Don Mendell Stands By His Appearance in "Yes On 1" Ad

Sue- the complaint, if you read it, contains alledged complaints by anonymous students that Ms Sullivan should have NOknowledge of as they apparently occured inthe hi school.  I do not believe she stated that she heard or received this complaints, if they are even real., so my guess is they are heaersay, gossip or inuendo.   Anyone can say they heard something from an anonymous source, is that substantial evidence in filing a complaint against someone to take away their livlihood?  I have not heard of any gay,bi, ???, etc students going out and complaining about the care they have rec'd from this man.....in fact, its quite the opposite if you are familar with this school district!

As far as I know,he did not put Ann Sullivan's name out there, though it would eventually be a matter of public knowledge when this complaint is ended. And what if he did,, why should she hide behind a curtain? Maybe he didnt, who knows.  If she has the courage to file a complaint, then she should sign her name to it.  If these chareges are found to be without merit, as those who know him will surely know they will, then she has done irreparable (sp) damage to his name and reputation and she should pay the consequences for pushing her agenda out there throught this complaint. 

I have known him and his work for many years, and do not believe that a complaint was ever filed on him, until he crossed the gay side's path..  do first amendment rights amount to anything, or do they not apply if it refers to homosexuality?  Seems like that is the case, as you can now see all the crying and weeping being done in the newspapers across the state since election day result were posted. 

as for the "guest" who doesnt give his/her name: I do not have an agenda against defending this educator. I am one of many who are standing up for his right to voice his opinion, does the first amendment ring any bells with you?  I know very little of Ann Sullivan except for what she has done, and I do not consider her actions as "merely" filing a complaint (you make it sound like she merely said she disagreed with a statement or something). What she did is a very big deal, threatened a person's way of making a living, who has been very very successful in his career. Why do you say I have zero credibility?  I personally know of the changes he has made, for the better, in many children's lives, including my own.  Do you?  At least I know from where I speak...do you?  He not only did good work with my kids, he did GREAT work, and continued that even after they graduated.  Your comparison to BTK is assinine...childish.  He did not make an anti-gay statement--he spoke of not pushing this on young children, which has already been done.  He did not bring out any religious organization in the ad, is going to church a reason to be called a zealous religious person that are against gays?  What world do you live in.  The other things mentionned is to show the ignorant out there the other types of work he has done for the communities that his school serves, that he does things for all children.....you are so narrow minded in your hatred towards those that express an opinion...shame on you.  You judge on a little soundbite, and feel its okay to ruin the reputation of a man who has done nothing but put kids first....what have you done in your lifetime that even measures up to him?

As someone who knows Mr Mendell and is familiar with his work, let me clarify some of the accusations you list and in the complaint field against him....

His "long history" consists of not being in favor of having the gay club form several years ago when they wanted to start one up, as he felt that these things would be covered under civil rights. They also dont mention that he offered his support thru the civil rights for any student that sought it.

One of the complaints states that he would not hang up a sign in his office made by the gay club students.  As a counselor, he earns the trust of all students he sees, and does not have ANY political agenda type posters in his room.  The only things on the walls are posters of sports teams, music and guitars (as he also heads up a very popular guitar club), pictures of family members, art work given tohim by students, etc....please tell me how not putting up a poster is a reason to try to revoke his license? 

Ms Sullivan, as you correctly wrote, does not work in his school.  She is a counselor for grades K-4 at the Newport Elementary school where her direct boss is Randy gould, husband of Sherry gould who made the No On One ad in a classroom at Nokomis...a public school.  Someone like Ms gould, who is apparently very concerned with her integrity and reputation, sure shot herself in the foot for that, as did the principal and superintendents of this school district for allowing a political ad to be filmed in a public school.  As I understand it, there was quite an outrage in the community when this was confirmed in a local newspaper last week.  It had been kept "under wraps" for several weeks prior.  And you dont find it curious that the one who complained works for the husband of another teacher for the No side?  Alot of people find this outrageous.  While Gould did get permission to use a Nokomis classroom, per the article in the Waterville Morning Sentinel, she should have known better than to use a classroom to film a political ad...as should have the administration at the high school and supt office.  I have also heard, from reliable sources, that Ms gould was handing out No on one literature to seniors in their parking lot after school...all on school grounds.  Just cuz she was teacher of the year 4 years ago doesnt mean she is above everyone, though it seems like she does sometimes, esp in her position as a "literacy coach".  Guess she is above teaching students now.         

Seems like adminstrators have bent over backwards for so long to the gay sympathizers and gay counselors/teachers/staff  to avoid being sued, that they dont have a backbone to stand up for what is right anymore.  Maybe their fear of being sued will come to fruitation after all.

Mr Mendall and Ann sullivan do not talk about work, do not have any mutual clients and only see each other at a few district wide meetings during the year for all employees, and I have yet to see them speak..  She would have NO knowledge of what transpires at the high school, her focus is the little children (and that is scary).  So the information in her complaint had to have come from the gay sympathizers at Nokomis, probably other teachers/ social worker or guidance counselors themselves.  There is no way she would know this AND be privy to information claimed that the students quoted, andof course, are anonymous and unverifiable...or maybe a figment of her imagination,  I can only imagine the meeting these people must have had, to conspire against Mendell, and Ann Sullivan drew the short straw as the one to file the complaint. 

I also wonder why there is a fulltime social worker for grades k-4 in a small rural town elementary school?  I do not know if a social worker, or part time one at that, is required in Maine schools, but it would seem she has too much time on her hands.  This is not the inner city where a fulltime counselor might be needed.  the school district could save lots of money if they elimated her position or had it part time.  The same goes for the Adminstration in the Superintendent's office where there is a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Special Ed director and an Asst special ed director.....geez, no wonder there is no money for books and pencils....pretty topheavy!  According to the www.maineopengov.org website, that lists public salaries, 2007 salaries for this topheavy staff were SuptBrawn ($116491), Asst Supt Shorey ($86231) though I believe that was his principal salary while at Nokomis, he just became the asst supt this year and probably got a raise...that is over $202,700 for these two positions. Then we have Spec Ed Director Jan Morse at ($71750) and her asst, Norleen Fleming (at $61900) for a total of over $$133,64.  Why does a district of this size have such a big payrool...thses 4 positions total  over $336,372 in 2007!  For a smaller district, in a very rural area, this seems pretty high.  Speaking of salaries, this very "busy" k-grade 4 social worker, Ann Sullivan earns $49976 in 2007 for seeing a few kids a week!  Bet the people of this district are tickled pink about their school tax dollar at work!  But I digress....

I do not recall seeing that Mendall hates gay people or is even against them in any way.....he spoke in the ad of not wanting homosexual marriage pushed on children, young children, as the books in the ad with him were aimed at the younger children, like in the elementary school age bracket.  He sees students from all kinds of homes, worse than you can ever imagine, I am sure...and helps them all, regardless of any sexual orientation.  he is, hands down, the most popular counselor in the school.

Freedom of speech is a precious thing. Those who know Mendall know his reputation in his field, in this area. You can refer to his bio for the awards he has received and programs he started or helped start for ALL the children in this district.  He is a selfless worker who sees students in the summer, on his own time, no pay, when they contact him for help.  He does not have unlisted phone number like some counselors. And he has his Masters in Education; something the majority of school social workers/ guidance counselors don't have...they are mostly clinical and have no clue about the educational process involved.

And your assumptions about his views with professional organizations are just that, ASSumptions.

This is the brief when he was awarded one of his State of Maine Department of Education Commissioner's Recognition Awards (and can be verified by looking online):

"We are pleased to recognize Donald Mendell as a recipient of the 2005 Commissioner's Recognition Award. Don is the senior of two social workers at Nokomis, charged with a variety of duties including such things as liaison for the homeless, screener for Alternative Education Job Corps promoter, crisis counselor, and a member of PET's. He is also the host of the "Breakfast Club" which is a hang-out for disenfranchised kids who connect with each other through rock music. He is member of the athletic eligibility committee, which adjudicates requests for exceptions to the eligibility rules, and a SAT founding member, to name just a few."

"Don makes things happen. He advocates. He counsels. He calms. He chases kids down. He hosts the kids. He creates a small haven in his room for those kids who would otherwise have no real connection with adults in the school. Ultimately, that is the strongest drop-out prevention strategy one can offer. He connects with those kids who throw every barrier your way, because he refused to accept that the kid cannot be reached. "

"Kids trust him. Not because he is their buddy, but because he genuinely cares about them, leads them toward personal growth, and he calls it like it is. He reaches across those lines of mistrust that separate so many cliques of teenagers. When a school-phobic kid needs to be brought to school, Don goes to the house to coax him or her."

"Our community is lucky to have a man of such skill and dedication working in our school on behalf of the lost and lonely. "

You should also know that he single handedly was responsible for the start up of the Nokomis High football team several years ago.  He was told it couldnt happen, wouldnt happen, due to budgetary costs, etc...however he had a vision for the young men at Nokomis and after over a year of hard work, on his own time, with no pay and very little help from fellow staffers and NO support from the administration, he saw his vision succeed and dozens of boys at nokomis were on a football team, participating in sports, which in turn resulted in better grades, attendance and behavior for a large segment of the population of this very rural school. 

He was also fundamental in starting up the Alternative School, Student Assitance team, JROTC, did all the 504 plans for the high school (no easy task with Spec ed and govt directives), member of Positive Action committe and I know I am probably missing something. Not only is he a social worker, he has been a little league coach (and not just when his child was on the team) and also served on two positions in his town govt. 

As you can tell, I have been a friend of his for years, and know first hand of the marvelous work he has done.  I would not hesitate to send my child, gay or straight, questioning or bi, transgendered or whatever, to him.  You who write these blogs know nothing about him except one soundbite that you twist to suit your purposes.