Has the Staff Lost Confidence in Donna Carey?
Good leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room-it’s about earning trust, listening even when it’s uncomfortable, and lifting others up. Lately, though, serious concerns are brewing about Board President Donna Carey’s leadership style in Hardyston.
What started as whispers is now turning into quiet, serious conversations. And while many staff members hesitate to speak out publicly (for reasons that will soon be obvious), one theme keeps coming up:
People are afraid to disagree with Donna Carey.
❗ The Rumors: Silencing Dissent
Multiple sources from within the school community are saying the same thing: staff feel pressured to stay silent. Honest professional opinions? Only welcome if they align with Carey’s political agenda.
Even worse, there are rumors that Carey has actively tried to “shut down” dissenting staff members - whether through formal complaints, administrative pressure, or quiet back-channel moves.
If even half of that is true, we’re not talking about leadership anymore-we’re talking about intimidation.
🧙♀️ Teachers Deserve Respect-Not Fear
Our educators are pros. They’ve dedicated their lives to helping kids think bigger, dream higher, and do better.
But when a school board president starts treating staff like political obstacles instead of partners, it’s a recipe for disaster.
When staff are afraid to speak honestly, we all lose. We lose their ideas, their insights, their expertise. Problems don’t magically disappear-they just get buried deeper, festering under the surface.
And let’s be real: once a leader only surrounds themselves with “yes people,” it’s not long before the whole organization starts falling apart.
🧹 What Kind of Culture Is Being Created?
Here are some tough questions we should all be asking:
- Are staff still confident they can speak openly during meetings?
- Are concerns genuinely heard-or just brushed aside?
- Are decisions made collaboratively-or dictated from above?
Good leadership fosters open dialogue. It builds trust. It encourages honest pushback.
It doesn’t silence dissent.
📢 If You’re a Staff Member, Your Voice Still Matters
If you’ve felt sidelined or silenced-you’re not alone.
And more importantly: you still matter. Your voice, your experience, your insights-they’re all crucial to making our schools the best they can be.
Hardyston’s culture isn’t owned by one person. It’s built by all of us: teachers, staff, families, and yes, even the board.
No one-no one-should feel intimidated out of sharing what they believe is best for kids.
⛔️ It’s Time for Accountability
True leadership isn’t about control. It’s about service.
And if the growing rumors about Donna Carey’s leadership are even partly true, then it’s time for the board-and the community-to take a hard look in the mirror:
- Has the climate under Carey’s leadership turned toxic?
- Have staff lost trust that they’ll be treated with fairness and respect?
- And most importantly: Is this really the leadership Hardyston deserves?
Because at the end of the day, our kids are watching-and they deserve better examples than fear and control.