In his last full year in office (2007-08), School Superintendent Jim Paul had 20 ‘A’ schools. Of his 34 elementary schools, 19 were ‘A’ or ‘B’ schools – 56 percent. Four of…
Tag: Malcolm Thomas
Malcolm Thomas in 2008: ‘Let’s put the pressure at the top’
In May 2009, Navy Point Elementary led the district in gains for fourth-grade writing and third-grade math and reading. It was an ‘A’ school. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told the daily newspaper, “They…
School district changes lockdown notification policy
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas yesterday told WKRG that he has changed the school district’s notification policy regarding lockdowns. “We’ll let parents know we have an event outside of our campus,”…
Parents cry out for better communication in wake of school lockdowns
Parents took to Facebook to express their frustration with the lack of communication from School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and the school district regarding the school lockdowns that led to three arrests on…
The tale of two Escambia schools, two guns
On Tuesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Ransom Middle School student for allegedly bringing a loaded gun to school. The student faces charges of possession of a concealed weapon, brandishing…
Superintendent gets final say over ‘insubordinate’ black coach
In September 2014, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas fired Escambia High School head football coach Willie Spears despite the pleas and requests of his school board and an overflow crowd of Escambia High students,…
WEAR report on Escambia County School District tragedy leads to more questions
WEAR TV reporter David Gonzalez interviewed Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and Martha Hanna, his health services coordinator, regarding the death of Audi Anderson, a four-year-old Pre-K student at Sherwood Elementary. According to the…
Records show every public school in Escambia County does not have a nurse
I spoke with former School Board member Jeff Bergosh. He said the District uses a private company, Pediatric Services of America, that provides one health technician for every school, some of which…
Superintendent speaks to media about student’s death (update)
In an interview with the News Journal, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas finally commented on the death of Sherwood Elementary pre-K student, Audi Anderson, five days after the 4-year-old was pronounced dead in a…
Bergosh calls for Feds to investigate Escambia County School District administration
Calling the charges filed on Monday against the owner of Newpoint Education Partners, Marcus May, and one of May’s vendors the “tip of the iceberg,†County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh has asked for…
Achieve Escambia: ask teachers what works
In my Outtakes column for Aug. 4, I recommend that Achieve Escambia survey the teachers of the Escambia County School District to find out what is working and what isn’t in the…
Race to the Top funds failed to build system for academic excellence
Six years ago, Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and his district leadership team committed to create a new system to foster academic excellence. They even got the federal government to fund the creation…
Rousing speeches not the answer for Escambia County School District
Yesterday, School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas encouraged his administrators, principals and teachers to aim higher. Using what he read from the book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,†he asked them to develop…
Thomas and his goals
When he was first elected school superintendent in 2008, Malcolm Thomas created a page on the district’s website that listed his six “Focused Curriculum Goals.” In his seven years in office, he…
Education Crisis: Escambia County has some of the worst middle and high schools in Florida
On Friday, we reported that over 40 percent of Escambia County School District’s public elementary schools are on the state’s Bottom 300 list. Three of Escambia County’s nine non-charter, middle schools are…
A Cry for Independent Analysis: Oakcrest Elementary falls from A to F in six years
One criticism of Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has been that he and his leadership at the district level haven’t been able to maintain success at the district’s most challenging schools. Oakcrest Elementary is…
Spears to announce run for School Superintendent
Last week, Willie Spears said on “Pensacola Speaks” that he was considering moving back to Escambia County to make a run for political office. It appears he will do it. Panama City…
Spears considering run for Escambia School Superintendent
Two-term Escambia Superintendent of Schools Malcolm Thomas may have thought he had an easy path to becoming the district’s first three-term superintendent. Maybe not. Willie Spears has told Inweekly that he is…
Escambia Superintendent testifies on school construction bill
Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas testified yesterday before the House Appropriations Committee on HB 837 that would change how public school districts use taxpayer money to fund construction projects, while making it…
Inside hazing
In today’s daily newspaper, School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas described the incident involving West Florida High football players on a school bus as hazing. The father of one of the victims, a JV…