Mike Anderson: Hope Champlin is able to spend this year meeting amazing educators of Laconia

To The Daily Sun,

Bob Champlin’s comment in Thursday’s Daily Sun that he doesn’t "think anyone cares more about Laconia than Steve Tucker" is confounding. How is that possible when Tucker created and fostered a hostile work environment based on fear, bullying, and retaliation? Would any responsible educator ever excuse a student’s bullying behavior because that student claimed to care?

Further, Champlin's implication is that all of the teachers and educators he met during his career, and all of the current teachers and educators of Laconia, care less about Laconia than someone who was described as "toxic," "harassing," and "unethical." I was a student in Laconia schools for 13 years, starting in kindergarten at Pleasant Street School and ending with graduation from Laconia High School in 2002. I had many teachers and educators who cared deeply about Laconia. Marc Corriveau, Ellen St. James, Dave Levesque, Rick Leahy, Ray Seabeck, Virginia Bean, Jim Chase, Beverly Jones, Eileen Roy, among many others, cared immensely for their students and the community. I’m certain there were many other teachers during and after my time in Laconia who cared as much as those who I was lucky enough to encounter.

The Ford investigation outlined behavior by Tucker that is not indicative of someone who cares about the Laconia community. If Champlin actually believes that no one "cares more about Laconia" than Tucker, then I feel bad for him; he missed out on meeting many wonderful educators. Given Champlin’s new opportunity, I hope he is able to spend this year meeting the amazing educators of Laconia who actually demonstrate their love for the community. 

From a member of the Laconia High School class of 2002.

Mike Anderson

Alexandria, Virginia