Ms. Deagle 's letter to visitors
of this website.

June 18, 2004

Hello,

I arrived at St. John's School in 1983, and in the next 20 years, I saw many amazing changes. When I first began teaching, students had to leave after ninth grade, for there was no high school. Mrs. Hull and I taught in two modular classrooms located along Marine Corps Drive where the gym now stands. Many of the structures now on campus had not been erected. I was able to witness the building of the high school and LRC as well as the Lower School building. I have watched many teachers come and go and at the same time had the privilege of working for many years with a principal and teachers who became treasured friends. I have watched typhoons destroy classrooms and earthquakes crack walls. But thanks to competent administrators and capable Boards of Trustees, St. John's School was a phoenix, rising out of the ashes time and time again.

But this year an unnatural disaster occurred, and I am left to worry about the very foundation upon which this great school rests. Dr. Jenkins "retired" after 26 years of selfless devotion to the school. While I agree that changes in leadership are not uncommon, the manner in which he "retired" (and mid-year at that) still leaves me bewildered, for he was never told exactly why he had to "retire," nor was he ever given a chance to speak to the very Board members who made the decision regarding his future. It would seem to me that in order to make an educated decision, the Board would want to receive as much information as humanly possible, and so in not allowing Dr. Jenkins to speak to the issues surrounding his departure, there is no safeguard in knowing that the truth was told. And I am one of many who is convinced that the truth was not told. After speaking to the president of the Board of Trustees recently, it only confirmed my suspicions rather than diluted them. Unfortunately, the Board likes to operate under a veil of secrecy, but if I were allowed, I could bring out two points made during that meeting regarding causes for Dr. Jenkins' departure that were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, not based in truth.

Several people have commented to me that St. John's and Dr. J were synonymous. Thus, his legacy in leaving should be that St. John's continue to operate on the foundation he so effectively helped build. Unfortunately, however, he was sent on his way under a cloud of suspicion in a dishonorable and cruel fashion. The many unfortunate events and poor judgements made by the current principal have adversely affected many aspects of student life at the school, preventing the possibility for Dr. Jenkins' legacy to be realized.

As a teacher I was privy to the daily ongoings at the school, and over the course of the year I became alarmed at the number of incidents that detracted from the school's mission statement. These incidents, which occurred on both small and large scales, made for very difficult working conditions. They ranged from watching a Headmaster's impersonation of "Bubba," in which he donned a raggy wig, buck teeth, nerdy glasses, and a baseball cap and insulted the intelligence of Southerners while in the next breath stating he would not condone any form of bullying; to allowing certain male athletes to break school uniform codes as long as they were winning, leaving the teachers to explain the double standard to students who questioned why they could not also break the rules; to sending an inaccurate and misleading letter to parents regarding teacher turnover, even going so far as to say that two teachers would be returning (not true); to having major incidents of cheating, and the list goes on and on. These things did not happen before, but they began happening in frightening proportions in January. When a parent approached me stating that her daughter, an honor student, was considering changing schools because the standards had dropped so low, I had nothing to say because right now St. John's is a bit like Humpty Dumpty, and I fear it may be a long while before it is put together again.

I had nineteen and a half wonderful years at St. John's, and I am trying to let the good years overshadow the sadness I have felt over the past six months. But I must admit that it is difficult because the school I so loved and about which I felt so passionate no longer exists. However, I do want to thank Dale and all of the teachers at St. John's who made the school an incredible place to work. Thank you, too, to the parents of the students I have had the privilege of teaching. Your support always made a difference. And of course thanks to all of the great students at St. John's School for many remarkable years. You will always be a part of me.

And to Kaz, Dar, Tom, and so many others - thank you for making me feel so appreciated and loved at the Tribute to Dedication. I will carry the memories of that night forever in my heart. It was good to share laughter - and more laughter - with the people closest to me.
Sincerely,
Janette Deagle

You can send a letter to Ms. Deagle by writing to:
c/o Odom's
83 Meigs Drive
Shalimar FL 32579.

odomodyssey@hotmail.com

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Mrs. Hull's letter to visitors
of this website.

June 7, 2004

Hi to all,

So many of you have written to me over the past few months with questions and expressions of concern and confusion. In the interest of time, I’ve been unable to answer all your letters. As this year ends, however, I feel compelled to speak to two of your primary concerns: why I’m leaving and my “take” on Dr. Jenkins’ leaving.

First, I’d like to address the circumstances under which I’m moving from St. John’s. As many of your know, my family lives in Portland and both my daughters live in the States. I had decided at the beginning of this school year to “test the waters” in the Portland area job market. My plan was to leave SJ if I found a new school that I would be comfortable in, and if not, I would stay at SJ. However, after the events surrounding the “retirement” of Dr. Jenkins, I decided that I would leave St. Johns, with or without a new job in Oregon. Fortunately, I was offered a job at a fantastic new school in the Portland area and will continue doing what I love—teaching English.

Many of you have expressed concern and disbelief about ugly rumors you have heard about Dr. Jenkins’ leaving. You have asked me my opinion and thoughts. This has been a very painful year for all of us who have loved St. Johns and respected the leadership of Dr. Jenkins in our lives as teachers. I have had many occasions before and after Dr. Jenkins’s leaving of the school to talk with him. There are several points that I feel compelled to share. One, Dr. Jenkins did not willingly retire. Ask yourselves what sense it makes that a man who has given 26 years to St. Johns and has loved the school as he has, would leave in the middle of a year. As Dr. J. told the roomful of people at the PTA meeting that covered his “retiring”: “I never wanted to leave.” He was abruptly called in during Christmas break and “counseled” out. He was not, and has not been to date, given any concrete reasons why the current headmaster and Board wanted him to leave. Contrary to the ugly rumors you have heard, he has not endangered the lives of any student nor faculty member. It has been hinted that his hiring practices were in question.

The former Headmistress, Jane Harter, hired this year’s group of teachers. Additionally, his hiring ideas were all approved by the current headmaster, as early as September, 2003. This same approval by the current headmaster was then turned against Dr. J when reported to the Board in November. I have no delusions that Dr. Jenkins was a perfect principal. There are many times that I, and you as students, did not agree with his decisions. He was often said to be stubborn and rigid. His stubbornness and rigidity, however, were based on his desire to maintain the integrity of the school. He always referred to the Mission Statement and the goal of the school. I accept that his managerial style may have conflicted with the current Board and headmaster. I would have had little problem with his being asked to conclude the school year and not return in the fall.

My criticism is in the handling of the life of a man who dedicated his life to the building of our school. He was never asked to appear before the voting members of the Board. He was afforded no opportunity to answer questions, except those asked by the Headmaster and the Board President. He, as an honored “retiree” was given no recognition for leaving by the Board. I find this situation to be difficult to comprehend. I am thankful each day as I watch the news that our country affords its citizens due process. When the behavior of a member of the honor societies at SJ is in question, the students are given an opportunity to appear before a complete faculty council. Dr. Jenkins was not given the same courtesy and justice given to the students. The Board acted on the information given to them by two people. It is difficult to understand how a board would act on the information of any man who has served five months at our school and would never ask for any input from the man who has given 26 years.

I have been told that all will be made clear and that good things will come to the school. A man’s honor, reputation, and dignity is not worth anything that the school will gain from this treatment of an individual. Not only was the treatment of Dr. Jenkins cruel, it hurt many aspects of the school as the year continued. Change often leads to positive ends, but change carried out in this manner is destructive.

I am sad to leave St. John’s under these circumstances, but I’m looking forward to working for a school that, as far as I could ascertain from my few visits, has wonderful staff/administration relations. People seem happy and invigorated, the way I’ve always seen St. John’s to be. I am excited about living nearer to my daughters, sister, brother, and mother. I have many college friends in the Portland area; we’re all excited about reconnecting. Skiing sounds good to me, as does hiking, and traveling in the U.S. I am also comforted that Dr. Jenkins is happy in his new position as Headmaster at Saipan International School. He continues to be the gentleman and the honorable individual whom I have always known. He is moving forward and is actually happier than many of us who have remained at SJ.

In my heart, I believe that goodness will prevail. Thus, any decisions not based on truth, honor, and dignity will show their weakness in their own time.

I hope that I have answered some of the questions many of you have asked. As we discussed many times as we analyzed literature, people see the same situation in their own unique ways. This is the way I see the situation. Others may see it differently. But, for me, it is clear that human kindness was forgotten. The actions towards Dr. Jenkins became much more complicated and harmful than they needed to be. In concluding, I reflect on the words of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet: “There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” If the carrying out of the virtue of kindness were in the hearts of the decision-makers, our school would be a happier place for all of us today.

Sincerely and best to all of you,

Mrs. Hull