The “Work Hard. Be Kind. Dream Big. No Excuses” Motto has been claimed by San Diego Unified Supt. Cindy Marten to be a unique and original cornerstone of her professional education philosophy, both at Central Elementary when she became Principal and when she was ceremoniously promoted to Superintendent.

In fact, that supposedly “original” motto was adopted by Marten at Central Elementary

and is emblazoned on Supt. Martens’ SDUSD Website Profile Picture.

Unfortunately that original” Motto appears to be PLAGIARIZED from the KIPP Charter School Network and was created by its originators as far back as 1994!

plagiarize: verb US /ˈpleɪ·dʒəˌrɑɪz/

To use another person’s idea or a part of that person’s work and pretend that it is your own

An article written by Abigail Thernstrom and published by the Hoover Press back on August 1, 2001,  well before Martens’ time at Central Elementary, mentions “Work Hard”, “Be Nice” (Marten substituted “Kind” for “Nice” – same meaning) and “No Excuses”:

The messages the school delivers on its walls and through its teachers are integral to its success. The guidance counselor talks about the dangerous culture of the streets. Everywhere there are encouraging signs: “There Are No Shortcuts”; “No Excuses”; “Be Nice!!! Work Hard!!!”; “All of Us Will Learn”; and “True Champions Always Work Hard.” Other celebrated schools tell children they are loved; KIPP says something more important: self-discipline and civility will get you where you want to go. – pg, 271 “The Racial Gap in Academic Achievement” ABIGAIL THERNSTROM,  8/1/01

In fact, in a book titled “Work Hard, Be Nice” (sound familiar?) the two “Teach for America” Teachers who formulated the KIPP Charters, came up with the “Marten Motto” back in 1994!!!

We wonder if Marten is paying them royalties!

The following graphic illustrates the depth of Martens’ Plagiarized Motto

Blue words are Plagiarized, Green words are Marten Original:

WORK HARD. BE KIND. DREAM BIG. NO EXCUSES.

That’s right…SIX out of the eight words…75%…are plagiarized from KIPP Charters by Superintendent Cindy Marten!

OBVIOUSLY the Marten Motto is the definition of plagiarize…”To use another person’s idea or a part of that person’s work and pretend that it is your own”

The worst part?

Apparently certain School Site Leaders are following in the footsteps and legacy of Marten and have plagiarized Promotion/Graduation speeches!

District Deeds has received a copy of the original speech from 4 years earlier in Washington State and a recorded copy of a San Diego Unified School Site Leader plagiarizing that speech  almost WORD for WORD this Spring/Summer!

Here is the link to the original Eighth-Grade Graduation Speech by Anne Stavney on June 5, 2012 and plagiarized this Spring/Summer to a class of hopeful, trusting Students, Parents, Teachers and Colleagues who gave congratulations after the speech for the inspiration.

On a much larger scale, the same betrayal of thousands of hopeful and trusting Students, Parents, Teachers, Principals, Senior Administrators, Stakeholders and Taxpayers.has occurred with Martens’ Plagiarized Motto.

District Deeds will NOT reveal the recording or the name of the administrator who plagiarized the speech.

We URGE that Administrator to go to their superior, admit their mistake and accept responsibility for their actions.

We DEMAND that Superintendent Marten receive SEVERE repercussions from the Board of Education for the betrayal of trust by the plagiarized Marten Motto…and remove it from her SDUSD Profile AND Central Elementary IMMEDIATELY…unless the SDUSD is converting it to a KIPP Charter School. 

One last suggestion…SDUSD Supt. Marten needs to adopt a NEW Motto:

CINDY SHALT NOT STEAL!

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IF

• Your family has been injured by the San Diego Unified School District, go to the District Deeds Complaint Forms page to find instructions to fight for your Civil Rights!

• YOU ARE TIRED OF THE COVER UPS AND LIES BY SUPT. CINDY MARTEN… 

Please Click the Link Below and sign the Petition Today and READ the COMMENTS to Support the REMOVAL of Marten by SDUSD Stakeholders!

 

FIRE San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten Immediately!

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