EduShyster lives in Massachusetts, so she has more than a passing interest in the selection of the new superintendent of schools.
She presents us with the four finalists here.
One, Guadalupe Guerrero, led a school that was taken over by the state. Worse, she says, he was kicked out of a doctoral program at Harvard. She thinks he is at the back of the pack.
Then there is Tommy Chang, a TFA alum who had a speedy ascent up the administrative pole to become principal of a Green Dot charter school, and most recently, “special assistant to LA’s then superintendent, the ethically embattled Dr. John Deasy, who then further elevated Chang to a special position overseeing LA high schools in need of special attention.” One of the schools for which he was responsible was Jefferson High School, where students walked out in protest because they had no schedules; Chang removed the principal without having a replacement. Chaos. A good choice? EduShyster thinks not.
Next is Pedro Martinez, who has the dubious distinction of being a graduate of the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy, whose graduates tend to leave in a huff, after alienating large numbers of parents with their top-down, take-no-prisoners management style.
And last, there is Dana Bedden of Richmond, Virginia. What distinguishes him from the others is that the stakeholders in Richmond don’t want him to leave. Imagine that! There is actually a petition drive to persuade him to stay in Richmond. EduShyster notes with astonishment that he does not speak edujargon. He is her candidate. Given such a field, he should be everyone’s candidate.
Great job opportunity in Fullerton California for a Superintendent who wants to work in one of the best districts in the nation. Please apply. We do not want to repeat the same mistakes of Florida. We are just beginning the testing process and we have a Governor who is on record of NOT BEING IN FAVOR OF NATIONAL TESTING.
Except for one of our school board members who came out and said if the governor of Virginia, the school board, and teachers ask you to remove your name from the list of finalists, and you don’t, then good riddance! I mean, here in Richmond, we want and need someone to stick with this eternally stuck school system and really make a difference. These are lower income kids. We have facilities in not so good condition. We need someone to be our superintendent that cares. I am not sure it is Mr. Bedden. He seems to after the big bucks, that’s all.
I am moving back to Boston and will be applying there. I am shivering with fear if the Broadie becomes the new Sup.
Dana Bedden cut his teeth in our district, William Penn. An economically stressed school system located on the inner ring of Philadelphia suburbs. He also held assistant superintendent positions in Philadelphia prior to William Penn. He stayed a couple of years. Seemed like a good guy, but he wasn’t here long enough to make any meaningful changes…
but why is Bedden leaving Richmond after only 13 mon on the job? some difficulty we dont know about? climbing the ladder quickly? trying to make Richmond realize his value?
what boston really needs is an experienced urban supt, not an aspiring one.
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Thank you so much for this invaluable scorecard, EduShyster.
Nice to know that LAUSD’s own policy of failing upward is (tragically) not an anomaly.If Tommy Chang’s “leadership” gets rewarded, then Babe Ruth was right to leave that town.
Dr. Chang selected by Boston