I have written this letter to express my dissatisfaction and distrust with the current Aberdeen school Superintendent, Dr. Alicia Henderson.

This letter is a “Vote of No Confidence” in Dr. Henderson and her inability to run our school district competently. I, along with other parents, students, and community member, understand the severity of this decision and did not arrive at it hastily.

As of June 7, 965 community members had signed an online petition for the “Vote of No Confidence” in Dr. Henderson.

The Aberdeen School District has always been a district to be proud of, a school district where decisions were made on a collaborative basis with the best interest of our students in mind. It has always been a district that has experienced great vision from our leaders, and our teachers were given the respect and support to achieve our goals which unfortunately is not the case anymore.

With children in this district I have had concerns regarding Dr. Henderson’s leadership, specifically concerning the severe absence of transparency, trust, collaboration, decision making, vision for future goals, and the lack of respect for parents and staff. The disregard for providing true communication, investment and vision for our district is most distressing.

Superintendent Henderson’s inability to create positive working relationships with staff members and the community as a whole has created an environment of distrust, intimidation and retaliation that makes staff and administrators fearful to speak out on behalf of our students, parents and community. And recent decisions made on staffing has turned some teachers’ worlds upside down. (Because of layoffs) some teachers are now having to teach subjects they haven’t taught for over 20 years or haven’t taught these subjects at all in their career. How are these decisions beneficial for students or teachers? Yes, these teachers have certificates for different subjects but if you haven’t taught math, for example, in the last five or in some cases 20 plus years it’s definitely different now and a quality education will not be achieved for our students.

I and others are submitting a “Vote of No Confidence” in Dr. Alicia Henderson, to the school board members on the June 16, school board meeting.

In closing, I am imploring the school board members to please hear not only my request but the request of many other parents and make the right decision for the students of the Aberdeen School District.

Tiffany Burkett

Aberdeen