Texas Ed Spectator

For those who read “Rudolf and the road not taken” post, it looks like the reindeer were in McKinney High School. Working backwards, here are the “apologies” from the reindeer about not letting Rudolph join any reindeer games.

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | McKinney News:

“I don’t have a senior year,” Elizabeth said. “I might have made some bad decisions like the picture and staying in the group at homecoming, but it’s taught me a lot about how life is. I’ve learned a lot from it.”

Here are reindeer parents explaining that is was just a game and after all, they’re just teenage reindeer:

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | McKinney News:

The cheerleaders admit they’ve messed up, but they deny they are mean people. Some of them are honor students. Others volunteered at shelters after Hurricane Katrina.”I’ve done charity work with these girls,” the mother of another cheerleader said. “I’ve stayed up all night seeing them work at shelters.”

Here’s the “well it shouldn’t have happened but now it’s affecting all of Santa’s operations so could we please do something about it so that Santa in’t embarrassed?”

Star Community Newspapers:

Cheryl True, the mother of a MNHS junior, also said the district’s investigation is still causing problems for the school.

“Seniors at McKinney North have had to delay college applications because they are waiting on letters of recommendation from administrators who weren’t available,” True said. “Students at North have been made to feel embarrassed and ashamed in college interviews for something they had nothing to do with and that you have complete control over. Students, staff and parents have to continue to deal with gossip and ridicule.”

True blamed the district for not providing enough information to the public on the MNHS situation and not sharing more of the blame.

“To say you’re focusing your attention of educating students is an insult,” True said. “You’ve been focusing your attention on protecting yourselves. That’s not the kind of leadership we need in McKinney.”

Here’s the reindeer school directors blaming the organizer of the reindeer games.

McKinney ISD Issues Response To Cheerleader Sponsor – Education:

Fact: Interestingly, Ms. Ward sent a thank you card to her principal on September 26, just two days before her resignation as cheerleading sponsor, praising her for her leadership. The card included statements such as: “I want you to know that I admire the way you’re handling things and taking care of what needs to be done. You are so strong, you always display such a professional demeanor, and somehow you manage to smile all the way through it! I look up to you in so many ways! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.” Eight days later, Ms. Ward stated to the Dallas Morning News that her attempts to discipline were thwarted due to the fact that the principal’s daughter was on the squad. It is important to note, McKinney North High School Principal Linda Theret’s daughter earned a spot on the squad through an impartial tryout process and Ms. Theret has not appealed any of the consequences that her daughter has received. Ms. Ward is attempting to capitalize on the fact that Ms. Theret’s daughter is on the squad by omitting the relevant facts on this issue when speaking to the press.

And here’s someone stating what no one wants to admit:

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | McKinney News:

Mr. Jones said Saturday that he wishes the families well, saying the kids’ behavior didn’t shock him as much as it appears to have shocked the media.”I really wasn’t faulting the kids’ behavior so much as trying to determine whether the adults did their jobs,” he said.

The press’s reaction has been a cross between “Shocking! Just shocking! Our society would never condone such behavior” and “see how the mighty have fallen” both of which ignores the fact that you could find this going on in any school in the country.

That just leaves the question of where’s Rudolph? The media hasn’t seemed to be able to find a specific person who was excluded from the reindeer games. Somehow, the cheerleading coach, Michaela Ward just doesn’t fit the bill. And maybe that’s the most revealing aspect to this whole story. Nobody wants to come forward and admit that they have been excluded from the reindeer games or that they had been mistreated at the hands of the popular reindeer. Why? Because while these specific reindeer may be reassigned or graduate, the reindeer game remains and no one wants to suggest that their might be something wrong with the game itself if there is still a chance for them to join it.
In real life, there is no Rudolph that can come in, save the day, and redeem the other reindeer because that only happens in fairy tales.

This is from last October:

McKinney ISD Issues Response To Cheerleader Sponsor – Sports:

The McKinney ISD Board of Trustees, administration, campus administration, and staff will continue to deal with student discipline in a consistent manner in an effort to create a safe and positive learning environment. The District and campus have met with parents of the McKinney North High School cheerleaders and developed a transition plan and expectations for how the program will operate in the future.

At the time it looked like everything was going to be pinned on Ward. Seems like they have since decided to move up higher the food chain.

First, you’ve got to read this:

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News:

Cheerleading mess a team effort Give us some willful teens; give us some enabling adults – what do we got? A mess.

And who’s reaction do they go for? The students and parents.

Star Community Newspapers:

Parents and students in McKinney Independent School District had mixed reactions about the recent decision to put McKinney North High School Principal Linda Theret and Assistant Principal Richard Brunner on paid administrative leave with the possibility of termination.

Why didn’t they ask the teachers who work there?