School Superintendent Candidates Pull No Punches

School Superintendent Candidates Pull No Punches

By Karen Murphy TALLAHASSEE – Candidates for Leon County School Superintendent pulled no punches Tuesday during the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA) candidate forum. Candidates Rocky Hanna, Woody Hildebrandt, Patricia Ann Sunday, and Forrest Van Camp squared off against incumbent superintendent Jackie Pons at the Capital City Country Club with Tallahassee Reports editor […]

Rocky Hanna Wins NEBA Debate, Superintendent Jackie Pons Second

Rocky Hanna Wins NEBA Debate, Superintendent Jackie Pons Second

In a forum for candidates running for Superintendent of Leon County Schools, held by the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA), former Leon High School principal Rocky Hanna finished first in the straw poll. Hanna was followed by Superintendent Jackie Pons and former Leon County school board member Forrest Van Camp. Over 120 people […]

Forrest Van Camp Jumps into Superintendent Race

Forrest Van Camp Jumps into Superintendent Race

Former Leon County School Board member and long-time school administrator Forrest Van Camp, told Tallahassee Reports he will file to run for Superintendent of Leon Schools. In an exclusive interview, Van Camp told TR why he is running and addressed each of his opponents. Van Camp said: I have decided to come out of retirement […]

Leon County Schools Responds to Federal Government Directive on Transgender Issues

Leon County Schools Responds to Federal Government Directive on Transgender Issues

On Monday, Kathleen L. Rodgers,  the Divisional Director Intervention, Equity and Support Services for Leon County Schools, sent an email to all principals and School Board leadership addressing the directive from the Federal government that summarizes a school’s Title IX obligations regarding transgender students. This was first reported on the Morning Show with Preston Scott, WFLA 100.7. […]

ROUND 1: Pons and Maddox Spar at Local Forum

ROUND 1: Pons and Maddox Spar at Local Forum

On Monday the local Democratic Party held a forum at City Hall for local candidates. At the forum current Superintendent Jackie Pons and candidate and current City Comissioner Scott Maddox stole the show with pointed jabs at each other. Candidate Rocky Hanna was not allowed to participate because he is running as an independent. Pons […]

Since Recession, Leon Teacher Salaries Lose Ground to State Average, But More Teachers Were Retained

Since Recession, Leon Teacher Salaries Lose Ground to State Average, But More Teachers Were Retained

Since the Great Recession, Florida Department of Education data shows that K-12 Leon County teacher salaries have lost ground to average salaries state-wide. However, during the same period, Leon County was able to retain teachers at a higher rate when compared to state of Florida trends. The graph below shows the annual comparison of the […]

Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat Coverage of School Board and Jackie Pons Raises Questions of Bias

Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat Coverage of School Board and Jackie Pons Raises Questions of Bias

Over the last year, multiple sources have contacted Tallahassee Reports about the potential bias of Tallahassee Democrat reporter Jeff Burlew’s  reporting on the Leon County School Board and Superintendent Jackie Pons. Previoulsy, the complaints have been about the number of stories, 40-50, dedicated to the coverage of the investigations into the awarding of construction contracts […]

What Does Middle School Enrollment Tell Us About A New High School?

What Does Middle School Enrollment Tell Us About A New High School?

Tallahassee Reports recently published an analysis of Leon County High School enrollment numbers and growth rates over the last five-years. It was the first analysis published by a local media outlet aimed at providing information about the need and location of a new high school. The report can be found here. Current Superintendent Jackie Pons […]

Leon County School Board Member Seeks Ethics Commission Opinion

Leon County School Board Member Seeks Ethics Commission Opinion

Tallahassee Reports has learned that Leon County School Board member, Alva Striplin, is seeking an opinion from the Florida Commission on Ethics. Ms. Striplin, who retained Ron Meyer, of Meyer, Brooks, Demma and Blohm, P.A., asked the Florida Commission on Ethics if it was a violation of state ethics laws for a school board member […]