New Collier County School Board Dismisses State Superintendent of the Year

One year ago, Collier County Superintendent, Kamela Patton, was named the Florida’s Superintendent of the Year for 2022 and was, subsequently, named a national finalist for Superintendent of the Year. This past June, she announced her intention to retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year. In November, Collier County voters replaced 3 conservative school board incumbents, with 3 ultra conservative members (including this one). The new board members were sworn in and elected two of their own as chair and vice chair on 11/22/22. This week the Collier County School Board agreed to a separation agreement with Superintendent Patton, with just over 6 months left on her contract, and appointed an interim.

This is another example of disruptors disrupting… it is part of the game plan for the disruption and ultimate privatization of public schools.

Patton’s successes were described in a press release issued after her Superintendent of the Year honors:

“During her tenure as superintendent here in Collier, Dr. Patton has been committed to a trajectory of continuous improvement anchored in culture, academics, and leadership. Since 2011, our district has successfully transformed through the implementation of innovative practices designed to improve student outcomes and impact systemic change. CCPS has achieved numerous accomplishments under Dr. Patton’s leadership including:

• Improved the district ranking to tie for 5th in the State from 33rd just nine years ago
• Increased the graduation rate by 19.7 percentage points to 92.2% from 72.5%
• Earned a district grade of “A” since 2017
• Currently one of seven school districts to earn the “A” distinction for 2021
• CCPS students outperformed the state average on 21 out of 21 tested areas the past school year

These accomplishments are even more impressive considering our district covers 2,300 square miles with a diverse student population—65% of students are on free and reduced lunch, 55% of students come from homes where English is not the first language, and 96 different languages and dialects are spoken. CCPS also has the largest number of migrant families in the state of Florida with over 3,300 migrant students.”

In 2021, Patton was also named “Naples Daily News Outstanding Citizen of the Year,” an award which honors “a deserving resident who has made significant impacts, perhaps community changing, for Collier County.” Patton was celebrated for overseeing growth at the district, including jumps in state rankings and the high school graduation rate more than a decade as superintendent. It was the only time in the Collier County award’s 60 year history that it was awarded to a civil servant.

Despite the accolades, following the contentious 2022 school board elections, Patton’s exit was not a surprise. According to WINK News, “Parents of kids in the Collier County school system said they saw this coming as soon as voters elected the new board members. One parent said it was clear they ran with agendas that didn’t include Patton.” During the campaign, now Chair Kelly Lichter, who had previously served on the Collier School Board from 2014-2018, suggested one of the reasons she chose NOT to run for re-election in 2018 was her frustration with what she called a “power grab” by Patton which she believed the other school board members allowed. Following the board’s vote to release Patton from office this week, Lichter announced “People are excited about moving forward.”

In a farewell message, Patton remained positive, thanking the community, the district and the board for “the privilege to serve as your superintendent of schools” and saying “It has been the highlight of my career to add value to this wonderful community.”

Add Collier to the growing list of radical right school boards who are firing career educators. Best of luck to the teachers and students of Collier Public Schools.

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In other related Collier news, on December 6th, School Board Chair Kelly Lichter’s husband, Nick Lichter, was part of an orchestrated “America First” takeover of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee. Nick Lichter was elected as REC Chair and was part of a slate of candidates endorsed by controversial State Committeeman Alfie Oakes.

Florida Politics reported, “It was one of several high-profile attempts in Southwest Florida by “America First” members of the party to take over local RECs— and one of the major successful political coups.” Oakes, an election denier and a January 6th participant, now has full control of the Collier REC board. As described by Florida Politics:

Oakes, ahead of the meeting, blasted emails saying the local REC had not done enough to advance conservatives in Florida. He endorsed his slate of candidates.

“These patriots will boldly stand against the enemies of freedom, and they will unite the Republican Part by leading with courage and conviction,” Oakes wrote. “For far too long at every level of government, the CCRED has allowed celebrity politicians and self-seeking grifters in Washington DC, Tallahassee, Collier County and on the School Board to govern in the wrong direction.” – https://floridapolitics.com/archives/574536-alfie-oakes-slate-takes-over-collier-county-rec/

Collier will be an “interesting” county to watch.

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UPDATE 12/17/2022: More details regarding the MAGA/America First attempts to take over local Republican Committees: https://www.theparadiseprogressive.com/blog-the-paradise-progressive/the-maga-maneuver-the-extreme-attempt-to-take-over-floridas-republican-party-and-what-it-means?fbclid=IwAR3pVh3p4omYIs4kHnEI08wpQ3GkXJ48-R0__HCrtQXrbybslvhvHzU2H14