs goes to her and then to Jon! I challenged you to post what input are you talkjng about, be specific and not guessing or assuming! There are administrators that are hiding behind the Black curtain of some Guam Education Board members, they are too coward to stand on tgeir own! Jon Fernandez listens to the students because they are the reason why we have the school system! Some administrators feel threaten that the students are communicating with Jon because they are letting him know ehat is happening in their school and how they feel! From being discipline for not wearing uniform pants and hoodies that are sold by the uniform vendor! I highly recommend that maybe to satisfy your guessing game of what Superintendent Jon is doing at DOE, go and shadow him, I don't think he will have a problem! Hearsay is not permissable in the Court and do not hold weight! Administrators who are barking are thiose who are put on task to do their job for what they are getting paid for!! Guam Education Board members should stay out of "Operational " matters, this is the duties of the Superintendent! In the letter of Jon Fernandez, yhere is nothing in his letter where it says that he wants a pay raise! Anyone can recommend for him to be given a pay raise for the good job he is doing, it is only a recommendation, it is not Jon whi is asking. Read his letter again! Stop the guessing game!

  • Okkodo18 - 9 years ago

    Better food Mr.Superintendent

  • gogo1 - 9 years ago

    Mr. Fernandez has done a lot for the educational aspects on our island. He is one that actually goes out to visit the schools and gets involved with the students. He shows that he cares. He listens. I recommend that he continues his position as Superintendent of Education. He gets involve more that other officials that I know of for example: The board or even the senators.

  • Southern565 - 9 years ago

    Superintendent Jon Fernandez is an amazing person. He's done so much for us students within these years as a superintendent. He is always on top of things and his mindset is all about the kids. Mr. Fernandez is a great man with ambition. He cares about what us students think and hears us out unlike most people the don't care what us students have to think but he makes us feel as if we're important and that we're somebody. He gives students confidence, hope, encouragement, in all they do in order to succeed. Because of him he has open the eyes of young teens and young adults that they can have a bright future. No one can do this job like he can! He's very appreciated! - Student from Southern High.

  • Anonymous too - 9 years ago

    Fernandez has accomplished more in 3 years than any recent Superintendent. From its financial audits to new standards to renovated schools and on and on. He has broken up the fiefdoms that used to exist. Before, teachers and staff used to fear administrators. So maybe that's why some may feel that administrators have less power. He's been accessible to all employees and, wow, he even listens to students! A superintendent who knows who his customers are -- not administrators but students. That's the change we needed. Not more of the same.

  • Anonymous - 9 years ago

    Jon Fernandez has made DOE his personal experiment. I'm not sure why the GEPB even hired an individual who has absolutely NO classroom experience. He does not know what it means to be an educator. Under Jon Fernandez's leadership, he does not even get input from school administrators. He looks to Twitter to see what students want. What is he trying to do??

  • Islander 2 - 9 years ago

    Mr. Fernandez is doing a great job but let's wait a few more years before we give him a pay raise , let's at the minimum wait 2 years .
    gov Guam hired him to do a specific job and with that includes a pay scale that he more than deserved but to give him a pay raise now is a little premature and our public schools still have a lot be improved upon , like renovations , security systems , text books , etc... Let's wait and see the completion of all the things he planned on doing to improve our public school system and all that entails. Gov Calvo so in a rush to give out pay raises before his term ends . "The professional pocket stuffing organization " Calvo ent. LoL!! OMG !

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