07/20/2020
I would like to make this clear. I am using a personal experience here. However, I do not want this to be about me. I want it to be about the process in the information.
Recently I applied for a teaching position at Baugo Community Schools. I learned many things about the process. I passionately believe that Baugo Schools put a higher emphasis on the boys’ varsity coaching position than they did on education.
The coaching position had a committee of 5 people. Two of which had no prior experience in coaching and to my knowledge no prior experience in an interview process. And yet their vote carried as much weight as your athletic director.
Baugo schools applied the same for the teaching position of which I applied. I had a committee for the interview process. The interview was scheduled for an online situation due to the Covid19 virus. There were 6 people invited to my interview. Only 2 bothered to show up. My question is, how can a committee give the superintendent proper information about an interview of a candidate when they didn’t even show up? Either they put a far less emphasis on education, or they had already made up their mind on the candidate of their choice. In either instance how can the people of Baugo school be assured the best candidate was hired to educate the youth in our schools. I will put my credentials up against anyone.
I also blame the school board. The committee to hire a new coach had a member of the school board on the committee. The education position did not. Again, an emphasis on coaching not on learning. I am a coach. I have coached for thirty years in various positions around Elkhart. As you will see on page 2, I coached at Jimtown and even have experience at the college level. I believe it is particularly important to hire the right coach. However, during this virus situation, if the state decides all sports cannot be played at some point, as they did last spring, education will always continue. I believe education should always be the emphasis. Our students deserve better. Currently the school board simply votes on candidates put forward by the superintendent. In my opinion the school board should do a better job of asking questions about, not just the candidate, but those involved in the hiring process even before that process begins.
I grew up on a small farm in Jimtown. I graduated from Jimtown. My sons, father, and both grandparents on my fathers’ side, graduated from Jimtown. I’ve been in and around Baugo schools my entire life. I believe the students of Jimtown deserve the best education which includes the best possible process to hire candidates for teaching. I spent 10 years driving a school bus for Baugo schools and call me biased but I believe I should have been on a higher priority when it came to hiring an education candidate.
I ask for your vote in November for the Baugo Community School board.
Sincerely,
Jay Squibb
Jay Squibb Career Summary
• 15 years spent in a corporate office before transitioning into education
• 5 years teaching middle school social studies at Elkhart Community Schools
• 5 years substitute teaching prior to getting my own classroom
• 10 years school bus driving and currently hold a class B school bus endorsement license
• Licensed to officiate 5 IHSAA sports--basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, and football-I am on a Friday night football crew & I do varsity contests in all sports
• Current 8th grade boys’ basketball coach Pierre Moran Middle School
• Former JV head softball coach Elkhart Central High School
• Former football assistant North Side Middle School
• Former basketball assistant North Side Middle School
• Current Driver Education teacher at Premier Driving Institute
• Former assistant softball coach Ancilla College
• Bachelor’s Degree in history
• Master’s degree in athletic administration
• Former baseball assistant coach Jimtown High School under Mike Stout
Email: [email protected] page: fb.me/SquibbyBCSB2020
I've opened this page so any Baugo Community member can ask me questions. Feel free to ask what I st
