Jerry Lawrence, a career educator in Levy County, retired on Sept. 13, but the Levy County School Board didn’t thank him for his service. They criticized him.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Most retiring Levy County school teachers receive a pat on the back and a fond farewell before they head into the next phase of their life, but with Jerry Lawrence, he got the proverbial kick in the pants instead.

            He was planning to leave quietly and wasn’t expecting to catch any flack when he moved into retirement, but two Levy County School Board members didn’t like the way he left his job as a language arts teacher for Chiefland Middle High School.

            Speaking at their Sept. 24 meeting, board members Paige Brookins and Cameron Asbell criticized an unnamed teacher (Lawrence) who had resigned on short notice. Lawrence resigned on Friday, Sept. 13, a day after he met with the principal and announced he was retiring. His name was on the Sept. 24 meeting agenda as “resignation for retirement.”

            Personal Disappointment

            “To me it is a personal disappointment to see a teacher out of the blue just quit and resign in the middle of the school year and leave the school high and dry; so I’m really disappointed. I think that’s a bad reflection personally when I see that on the agenda,” Brookins said.

            Brookins didn’t mention Lawrence by name at first and neither did Asbell, but their criticism was harsh enough that a reporter asked who they were talking about. Brookins and Asbell turned to Board Attorney David Delaney to find out if they had to reveal the name. Delaney said the teacher’s name was on the agenda and it was a public record. Lawrence’s name was then revealed.

            Lawrence wasn’t a typical teacher. By all accounts, he was a good teacher, but he had been a fierce critic of how the school board operates and stood toe to toe with the school board on more than once occasion in 2014 and 2015 on education issues. He also ran for school superintendent. The language arts teacher wasn’t popular with the school board.

            Professionalism Lacking

            In his remarks at the Sept. 24 board meeting, Asbell said he was actually referring to two teachers that resigned abruptly, but he cited Brookins’ concerns when he said he believed a certain amount of professionalism is required in education. He said the standards are high. He was referring to Lawrence and one other unnamed teacher.

            “And just to abrupt – and there were two abrupt resigns – I look at it this way; when you tell some young kids you’re going to be there for them – just abrupt; I’m just a hokey boy from Bronson, but if you make a commitment, that commitment ought to be at least until the end of the semester, cause they’re our kids,” Asbell said.

            Board Chairman Brad Etheridge agreed with Asbell.

            “What you’re talking about is a moral issue. That I agree with you 1,000 percent, Mr. Asbell. That contract is binding both ways. You commit a year to us. We commit a year to you. At the end of that, if we don’t agree or we agree to disagree we’ll go our separate ways,” Etheridge said.

            Lawrence took the high road in a September 17 farewell letter to faculty and staff at Chiefland Middle High School. The letter revealed Lawrence’s meeting with CMHS Principal Matthew McLelland on Sept. 12 had gone well and was friendly when he announced he would be retiring.

            Lawrence Farewell Letter

            “In 2011, when I came to Chiefland Middle High School from BMHS, you welcomed me like family. I am forever grateful, and sincerely appreciate your heart for students, your compassion and your day-in-day-out dedication to bettering the lives of students. You truly are amazing, as are our students and parents.

            “It had been my hope to retire at the beginning of this last summer, but the blocks that needed to fall in place took longer than expected.

            “I have always had a set of priorities – as I’m sure you have also – to guide me through life, and those priorities have always been God, family and work. And throughout my career, there has always been that gentle reminder that we are all replaceable, and that what really matters in life is family and our faith in God.

            “With those priorities in mind, I sat down with Matt Thursday, and told him I was retiring. He could not have been more gracious and professional. He congratulated me, and we had a good, short conversation. I mentioned that I was willing to work around the time it might take to find someone, but Matt responded, Jerry, don’t worry about us. I’ve got three substitutes who can fill-in until we get somebody. Don’t worry about us. How can I help you? Do you want today to be your last day? Tomorrow? Next Friday? Do you want to think about it? I asked if he was sure, and with those variables in mind, I did not want to walk out that afternoon and not say goodbye to my students. So I asked Matt if tomorrow, Friday, would be okay. He said that would work.

            “People put a lot of thought into retirement, and so have I. So when you make that decision to retire, I hope you have an administrator with the graciousness and professionalism of Matt. I wish you the very best of success. May God continue to bless you and yours,” Lawrence said in the letter.

            Lawrence, who has worked in education as a teacher and administrator for about 28 or 29 years said he will be self-employed in retirement. He hasn’t decided exactly what the future holds. Many of those who talked to him after his retirement thought he might run for superintendent again. Lawrence said he hasn’t made a decision.

            The criticism of him at the board meeting surprised Lawrence in some ways. He wasn’t expecting it, but at the same time, he said it fits a pattern with the board.

            Getting Blackballed

            “You challenge them and you’re blackballed. I am the enemy in their eyes,” he said. “They’re wondering, did I retire because I am running again. In their minds is he going to run again? That’s up in the air. Right now, I’m being quiet. Right now I’m not committed. If I do, I’ll be taking them all on, not just Jeff. They say they care about kids first, but they care about power.”

            Lawrence said if the school board members who criticized him really cared about why he retired, the courteous thing would have been to call him and talk to him personally, but instead they based their comment on hearsay and rumor.

            “I’m not quitting. It’s not running away. It’s retiring,” Lawrence said.

            He said he had planned to retire at the start of the summer, but the pieces that needed to fall into place weren’t there yet.

            “I have things I need to take care of,” he said.

            He said Superintendent Jeff Edison sent him the traditional card and engraved pen and pencil set when he heard of his retirement.

            After the Sept. 24 meeting, Edison was approached about the criticism of Lawrence by the board. Edison corrected one aspect of what they said.

            Edison said Lawrence didn’t quit.

            “He retired,” he said.

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School Board of Levy County Regular Meeting September 24, 2019; Posted September 27, 2019