Spears Running For Escambia School Superintendent

March 22, 2016

Former Escambia High School football coach Willie Spears prefiled Monday to run for Escambia County Superintendent of Schools as an independent nonparty affiliation candidate.

Spears is currently the head football coach and athletic director at Vernon High School in Washington County.  On a 3-2 vote, he was fired for insubordination by the Escambia County School board about a year and a half ago. His firing was recommended by incumbent Superintendent Malcolm Thomas for playing ineligible players in an Escambia football game after allegations of football recruiting from other schools.

He was later found to not be in violation, and Thomas subsequently provided a letter to Spears indicating that he was not at fault in any capacity, according to a press release from Spears.

“I’m running for this position because I love Pensacola. This is the city where my wife and I desire to lay down roots and as such, we want to make it a better place for our children…for all children,” Spears said.

Comments

8 Responses to “Spears Running For Escambia School Superintendent”

  1. about time on March 25th, 2016 4:41 pm

    well everybody don’t agree with their boss but i thank he will do a whole lot better than the one we has

  2. Willis on March 23rd, 2016 7:52 pm

    Sorry Esc Co Leo,
    The truth hurts and people don’t want to hear it. So here’s mine….

    He’s only running because of sour grapes to begin with…
    No vote here.

  3. Tate grad 88 on March 23rd, 2016 10:47 am

    At the truth,
    I agree with everything you said except the part about being appointed. Where I live now, in TN, the superintendent is appoint and it is the “good ole boys” club. The teachers need to teach and politics need to stay out of it.

  4. sue on March 23rd, 2016 9:03 am

    To Esc co LEO (Escambia County Law Enforcement Officer): I totally agree with the comment by “thetruth”. In addition to speaking with 10 high school seniors, you should also ask 10 or more teachers about their experiences.

  5. thetruth on March 22nd, 2016 9:54 pm

    Esc co LEO. You dont know the whole story. Secondly what are we teaching the kids in this district currently ? All this district worries about is graduation rates and passing the kid to the next grade even if they arent prepared, (if you dont believe me, go ask 10 high school seniors who we fought in world war 2, and see the answers you get) and nothing else beyond graduation. SO we bend the rules, and make it to where the students can basically do anything and get the grade so they dont fail and stay on track for graduation. Teachers are pressured to give the grade so the student will get the credit. Somebody needs to do a follow up study to see how prepared the students are when they actually get to college. School administers and teachers walk on egg shells because anybody who voices a dissenting opinion of Don Corleone and his policies will get gone. We keep the same policies with the same people, and we keep falling farther and farther behind in relation to other counties. What is so wrong with outside blood with different ideas coming into our county ? Personally I think our superintendents should be appointed and not elected. Less than 10% of school superintendents in the country get elected.

  6. Esc co Leo on March 22nd, 2016 7:33 pm

    This man was fired because he refused to follow orders from his boss. Furthermore, he did it openly and made it very public that since he didn’t agree with the order, he wasn’t going to follow it. Is that the type of person we want leading our kids. Teaching them that it is ok to disobey rules as long as YOU don’t think they fair?

  7. Gary on March 22nd, 2016 5:19 pm

    Great idea! You have my vote Mr. Spears. I don’t know him but from what I researched, he would be a great asset.

  8. Coach on March 22nd, 2016 7:33 am

    This will be a great hire for the Escambia County School District he has my vote. This is one of the best people I have ever been around a great leader and motivator. Mr. Spears will do a great job. We need more people like him to the leader great county of Escambia County.