Current Events > Principal resigns after high school journalists expose her credentials

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http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/new-principal-resigns-after-students-investigate-her-credentials/news-story/9def08e14888cb557c17ab0c477488ba

AMY Robertson was only a few weeks into her new job as principal of Pittsburgh High School in Kansas when students at the school’s newspaper noticed something weird.

She was highly qualified for the job, with a glittering resume and sparkling work history, but when the five Year 11s and one Year 12 student started researching her for an article, they couldn’t find the university she claimed to have attended.

Ms Robertson said she had a masters and doctorate degree from a place called Corllins University, but when the students looked it up, the website didn’t work.

There was also no sign of a physical address.

It was the beginning of the end for Ms Robertson, who started at the school on March 6 and lasted less than a month before resigning yesterday.

“She was going to be the head of our school, and we wanted be assured that she was qualified and had the proper credentials,” student Trina Paul told the Kansas City Star.

“There were some things that just didn’t quite add up,” agreed her colleague, 17-year-old Connor Balthazor, when speaking to the Washington Post.

He explained they knew they were onto something when they double-checked the existence of Corllins University with the US Department of Education, and the search came up blank.

The students began a weeks-long investigation into Ms Robertson’s background, questioning the legitimacy of every detail listed in her education and work history.

Robertson had been living in Dubai for 20 years before she was hired at Pittsburgh High School, and claims to have headed an education consulting firm.

However, when she faced a student interview, the article said she “presented incomplete answers, conflicting dates and inconsistencies in her report”.

Eventually, the students were able to reveal Corllins University was nothing more than a “diploma mill”, where people could buy any kind of university degrees, diplomas and certificates online.

Furthermore, they discovered she was never actually licensed to teach in Kansas.

“The kids had never gone through someone like this before,” local superintendent Destry Brown told the Kansas City Star.

However, he encouraged them to seek answers, telling reporters: “I want our kids to have real-life experiences, whether it’s welding or journalism.”

School journalism adviser Emily Smith said she is “very proud” of her students.

“Everybody kept telling them, ‘stop poking your nose where it doesn’t belong,’” she told the Washington Post.

“They were at a loss that something that was so easy for them to see was waiting to be noticed by adults.”

“All of this was completely overlooked,” Mr Balthazor agreed.

“All of the shining reviews did not have these crucial pieces of information … you would expect your authority figures to find this.”

Sounds like a Disney caper. What a scoop! Trump should invite them to the white house tbh
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Imagine your School District hiring a new head of faculty, and then being upstaged by students who care more about their education than you do. This is embarrassing.
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Darmik posted...

Robertson had been living in Dubai for 20 years

http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/186312-Well-There-s-Your-Problem.jpg
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Kind of pisses me off (as someone who can't land a nice job) that a legit candidate was probably passed up so this fraudster could get the position

"And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!"
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they should outlaw those fake schools.
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uh the website works for me?

http://corluni.org/

BlackHorse6969 posted...

uh the website works for me?

http://corluni.org/

I think they mean trying to verify her through the website didn't work. The article mentions there wasn't an address. Which seems to be the case when I looked at the Contact Us page.
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What kind of piece of shit school district is it where the students do a more proper job in vetting the educators than the administration does?
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So did this principal make this university up to make her BS resume more believable, or is there a greater conspiracy at hand here?
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Principal resigns after high school journalists expose her credentials

This sounds like a Scooby Doo mystery.
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3rd_Best_Master posted...

What kind of piece of shit school district is it where the students do a more proper job in vetting the educators than the administration does?

This

Whole board should be fired
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Sativa_Rose posted...

So did this principal make this university up to make her BS resume more believable, or is there a greater conspiracy at hand here?

I think it's one of those dodgy places that basically sell degrees.
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Darmik posted...

Sativa_Rose posted...

So did this principal make this university up to make her BS resume more believable, or is there a greater conspiracy at hand here?

I think it's one of those dodgy places that basically sell degrees.

Hmm, it is possible then that she was fooled into thinking that the degree was valid? At least when she signed up for it. Maybe she figured out it was BS eventually, after she was already financially screwed over.
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ShadowofSolidus posted...

"And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!"

Came in to post this
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