When I went to Austin for the Save Texas Schools rally, I also participated in a panel discussion about school reform at the LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas. There I met Carla Ranger, a member of the Dallas school board.
As I listened to her speak, I was overwhelmed with admiration for this independent, smart, wise, courageous, and principled supporter of public education and children. At some point in the discussion, I said out loud, “Carla Ranger, I just met you and I love you..”
Dallas has a Broad-trained superintendent, who put a young TFA alum in charge of human resources. The superintendent is ex-military and is big on setting goals and giving orders. Carla has her hands full.
Today I add her to our honor roll. Please visit her website.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Carla Ranger is the Dallas ISD Board member representing my area, and we are all very proud of her! We have a very hard road in front of us, but we must constantly demand the transparency needed to help the public know what is happening. Trustee Ranger is out there pushing for that transparency, and fighting many battles along the way. Placing her on your honor roll is a wise choice!
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Just a friendly reminder here folks…that Tennessee test score starvation bill is on the calendar on the Senate floor this week for 4/11/13.
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Ms. Ravitch,
As incredibly old fashioned as it may seem, what is your mailing address ?
also, do you have an email address ? if so , Would you be so kind as to provide them?
I have some tales of combatting Deborah Gist and Stephen Pryor I would like to share with you. I consider you the Leader of all of us who dare to oppose the “Reform Movement”.
God Bless You,
Jim Spellman
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Jim,
Strange as it may seem, I don’t put my home address on the Internet.
You can find my email on my website.
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The superintendent is ex-military and is big on setting goals and giving orders.
Dallas needs someone able to address the effects of past discrimination.
From the Broad Academy website:
Prior to his involvement in education, Milles served the public interest as a statesman and soldier. He was a Diplomat to Poland and Russia at the end of the Cold War …his military experience included leading counter terrorism training operations.
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What do you mean by discrimination? Because if you are talking about equality for all ethnic groups, he seems to be making it even more divisive.
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@Eric- Many had high hopes for Miles. Unfortunately, he is continuing a long district tradition of under serving and mis-educating many. The school politics are strongly classist and Miles and the Dallas leadership (Minus Ms. Ranger and occasionally other voices) are party to it.
As for his stellar credentials: time will tell if he will be remembered in those terms.
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From the get-go, Dallas Superintendent Miles sounded like the military leader that he was. Time for him to know that education is not the military.
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