Local guest commentary: The problem is the system, not Immokalee principal

The over-age students who were discovered at Immokalee High School should not serve as a stigma to shadow the achievements and accomplishments of the school and the rest of the students.

The student enrollment form that was used to register these students in school is the same for all the schools. The documents presented to the guidance personnel by the students proved them to be school age. I believe the problem is with the documents presented by the students, but not the administrators or staff.

I think the present situation at Immokalee High School has proven that the system the district has in place for registering students needs to be re-evaluated, but it is not an opportunity to stigmatize the integrity of the principal in charge of the school.

Since the discovery of the problem the principal’s credibility seems to be in question, but no one is suggesting a solution. Understanding and finding a solution to the problem should be the main focus here. Given the criteria and procedures used in registering students in school, it is obvious this problem could be occurring in every public school in Collier County. Based upon the ongoing investigation of the risen circumstance, findings have revealed that all the public schools in Collier County are not in compliance with the existing law.

Considering that being the case, it is unreasonable to hold only one principal or school accountable for such a systemic dilemma. Attempting to make it seem as if the principal should be responsible for the cause of this problem is a ridiculous idea and unfair.

I was a student athlete at Immokalee High School for four years.

I was a member of the varsity soccer squad for four years under the leadership of Principal Manny Touron as the assistant coach. I have very high regard for the moral and educational values he always strives to instill in all his student athletes, which were mainly migrant students, but not international students. He led us to believe that we were as competent and capable as any other team in the county. He made us learn to dream and hope for bigger and better things in life after high school.

Before the arrival of Principal Touron at Immokalee High School, the possibility of a migrant student pursuing a college education after high school was rare, but for the 13 years he has been in Immokalee he has sent more than 20 students to junior colleges and universities in pursuit of higher education.

I remember when I was getting out of high school many of my teachers wanted to know out of curiosity what I wanted to do after high school, and I always said to them I wanted to attend a four-year university. Many of them looked on me with disbelief because of the language barrier. They didn’t believe I would survive, but Principal Touron gave me a shot to a four-year university (Alabama A&M) and that was all I needed to excel and achieve success.

Throughout my years in high school and college, Coach Touron has been an adviser, counselor and a father figure in my life. For the years I have been around him, I have always known him as a man of compassion, integrity, good character, good principle, discipline and dignity.

I’m very well acquainted with his work and contribution to the achievements and successes of many like me who went through Immokalee High School. I strongly believe that he is doing an exceptional job with the young people at Immokalee High School and I know he will continue to serve the young people in this community because that is his passion and desire. He does care about the safety and the well-being of the students in the school. Whatever he is doing he always does it with dedication, compassion, enthusiasm, respect and a good sense of humor.

I’m proud to be a product of his good work in the community.

Throughout my high school career I have had two principals and great, influential educational leaders who have left an impression on me because of their visions for young people in this community. I pledge my honor to principals Jerry Primus and Touron for their contribution to the educational development of students at Immokalee High School. I will always admire them for their courage and passion.

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Saintano Damas teaches physical education at Immokalee Middle School.