When it comes to school leaders, stop waiting for Superman
Over the last week, a full Hollywood-style drama rolled out in Los Angeles with a familiar cast of characters. There was school superintendent John Deasy, the polarizing 52-year-old leader portrayed by some as a hero or a villain.
As usual, parents and children of the nation’s second largest school system are the ones left behind in a battle that focused too much on school board intrigue and one man, blurring the already all-too-fuzzy line between politics and education.There were critical school board members and angry teacher union officials who dislike some of Deasy’s policies, playing the role of rogue dissenter.
The final act is yet to come, but on Tuesday night Deasy – who had reportedly told some board members he was frustrated and leaving – thanked the board for a “good and robust evaluation,’’ after five hours behind closed doors.
Deasy’s “satisfactory,” board rating immediately extends his $330,000 contract through June, 2016. The Los Angeles Teachers Union (UTLA) disagreed, of course, calling the board’s evaluation of Deasy and the extension of his contract “not satisfactory.”
Deasy’s “satisfactory,” board rating immediately extends his $330,000 contract through June, 2016. The Los Angeles Teachers Union (UTLA) disagreed, of course, calling the board’s evaluation of Deasy and the extension of his contract “not satisfactory.”
Once again, the intense focus and mobilizing that took place in advance and even after the vote distracts attention from the needs of a poor and sprawling district — one beset by a litany of seemingly intractable urban problem that find their way into classrooms everywhere.
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Plenty of parents tried to get their voices heard on Tuesday, a day of rallies, marching and chanting, largely in support of Deasy – but ultimately their voices don’t matter much.
“Children before politics,’’ read one irony-rich sign with a message that simply didn’t jive with