SH, 8/20/05: (Tressie) Harper to teach USM course - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 20, 2005

SH, 8/20/05: (Tressie) Harper to teach USM course

Date: Aug 20, 2005

"After four years as superintendent, Harper left the district in June under a storm of controversy. She came under fire by some parents and school board members for the loss of several veteran teachers in the district and poor communication skills.

School board members voted 3-2 to buy out her contract, which expired in 2007, for $250,000 in an attempt to avoid potential wrongful termination litigation. As superintendent, Harper's salary was roughly $118,000 a year."

Date: Aug 20, 2005

With two appointments in a row out of the public school system, it sounds like Hardy High has been moved from Hattiesburg to the coast.

Date: Aug 20, 2005

I am not surprised that Tressie is on USM payroll, but I am disappointed that Willie would comment.

We all know Willie's hands are tied, but silence would have been the route to take in this situation.

Just as info is Tressie home grown?(USM terminal degree)

Date: Aug 20, 2005

titantic too wrote:

I am disappointed that Willie would comment. We all know Willie's hands are tied

Are you suggesting that strings for this appointment were pulled from somebody outside of CoEP?

Date: Aug 20, 2005

Her Ph.D. is from USM and from the department in which she now teaches. Her department (Educational Leadership and Research) has a slew of USM grads. About half of the faculty in ELR at Hattiesburg and Gulfpark has USM degrees. Isn't there some sort of university policy on that?

Date: Aug 20, 2005

I don't understand. Why is this bad? You have a former superintendent that is going to take a one year visiting position and is going to teach education administration. Does it really mater where she got her degree? The fact that she has the experience to be a superintendent is enough to convince me that she can teach some edu admin classes. I remember people complaining that DT has no teaching experience (as one of her many, many faults), but now you are complaining about...???? Because she left "under a storm of controversy"???? Please, she was not hired to be the new ass provost, she is a visiting professor.

Date: Aug 20, 2005

manova wrote:

I don't understand. Why is this bad? You have a former superintendent that is going to take a one year visiting position and is going to teach education administration. Does it really mater where she got her degree? The fact that she has the experience to be a superintendent is enough to convince me that she can teach some edu admin classes. I remember people complaining that DT has no teaching experience (as one of her many, many faults), but now you are complaining about...???? Because she left "under a storm of controversy"???? Please, she was not hired to be the new ass provost, she is a visiting professor.

Anyone around Hattiesburg knows that Tressie Harper is a clone of Gordon Walker, former HPSD superintendent. She has all of his personality faults and no positives to offset them. One of my children was in school with hers and he is the nicest human being imaginable. I remember when I found out who is mother was (I had encountered her on numerous occasions in dealing with the central office) that I was bumfuzzled that such a nice young person could be the offspring of such an obnoxious adult. She will get along swimmingly with DT and co. As far as being able to teach, there is a good reason why she has spent so many years in administration.

Date: Aug 20, 2005

Curious wrote:

Her Ph.D. is from USM and from the department in which she now teaches. Her department (Educational Leadership and Research) has a slew of USM grads. About half of the faculty in ELR at Hattiesburg and Gulfpark has USM degrees.

Here's a quote from a previous USM College of Science and Technology website item regarding the Polymer Science/Moss Point connection: "This shows how strongly we feel about what you’re doing here at

Date: Aug 20, 2005

Harper Valley PTA wrote:

Curioere's a quote from a previous USM College of Science and Technology website item regarding the Polymer Science/Moss Point connection: "This shows how strongly we feel about what you’re doing here at

“This shows how strongly we feel about what you’re doing here at

Date: Aug 20, 2005

“This shows how strongly we feel about what you’re doing here at

Date: Aug 20, 2005

"This shows how stongly we feel about what you're doing here at Moss Point" as he presented the check to Dr. Tressie Harper, Superintendent of the Moss Point Schools.

(sorry. my copy function didn't work the first three times)

Date: Aug 20, 2005

Gator Eagle wrote:

manova wrote: I don't understand. Why is this bad? You have a former superintendent that is going to take a one year visiting position and is going to teach education administration. Does it really mater where she got her degree? The fact that she has the experience to be a superintendent is enough to convince me that she can teach some edu admin classes. I remember people complaining that DT has no teaching experience (as one of her many, many faults), but now you are complaining about...???? Because she left "under a storm of controversy"???? Please, she was not hired to be the new ass provost, she is a visiting professor. Anyone around Hattiesburg knows that Tressie Harper is a clone of Gordon Walker, former HPSD superintendent. She has all of his personality faults and no positives to offset them. One of my children was in school with hers and he is the nicest human being imaginable. I remember when I found out who is mother was (I had encountered her on numerous occasions in dealing with the central office) that I was bumfuzzled that such a nice young person could be the offspring of such an obnoxious adult. She will get along swimmingly with DT and co. As far as being able to teach, there is a good reason why she has spent so many years in administration.

Gator Eagle is right about this one. Ask teachers who worked "under" her.

Date: Aug 20, 2005

titantic too wrote:

...
We all know Willie's hands are tied...

A little help for Harper Valley PTA....

HA, 1/13/05

Thames gives $1,000 to Moss Point program

Shelby Thames, president of the University of Southern Mississippi, presented a $1,000 check Tuesday to the new polymer science program at Moss Point High School.

An integral figure in the program's inception more than a year ago, Thames gave the keynote address at a dedication ceremony to unveil the new Moss Point High School Polymer Science Facilities....

..."This shows how strongly we feel about what you're doing here at Moss Point," Thames told the crowd as he presented the check to Tressie Harper, superintendent of Moss Point Schools....

Date: Aug 21, 2005

I am the one, the only Gator Eagle. My name is Andy R., and I post on many boards as this handle. Have for many years. Please get another one, my friend

Date: Aug 21, 2005

Get a new handle wrote:

I am the one, the only Gator Eagle. My name is Andy R., and I post on many boards as this handle. Have for many years. Please get another one, my friend

We have had this conversation before, so get a life, please.

Date: Aug 22, 2005

Corrected version moved from Provost thread -

I find it strange that the education people would have a teaching position vacant one week before classes begin. Did they advertise? It appears to me that her school superintendent position was a troubled one. Was USM unable to find a person with more "Academic like" credentials? Was the position created specifically for her? That's a normal question one might ask when any position is filled by someone with Hattiesburg ties and a local degree.

Date: Aug 22, 2005

Do you mean WIMP WILLIE? Poor fellow. Is is so embarassing.

Date: Aug 22, 2005

Curiosity Box wrote:

I find it strange that the education people would have a teaching position vacant one week before classes begin. Did they advertise?

Well, they certainly didn't call me to see if I was interested. I guess they knew that I would just turn them down. There are some things that a body doesn't want on a resumé.