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“Mr. Black inspired me to be a better human”

Posted in budget cuts, tagged budget cuts, Coupeville High School, Dean of Students, Sofia Peters, Tom Black on June 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Sofia Peters, softball sensation and Class of 2023 grad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Life after life, changed.

Student after student, made to feel seen, cared about, and protected.

Whatever title you want to give Tom Black, whether it be Dean of Students or something else, the man has made an enormous impact in 19 years of service to Coupeville’s children.

Now, with his job having been eliminated by ongoing budget cuts, those students, many of them now young adults, are speaking out, calling for a reversal from Superintendent Steve King.

The message is simple, the message is loud, the message is heartfelt.

This latest letter comes from Sofia Peters, a 2023 Wolf grad:

Hey David,

I want to share my thoughts on Mr. Black being cut.

Mr. Black is a key part of what makes CMS and CHS students feel safe and welcomed.

I myself have always felt comfort and stability at school knowing Mr. Black has my back, whether it’s academically or personally.

Since sixth grade, Mr. Black has always said to me before I walk to my first period class, “I hope your day goes good, kiddo.”

I’ve known Mr. Black for about seven years and throughout those seven years he has done nothing but inspired me to be a better human and he has showed me what a great educator should look like.

Mr. Black is the type of guy that never misses student’s birthdays, never forgets to ask how their day is going, and always gives his all to put a smile on students faces.

He builds bonds with students that students like myself will never forget.

He treats students with respect, and he treats them as equals to him.

He doesn’t treat us like we are just students.

He treats us like we are growing and learning young adults.

He is the definition of “tough love.” He wants what’s best for every student and if that means having a difficult conversation with them, then so be it.

Like I said before, Tom Black is a key part of what makes CMS and CHS students feel safe, welcomed, and respected.

But most of all, Tom Black inspires students.

I stand with #BRINGBACKBLACK!

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“Without Mr. Black, students are going to struggle”

Posted in budget cuts, tagged Adam Garcia, budget cuts, Coupeville High School, Haylee Armstrong, Tom Black on June 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville freshman Haylee Armstrong and mom Michelle have both witnessed Tom Black’s positive impact on students.

Every generation is speaking out.

Coupeville alumni have come on strong in support of Tom Black, the Dean of Students, saying his value is more than a dollar amount, and he shouldn’t be a casualty in the ongoing budget cuts.

Now, current students are joining the call.

Our next letter comes from incoming Wolf freshman Haylee Armstrong.

Dear Coupeville School District,

I would like to make a recommendation for the cut to the position of the Dean of Students.

Mr. Black, the Dean of Students, should not be cut from his position.

Without Mr. Black’s smile and bright mood in the Coupeville Middle/High School hallways, the students are going to struggle.

Mr. Black has made an impact on many students, including my friends and cousin.

You may or may not know, but my cousin, Adam Garcia, was a little troublemaker in those hallways while Mr. Black was there.

Mr. Black kept my cousins, mom, uncle, students, and myself in check.

Without Mr. Black’s smiling, positive mood, the students are going to slip.

I know for a fact Mr. Black in our hallways makes a difference between getting students to class on time, talking to students that need help, or helping with a short staff.

What if a teacher comes in late? Who’s gonna cover for them if they have no sub; what happens if we are short-staffed?

We aren’t gonna have Mr. Black to cover for a late teacher or a short staff.

Personally I am 100% with the hashtag #BRINGBACKBLACK.

Coupeville Middle/High School needs Mr. Black to stay in check.

Every morning Mr. Black would bring a smile to mine and others’ faces, whether it was just a “Good morning” or “I like that sweatshirt.”

Coupeville Middle/High School needs Mr. Black, so I strongly disagree with the decision of the Dean of Students being cut.

Sincerely,

Haylee Armstrong

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“The benefit of his positive influence is impossible to ignore”

Posted in budget cuts, tagged budget cuts, Coupeville School District, Michael Laska, smoothies, Tom Black on June 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

The hashtag #bringbackblack, in honor of Tom Black, is trending in Coupeville. (Moira Reed photo)

There’s a new hashtag sweeping across numerous social media sites.

It’s #bringbackblack, launched by community members who view Coupeville High School/Middle School Dean of Students Tom Black as someone whose value transcends a dollar figure.

Budget cuts have been mandated and will happen.

But discarding a man who is described as “part mental health counselor, part teacher, part administrator, part mentor, and so much more” is not sitting well with Wolf Nation.

A letter from 2021 CHS grad Michael Laska:

Coupeville School District,

I cannot put a number on the countless occasions I heard both teachers and students use the phrases “I’m sorry that happened, have you talked to Mr. Black about it?” and “That sounds serious, you should probably go talk to Mr. Black” when they took notice of a struggling student.

This recommendation speaks to Mr. Blacks’ empathetic character and ability to visualize what can be done in the best interest of his students.

Beyond that, his leadership qualities are more than strong enough to fill a much more widespread and lucrative position at another facility.

Yet, he devotes his time to the students in Coupeville.

The benefit of his positive influence was impossible to ignore; it is difficult for any student not to see that they are cared for supported when he is around.

As the dean, he holds a position of authority but does not instill the fear of discipline into students in an attempt to minimize misbehavior.

Instead, he informs students of the district’s guidelines and provides them with a sense of purpose that they now know could be jeopardized if said guidelines are not followed.

I am sure that there is a list of amenities that a school is required to provide in order to remain operational that I am not familiar with.

But I cannot imagine that your Greek yogurt smoothies and leather varsity jackets are mentioned on that list.

As a former student, it would be disappointing to hear that his contribution to create a safe and enjoyable environment to learn has been forgotten.

Respectfully,

Petty Officer Laska

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“Tom is the guy that kids trust”

Posted in budget cuts, tagged budget cuts, Coupeville School District, Ken Stange, mental health, Tom Black on June 25, 2023| 1 Comment »

Tom Black discusses game strategy with his grandson. (Photo courtesy Laura Black)

Of all the coaches I’ve worked with, Ken Stange remains the very definition of a straight shooter.

A longtime teacher, both here in Coupeville, and before that, in reservation schools, he’s never had much time for self-serving crap.

He’s an unvarnished truth speaker, and when he talks, I tend to listen.

I hope others do to, as Stange lays out his thoughts on the budget cut-related decision to eliminate the Dean of Students position, ending Tom Black’s 19-year run in Coupeville Schools hallways.

Ken Stange has some words o’ wisdom for you. (Jackie Saia photo)

When I think of Tom Black, I think of one of my very best friends I had at CHS. He was “there” in so many ways.

Professionally, he was one of the few people I knew that had his ear to the ground.

That helped me negotiate the ins and outs of relationships with kids who were struggling with life outside of school.

Everyone knows that Tom is a major reason why kids finished school … stayed out of jail … chose to stay alive.

I felt a kinship with Tom in that way.

I taught English, Yearbook, and coached tennis, but first and foremost, I was focused on the kids and how I could help them deal with school and a complex life.

I can’t speak for other staff members, but Tom talked me off more than a few ledges back in the day.

He helped me with my own personal problems, which in turn made me more able to handle 150 students more effectively.

Personally, Tom had been a great friend to me.

When I had surgery, Tom was there to take me to and from the hospital.

He listened to me cry when life seemed to crumble.

He gave me a hug when I needed it.

He gave me sage parental advice.

I remember when I started at CHS in the fall of 2004. I met Tom and wondered what the heck his job description was.

It didn’t take me long to see that he was part mental health counselor, part teacher, part administrator, part mentor, and so much more.

After my first year, it was clear to me that Tom’s unwritten job description was the person who catches anyone who fell through a crack.

If six teachers, including me, miss something about a kid in trouble, there was Tom, right there helping that kid to find a better peace and a better path.

If me or another teacher noticed something off about a kid, there was Tom, helping us to understand, and if Tom didn’t know what was wrong, he’d find out.

Tom is the guy that kids trust.

Tom is the guy that teachers and administrators can lean on and look to for help with kids in trouble.

Tom is the guy who is like a parent or trusted advisor to many kids.

I get budget cuts, but this one is going to hurt.

I’m also afraid it won’t be noticeable at first.

It takes a while to notice cracks and what’s slipping through them.

I hope that the district can find a way to reverse this decision.

Tom Black is easily some of the best money the district can spend to ensure that those kids who quietly slip through the cracks can be caught and lifted back up.

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“Mr. Black should be valued and recognized”

Posted in budget cuts, tagged budget cuts, CHS Wolves, Coupeville School District, Ivy Leedy, Tom Black on June 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Ivy Leedy and Tom Black

Listen to the community.

The decision to cut the Dean of Students position at Coupeville High School/Middle School, ending Tom Black’s 19-year run, is being met with universal resistance.

Current and former students continue to step up and speak out, praising the deeply positive impact the man has had, and calling for Superintendent Steve King to reverse his decision.

The latest letter to the editor:

Hey David,

I just wanted to say a few things about the Dean of Students, Mr. Black.

I feel that he should not be cut from Coupeville; he helps so many students in many different ways.

I know I wouldn’t have made it through high school without his guidance and support.

During my time in school, I was harassed by a student who said some very nasty things to me and broke into my house.

Mr. Black was right on it and helped me through it; eventually the student was expelled for his behavior.

Mr. Black is a staple in Coupeville.

He’s one of the best things about that school; walking down the halls and seeing him was the highlight of my day.

He would always greet me with a smile and tell me a joke; we had some good laughs.

If he was gone who would help students like he does?

Who would put a smile on their faces, who would make jokes, who would greet you in the morning?