The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the treatment of employees within the La Harpe School District. It has come to my attention that many employees feel undervalued, disrespected, and unheard in their roles.
As an institution dedicated to education and community development, it is imperative that all staff members—teachers, administrative personnel, and support staff—are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
A positive and supportive work environment not only benefits employees but also directly impacts student success and the overall reputation of the district.
Unfortunately, I have observed and heard accounts of employees facing unprofessional behavior, lack of appreciation, and dismissive attitudes when voicing their concerns.
Such treatment can lead to low morale, increased turnover, and diminished performance, ultimately affecting the quality of education our students receive.
I urge the Board to take these concerns seriously and to implement measures that promote a culture of respect, inclusivity, and open communication. Some potential steps include:
Regular Employee Feedback Channels – Establishing formal and anonymous ways for employees to share their concerns without fear of retaliation.
Workplace Respect and Professionalism Training – Ensuring that all staff, including administrators, receive training on professional communication and respectful workplace practices.
Recognition and Support Initiatives – Developing programs that acknowledge employees’ hard work and contributions to the district.
I appreciate your time and dedication to making our school district a better place for both students and staff.
I respectfully request that the Board address these concerns in an upcoming meeting and consider implementing initiatives that foster a more respectful and supportive work environment.
I would be happy to discuss this matter further and provide additional insight if needed. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Marlie Deeter
La Harpe
This is a response to the Letter to the Editor concerning La Harpe’s Superintendent published on March 26th.
In March of 2022 I accepted a long term sub position at La Harpe Elementary School. At the end of that school year I was asked to come back in August.
My title was Special Education Teacher but the agreement was that I was technically a long term sub while I worked on becoming a certified teacher.
I was accepted into a 2 year program at Western and I was going to start taking classes in the Spring of 2023.
Over the Summer of 2022 the La Harpe School Board hired Dr. Gladu as both the Principal and Superintendent. Dr. Gladu started sending me unprofessional emails a couple of weeks into the school year attacking me both personally and professionally.
Since she was both the Superintendent and Principal the next person I could talk to about addressing that issue was the board president.
I spoke to him and he assured me that he would have a meeting with me and Dr. Gladu and the issue would be resolved.
The meeting did not happen. I had no one else to turn to so I sent all of the emails to every member of the school board.
The very next day I was given a letter by Dr. Gladu and Mr. Hopper that said that I could train a new teacher for two weeks and then be a paraprofessional until December.
The letter stated that if I chose not to do that I could resign that day. I resigned.
I am sharing my story because it goes so much deeper than what was stated in the letter to the editor.
She continues to spread malicious lies about her past employees. She has ruined employment opportunities that people are actually qualified for.
The people that she has done this to have good reputations in this community and have not done anything illegal.
Other district administrators are only going by what she is telling them. This is not right and it should be addressed.
Sincerely,
Laura Anne Wilhite
Blandinsville