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East Jordan School District names superintendent finalists

2 guys same degrees same place both zoobies, why can't we go out of state and try something new.

We don't need to~ We have great local talent right here...

Blessings on both of these guys

Going out of State is like trying to recruit Kobe to leave the Lakers and come to Utah.

These two guys sound like excellent candidates for the job of standing up and making hard choices. The question is are they approachable for all those parents who want to talk to them personally (something very wanted by the pro split crowd)?

Yeah let's bring in some of those great California supers. They have done wonders there!

When are people going to realize that Utah is producing the best and brightest. People come recruiting here. We don't go recruiting there.

The new School Board would be wise to pick Dr. Martin Bates. He is a first rate educator and lawyer. Granite District is one of the best run Districts in the nation. Dr. Bates is a big reason why Granite District has been so successful.
The mess created by this District split could be fixed under Dr. Bates leadership. We need to get him in and get this new District off in the right direction.
Hiring someone of his caliber would go along way in fixing the huge mistakes and political deals that Cullimore, Dolan, Curtis, and Walker have heaped upon the people of South Valley.
I'm in the process of moving my kids to Churchill and Olympus High. If Bates is hired I will leave them at Brighton and Butler.

Those of you who are local born and raised do not see the need to change. You are set in your ways and know no other way but the Utah way. Yes Granite is a good district..For Utah. i thought we wanted a superior district, that is not going to happen with BYU grads.

Local guys are the best. Keep our jobs in state. We don't need some Californian tree hugging liberal getting into our system. These guys are not as good as a Utah Man but their better than out of state sweater wearing, bearded commie types!!!

Either of these two men will make great superintendents. I have had the chance to work with both and either one is very capable and up to the challenge that will be theirs. I wish them luck going into the future. The individual that will be selected will need to be a very strong consenses builder and I see that skill with both men.

Were these two separated at birth and then reunited during their Ph.D. programs at the Zoo? Any chance we could get a different perspective in public education than sups who were both educated at a private institution?

I know Martin Bates because I have been his neighbor for more than 10 years. I can tell you that he is an amazing man. His father worked for the State Office of Education before he died of cancer a few years ago, and his father was also incredible. (When Sterling Scholars are awarded, another award is given for community service. This award is named after Martin's father, Douglas H. Bates.) There was an article about an orphanage his mother set up in Russia earlier this year. For more info you can goggle: Eva Bates Russia.

As part of my job I travel and observe classrooms and schools throughout the U.S. I'm from Utah, and work there often. Utah provides (in terms of current practice) a top notch education. What is lacking in terms of financial support is helped through best practices

I don't know Martin Bates but I knew his father. Martin comes from an excellent heritage and seems to very well qualified. I do know David Doty. He is a person of impeccable integrity. He has had professional experience and has lived outside of Utah for several years for those of you who care. He has a national perspective of issues confronting the unique aspects of Utah education - for example too many kids, not enough money from the legislatures (federal, state and local). He has practiced law and advised school districts; he has served as a compliance officer in a large Utah school district; he has been a significant contributor to national conferences on education and the law. I don't know how the panel is going to choose between these two very qualified individuals. As to those who object to the BYU education, please do a little research and find out what the credentials are for the programs from which they graduated. These are excellent law and education administration programs, particularly when these candidates graduated. This isn't a decision about whose alma mater is best; it is a decision about how to help all kids learn.

And again same degrees same school. Why can't we raise the bar. Do you people want the same old same old? Lets try breaking out of the utah standards.

As a teacher who will be a part of the new district, I would welcome anyone who has experience outside of Utah. Moving from California, I know first-hand that the teacher credentialing system there is much more rigorous than here. And, as far as implementing best practices using CURRENT research, Utah is far behind. So, while these men have impecable credetials, it's really about who is willing to go the extra mile and look outside their own backyard for what's best for the students and their families.

This is an interesting batch of comments. Some are worried that the candidates are from in-state, some are worried they are from BYU, but to me the real focus should be on you, the east side parents. As an employee of the district I would have never guessed you would divide my employer in two. And who said that you had the knowledge and insight to make such a serious decision. You, the east side parents have really frightened us, the east side employees. Now we are about to make a major decision and you are worried that he is from in state, BYU, and just another Mormon. The real vote that should take place is can we as employees of the east side trust your decisions that have so seriously impacted our lives and the lives of our families. We loved the Jordan School District, we love our positions at whatever east side school we were at and we know change will happen when you, the east side parents work with us in school community councils, PTSA, or any other school functions. We will be fine with either of these gentlemen, we want to be fine with you too.