A Recent Blogger Posed This Question

Can you post some information about the person that was selected and how their experience/qualifications compare to Dr. Quarrels. This is my first time hearing about this, and I would love to have more information about the selection process/desired criteria.
Dr. Quarrels is the only person in the District with a doctoral degree, she also hold a specialist in Educational leadership and supervision. She has been employed with the district for twenty two years. Served as an assistant principal for thirteen of those year both a Wonder Junior High and West Memphis Senior High for the pass six years. During the former principal leave of absent for health reasons Dr. Quarrels was the acting building principal on a daily basis. We know that the appointment had zero to do with qualifications and everything to do with race and gender.
The person they GAVE the high school principal job to was hired into the district six year ago when Mr. Burton went to the high school. He has a Masters Degree Education and have been in administration for seven years. "Go figure."
To add insult to injury the superintendent had, yet another mock interview for the principal position that was open at West Junior High School and hired Mr. Burton as the new principal. Keep in mind this is the principal that missed well over one hundred documented days out of school, retired because of health reasons, coming from a school that have been in school improvement for six years, placing him at a school with outstanding benchmark scores, allowing him to retire for 30 day and then hiring him so that he can get his full retirement and a salary. This is the Crittenden County Good O'l boys at its finest. It is almost getting to be a joke because they think the African Americans in West Memphis don't have a clue.

Letter to the Editor appeared in the local newspaper July 6, 2009
"If Not Now, When?

Now, the Crittenden County Branch NAACP would like to go on record in support of Dr. Palmer Quarrels as principal of West Memphis High School.

We Know that a person has been hired as principal of the school However, we as members of the Crittenden County Branch did not agree with the choice made by the West Memphis School Board. We give high regards and congratulations to the one school board member who felt that Dr. Quarrels should have been given the opportunity to serve as the principal of West Memphis High School. The reason we feel that Dr. Quarrels should have been given the opportunity to serve as principal of the West Memphis School are:

1. She is qualified with a Dr. Degree in School Administration.


2. She has experience - she has served as teacher, assistant principal at two schools - Wonder Jr. High - West Memphis Sr. High.


3. She live in the community, know the students and parents.


4. We feel Dr. Quarrels could have been an excellent choice to continue to promote excellence in the school.

The NAACP has a six point plan

1. Protection of Civil Rights


2. Educational Excellence


3. Youth Outreach


4. Voter Empowerment


5. Economic and Community Development


6. Membership Increase

As you can see Civil Rights is our Number 1 plan The NAACP is a civil Rights Organization that fight for Civil Rights of people at the local , state and national level.

We feel that injustice has been done to Dr. Quarrels the community should realize that the struggle continues. If not now, when? When will we speak up and out against injustice to people?

The National NAACP will be 100 years old this year. For 100 years the NAACP has been fighting against injustice toward people, just when we think we have rose above injustice it appears again.

This letter was submitted by Willie Catha Jones, President of Crittenden County NAACP.