Incoming RCSD Superintendent 'ecstatic' about community support
He says the turnout at the Community Conversations hosted by the district has shown him how vested community organizations and individuals are about ensuring children in Rochester have what they need.
Rosser answered a host of questions from students, teachers, parents, and community members at Dr. Freddie Thomas Middle School on Tuesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Participants expressed enthusiasm about the work Dr. Rosser did as superintendent in Poughkeepsie, but pointed out that many superintendents of urban school districts leave after 3 to 5 years. Rosser pointed to his 6 years in Poughkeepsie and encouraged folks to do their homework about his track record as an educator in Buffalo, Atlanta, and other cities.
'Revamp & reimagination': Incoming RCSD superintendent hears concerns from parents
When asked what he would need to stay 5 to 10 years in Rochester, he pointed to community support.
'While the super does have super in his name, we are not superheroes. It's important we come together to support what we believe our vision for the children in our community to be.' Rosser said.
He answered a host of other questions related to academic achievement, funding cuts, continuous changes and revisions in the district, professional development for teachers, and creating a safe environment for students.
Rosser listened to concerns and community expectations. He took notes and pledged to serve as chief ambassador and advocate for the district.
The third Community Conversation will be held Saturday, June 14 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Jefferson Campus. Rosser officially begins as RCSD Superintendent July 1.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
17 Phrases Know-It-Alls Use To Flex Their ‘Superiority'
We've all dealt with those people who can't help but try to outshine everyone else in the room. They drop subtle (or not-so-subtle) phrases designed to make you feel like they know more, like they're the walking encyclopedia of the conversation. These individuals often enjoy showcasing their perceived intelligence with lines that can come across as dismissive, condescending, or annoying. Here's a breakdown of what they say and what they're really trying to accomplish. People love to whip out 'Well, technically…' when itching to correct you on something small, often irrelevant. It's not about adding depth to the conversation—it's about asserting their intellectual dominance by focusing on a minor detail. This phrase is a favorite among those who need to be right, even if the 'correction' doesn't matter in the grand scheme. It's less about accuracy and more about control. Their goal is to sound smarter, not to be helpful. These people rarely bring up 'technically' moments in good faith. It's usually a way to remind you who's supposedly more precise. Even when they're right, their delivery reeks of superiority. They enjoy spotlighting flaws, even minor ones, to inflate their ego. The tone says it all: they want to feel smarter than you. When someone tells you something is 'simple,' they're not being helpful—they're belittling you. It's their way of suggesting that you're making something more complicated than it needs to be. Even if the topic is nuanced, they reduce it to a basic level to make it seem like you're the one who's struggling. The subtext is loud and clear: 'I've got this figured out, why haven't you?' It's condescending, plain and simple. What they really mean is that your confusion is beneath them. They want to look like the expert in the room. By minimizing complexity, they elevate themselves. This tactic shuts down deeper discussion fast. It leaves you feeling talked down to, not enlightened. When someone says, 'I read somewhere that…', it's often their way of flexing their 'well-informed' status. The problem is that they rarely cite reliable sources or offer any real depth. It's just a tactic to make you feel like they're more in the know, even if what they're referencing is vague or irrelevant. It's a throwaway line meant to make them seem well-read and knowledgeable. Most of the time, it adds nothing valuable to the conversation. This phrase is a lazy attempt at credibility. They hope you won't question the source. It's meant to shut down your perspective by implying they've already done the homework. But vague references rarely impress anyone genuinely informed. It's more about sounding smart than being smart. When someone starts a sentence with 'Actually…', they're waving a flag that says, 'I'm here to correct you.' This one word is a classic way to interject and undermine whatever you've just said, whether or not they have any groundbreaking information to share. It's a subtle power move meant to establish their intellectual dominance. They want you to know they're smarter, even if the correction is pointless. Their 'correction' is often unnecessary, but the condescension is crystal clear. They thrive on these moments of interruption. It's less about clarity and more about control. They want the room to pause and admire their knowledge. Even when it's petty, they crave that moment of superiority. 'Actually' is rarely as harmless as it seems. Hearing this phrase can feel like nails on a chalkboard, especially when you already get it. It implies you're clueless, and the speaker is swooping in to save you with their vast knowledge. In reality, they're positioning themselves as the 'expert' in the conversation, leaving you as the uninformed bystander. It's one of those statements that instantly turns a discussion into a lecture. They assume the teacher role whether you want it or not. Their tone isn't about being helpful—it's about being superior. This is how they assert dominance in subtle social ways. They need you to recognize their authority, even if it's over something trivial. These people mistake condescension for clarity. Conversations stop being equal the moment this phrase is dropped. 'Everyone knows that' isn't just a phrase—it's a dig, a not-so-subtle way of making you feel like you're the only one in the dark. It's designed to make you question your intelligence and put the other person on a pedestal. They're saying, 'How could you not know this?' It's dismissive and shows they're more interested in appearing smart than engaging in a meaningful conversation. It's arrogance wrapped in casual phrasing. What they want is to highlight how behind you are. They crave the comparison between their brilliance and your supposed ignorance. These statements aren't about facts—they're about hierarchy. Making you feel small makes them feel big. That's their real goal here. This one is the verbal equivalent of a door slamming in your face. When someone says, 'You wouldn't understand,' they're not just shutting down the conversation but also implying that your brain can't handle the topic. It's a passive-aggressive way of belittling your intelligence while making them feel superior. The worst part is it doesn't invite a discussion—it's designed to make you feel left out and inferior. It sends a clear message that they think you're intellectually inferior to them. This phrase is all about exclusion and hierarchy. They aren't offering to explain—they're declaring you unworthy of understanding. It's a power play disguised as protection. They get to feel smarter while you're left feeling dismissed. It's about maintaining their self-image, not clarity. If someone starts with this, prepare yourself. What follows will be rude, no matter how much they try to sugarcoat it. This phrase is the ultimate passive-aggressive opener. They're permitting themselves to be condescending under the guise of politeness. They really mean, 'I'm about to put you in your place, but I want to look like I'm being civil while I do it.' Their tone says it all—smug, knowing, and superior. They think prefacing it this way softens the blow. In reality, it just makes them seem more manipulative. They want to insult you but hide behind fake manners. This isn't honesty—it's veiled hostility. This phrase is nothing short of an insult. It's a direct jab at your intelligence, as if they question whether you know the subject. It's not an innocent question—it's a statement wrapped in a question mark designed to belittle you. Instead of offering clarification or engaging in a real conversation, they use this to remind you that, in their eyes, you're out of your depth. It's designed to make you feel embarrassed and small. They don't want your answer—they want you to feel inferior. This phrase is about posturing, not discussion. It's dismissive and patronizing in equal measure. Their goal isn't understanding—it's dominance. People who say this aren't curious; they're condescending. Whenever someone says, 'It's common sense,' they're not being helpful—they're being condescending. This phrase implies that whatever you discuss should be so obvious that only a fool wouldn't get it. It's their way of saying that you lack basic understanding while they are enlightened. It's a dismissive line that shuts down real conversation. Instead of explaining, they're choosing to belittle. They use this to make themselves feel superior. It's not about facts—it's about ego. Their words are meant to humiliate, not clarify. When someone defaults to this phrase, they're signaling impatience and arrogance. It's a shortcut to making you feel small. This phrase is a favorite of people pretending they're experts, but their 'research' often consists of reading a few articles or watching a YouTube video. They use this line to back you into a corner, making it seem like their viewpoint is bulletproof because they've put in more 'work.' The reality is they're probably as informed as you are, but they'll claim superior knowledge to discredit your opinion. It's less about facts and more about authority. They want to win the argument, not exchange ideas. Their version of research rarely withstands scrutiny. It's a bluff to make you back down. They hope you won't challenge their so-called expertise. Saying this phrase signals they're done listening. They value appearing right over being open-minded. This is one of those humblebrag phrases that people drop to make it seem like you're late to the party. By saying, 'I've known that for ages,' they're trying to make you feel like you're behind the curve while they've been sitting on this information forever. It's dismissive, unnecessary, and another way to inflate their ego by making you feel like you're playing catch-up. It's not about sharing knowledge—it's about subtly putting you down. They want you to know they've been ahead of you all along. Their goal is superiority, not camaraderie. They frame themselves as more experienced, more informed, and ahead of the game. It's rarely said kindly—it's meant to highlight your ignorance. This isn't about facts; it's about status. They want you to feel embarrassed, not enlightened. This phrase is a classic move to shut down your perspective, regardless of whether their 'experience' is relevant. Even if it is, they use it to shut down the conversation because, in their mind, more experience equals superior knowledge. It's an automatic conversation ender, implying that their lived experience trumps your understanding, no matter what you bring to the table. They aren't offering insight—they're closing the door on your opinion. It's all about pulling rank. Experience doesn't always equal wisdom, but they want you to think it does. This phrase is about power, not collaboration. They want you to defer, not discuss. Once this line drops, they've signaled they're done listening. Their ego won't allow for debate. While this might seem like a friendly offer, it's often a backhanded way of saying you're doing something wrong, and they're here to save the day. The real meaning behind this phrase is, 'I know better than you, and you need my guidance.' It's condescending and often unnecessary, especially when you didn't ask for their help in the first place. They frame it as kindness, but it's rooted in superiority. They want credit for being the wiser voice in the room. This isn't generosity—it's about control. They believe their unsolicited advice is a gift you should accept. Dismissing your ideas feels like doing you a favor. Their 'help' isn't about your growth—it's about their ego. These words mask superiority as concern. This one's sneaky because it sounds like they're just offering an alternative perspective, but really, it's a way of saying their method is better than yours. It's a quiet way of implying that your approach is flawed and theirs is superior. Even if they don't outright say your way is wrong, the subtext is clear—they think they know better. It's dismissive, masked as casual commentary. They aren't offering advice—they're issuing judgment. Their words imply there's only one right way—their way. They want you to question your choices and defer to their experience. Subtle superiority is still superiority. It's rarely about improvement; it's about control. This phrase chips away at confidence while elevating their ego. When someone says, 'I'm pretty sure…' they cast doubt on what you've just said, even if they don't have solid evidence. It's a way of hedging their bets while implying they have a better handle on the topic. It's passive-aggressive because it sounds uncertain, but in reality, they're trying to gently correct you, whether or not they have the facts to back it up. They want to sound knowledgeable without fully committing. This gives them cover if they're wrong. This phrase is about planting seeds of doubt. They subtly question your grasp on reality. Even if they're wrong, they've unsettled your confidence. They use uncertainty as a weapon. It's less about facts, more about control. While this might sound diplomatic, it's often just a way for someone to end the conversation when they think they've won. By saying, 'Let's agree to disagree,' they're essentially saying, 'I'm right, but I'll let you have your little opinion.' It's a dismissive way to shut down further discussion and avoid engaging with your viewpoint. They want the final word without offering closure. It's condescension dressed up as civility. What they're saying is they're done respecting your perspective. They don't want dialogue—they want you to back down. This phrase isn't about respect, it's about control. It ends conversations on their terms, not yours. They leave feeling superior, not reconciled.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
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The latest school and school district grades are out. How did Okaloosa County fare?
The Okaloosa County School District has again scored an A on its report card for what it calls its 'unwavering commitment to academic excellence across all grade levels.' Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on July 7 that improvements were registered in K-12 school performance across all school types statewide. In fact, 71% of all graded schools (2,461 schools) earned either an A or B grade, compared to 64% (2,215) of schools last year. Florida charter schools are also thriving, with 77% earning A or B grades. The Okaloosa district scored a total of 793 points, up from 772 in 2023–2024. Additionally, 92% of Okaloosa schools earned an A or B, an increase from 86% the previous year. The district also maintained an 88% graduation rate and made gains in English language arts, mathematics, and science, as well as civics. Okaloosa is one of only three districts in Florida to earn an A grade every year school grades have been issued since 2014. In a news release announcing the 2024-25 district and school grades, Okaloosa Superintendent Marcus Chambers said, 'Once again, Okaloosa County has demonstrated what is possible when students, teachers, families and school leaders work together toward a common goal. "Earning an A rating is a reflection of the high standards we hold ourselves to as a district and our shared belief in continuous improvement. I'm deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our teachers, staff and administrators, whose efforts continue to make a difference in the lives of our students.' In the news release, the district touted the following statistics: Schools earning an A increased from 15 to 19 Schools earning a B decreased from 17 to 15 Schools earning a C decreased from 5 to 3 Baker School, Bruner Middle, Davidson Middle and Walker Elementary improved from B in 2023-24 to A in 2024-25. Choctawhatchee High School, Edwins Elementary and Shalimar Elementary improved from C to B. Fort Walton Beach High School, Meigs Middle and Northwood Elementary were 1 point away from earning A grades. For a full listing of school and district grades, for this year and past years, visit the Daily News' data site at This tool also allows readers to check how all other Florida districts and schools fared in 2024-25 and in past years. Likewise, full information for Walton County, whose school district also maintained its A grade, can be found at In an email statement received July 8, Chambers said Okaloosa's high rating is the result of a 'collective effort by passionate educators, strong leadership, and a shared commitment to meeting students where they are.' The district has emphasized ongoing professional development of teachers, used specific strategies to focus on English language arts and civics, and adjusted instruction in real time to make sure students grow and meet the goals. 'By integrating innovative technologies — such as virtual reality goggles and Clear Touch panels — we're enhancing instruction in subjects like biology, geometry, and algebra, making learning more engaging and accessible. We've also prioritized acceleration opportunities in middle school and expanded college and career readiness initiatives,' Chambers said. 'I couldn't be more proud of the incredible efforts of our students, educators, and school communities — and what we've accomplished together.' 'Florida's use of statewide progress monitoring is yet another example of how Florida leads on education,' DeSantis said in a news release announcing the grades. 'Providing more opportunities for parents and teachers to intervene in a child's performance in school leads to better outcomes and a higher quality education.' Statewide, 71% of graded schools (2,461 schools) earned an A or B in 2025 compared to 64% (2,215 schools) in 2024. And 44% of all schools earned an A, up from 38% in 2024. The number of schools earning a D or F decreased from 117 in 2024 to 71 in 2025. As for school districts statewide: For 2024-25, 28 districts received an A, 31 districts received a B, eight districts received a C. No districts received a D or F. Our story from 2024: Okaloosa and Walton counties retain A ratings in new Florida school district ratings Among Florida's charter schools, 77 percent (480) of graded charter schools earned an A or B, and 68% (412 schools) either increased their grade or maintained an A. Jim Ross contributed This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Okaloosa County, Florida reflects on 2024-25 school and district grades
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Newsweek
COP30 CEO Calls for 'Realistic' Expectations for UN Climate Talks
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The CEO for this year's COP30 climate talks in Brazil used an appearance at a Newsweek London Climate Action Week event to manage expectations for the highly anticipated United Nations gathering in her country in November. "We need to be realistic [about] where the geopolitics are at the moment, and the geopolitics are definitely not helping," COP30 CEO Ana Toni said in a Climate Conversation interview last week produced by Newsweek and partners at Hi Impact and London Climate Action Week. "We have several military wars, unfortunately, we have trade wars happening." Brazil will host COP30 in Belém, the capital of the state of Pará, at the mouth of the Amazon River. It will be the first UN climate negotiations convened in the Amazon, highlighting the connections between climate change and nature conservation. The talks also mark the 10th anniversary of the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and countries in the agreement are due to update their national plans for meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. COP30 CEO Ana Toni in a Newsweek "Climate Conversation" interview during London Climate Action Week. COP30 CEO Ana Toni in a Newsweek "Climate Conversation" interview during London Climate Action Week. Courtesy of Hi Impact Despite strong global growth in renewable energy, EVs and other clean technologies, global emissions have reached a record high, and scientists documented that the past two years were the world's warmest on record. That combination of factors makes COP30 an especially urgent gathering. However, the global political atmosphere does not bode well for climate progress, Toni said. In addition to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs against major trade partners around the world, undermining other multilateral talks. Trump is also undoing federal policy on climate change and announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris agreement, as he did in 2017 during his first term as President. Toni cautioned against hopes for a dramatic outcome from Belém. "I know there is a lot of temptation to imagine that any one meeting will solve our problems, unfortunately this is not the case," she said. "The work will not finish at COP30, it's just a very important moment." Toni is the national secretary for Climate Change at Brazil's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced in January that she will be CEO of the COP30 talks along with André Corrêa do Lago, secretary for climate, who will be COP30 president. The host nation officials for UN climate talks typically play an important role in setting the agenda for the event and guiding negotiations toward a final agreement. She said she wants the Belém gathering to promote efforts to finance nature conservation and nature-based climate solutions. "We need to talk much more about nature finance," she said. "We talk very little about how the financial sector, the private sector, can help with that preservation." Toni said COP30 will also focus on the important role cities have to both reduce emissions and adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. "When we are getting into implementation, the topics, perhaps they are less flashy, but they are perhaps more important," she said. "Many people are suffering heat waves, fires, flooding." Newsweek's Climate Conversation also featured interviews with climate policy leader Jennifer Morgan and noted climate scientist Jim Skea. Morgan, the special envoy for international climate action for Germany's Federal Foreign Office, echoed Toni's call for greater attention to climate adaptation and the effects of climate-driven extreme weather events. "The costs are just extraordinary," Morgan said, noting that Germany's central bank is documenting the costs to GDP from climate change. "I don't think it's right to have a certain group of wealthy fossil actors have the power to destroy the earth, to make the lives of poor people and vulnerable people much worse." While costs from climate impacts are growing, so are the global investments in clean energy solutions. According to the International Energy Agency, global energy investment this year will hit a record $3.3 trillion, and clean energy and electrification projects are drawing twice the investment of fossil fuels. Sir Jim Skea, a professor emeritus at Imperial College London, chairs the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Skea said the surging investment in clean technology comes as the costs of renewable energy and energy storage are rapidly falling. "In many parts of the world it is now cheaper to produce electricity from wind and solar than it is from fossil fuels," Skea said. "When the financial incentives and the moral incentives—you know, reducing emissions—go in the same direction it is a very, very powerful message."
