We, the undersigned parents of SJCDS students, believe it is a mistake not to renew the contract of Michelle Goodman as Lower School Art teacher at SJCDS.

As the consumer of education for our children at SJCDS, we are very upset and confused by the decision not to renew Mrs. Goodman’s contract. There is a strong interest by the parents to continue the high quality of education that our children receive under the direction of an extremely talented, innovative and professional teacher. Our children have a passion for the arts due to the time Mrs. Goodman takes with each child and his/her artwork. We are extremely pleased with the quality and individualized artwork that our children bring home.

Upon our request Mrs. Goodman reviewed her personnel file. It is our understanding that in ten years of teaching, five of which were at SJCDS, Mrs. Goodman has had only one parent complaint. We show our support with this petition and respectfully request the Headmaster and Board of Trustees to revisit the renewal of Mrs. Goodman’s contract.

We are not only the paying customers of the SJCDS, but we are first and foremost concerned and involved parents. We should not lose the teacher who instills the true passion for art in our children. We understand from numerous meetings and conversations with the faculty and heads at SJCDS that this decision was based on one person’s opinion of Mrs. Goodman and her teaching style. One person cannot make such an evaluation attending only one of Mrs. Goodman's classes in five years. We also are aware that all reviews by the Lower School Heads are very positive. It is our understanding that complaints from the Fine Arts Head placed in Mrs. Goodman's file were filed during Mrs. Goodman’s maternity leave and related to substitute lesson plans that the Fine Arts Head approved personally.

We would be remiss if we closed without saying that the walls of our homes are filled with the passionate work of our children, the passion passed to them from Mrs. Goodman. We have seen the lower school art from RPDS, Bolles, and Jacksonville Country Day School to name a few. Our children's work far surpasses the quality of art from those schools, which we attribute to Mrs. Goodman. We also appreciate the national and local attention she has brought to SJCDS through shows and awards, most recently by our children receiving two out of ten national awards given from the Utrecht National Self Portrait Contest (2005). Our children have also had fifteen works selected for the yearly Cummer Art Auction (2000-2004). SJCDS had one of Mrs. Goodman's third graders win second place overall at The Concert On The Green (2002), and one of her sixth graders receiving Best Middle School Award at Concert On The Green (2004). She is not only an asset to SJCDS in the classroom, but in the community as well.

Mrs. Goodman is also known among parents as a walking advertisement for your facility. She should also be recognized for her allegiance to your institution. She is truly a part of the SJCDS family.

It is our contention that it is in the best interest of the students to renew Mrs. Goodman's contract. As the parents of the children affected by such a change, we ask that you take this time to re-consider your position. We look forward to an immediate change from your stance on this situation.

*In the COMMENTS section, please indicate your full name and contact information (whether it be a phone number or email address). The address you list in the email address box will not show, so if the contact info you wish to leave is an email, you must place it in the comments section as well. Also please indicate the grades of all your children during the 2004 school year. And please write any comments you might have regarding this situation.

Contact us for a summary of national and local awards and shows our children have received from 2000 through 2005 under Mrs. Goodman’s teachings.

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