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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Kenneth Bernstein: Of Generals and School Superintendents

Kenneth Bernstein: Of Generals and School Superintendents
Kenneth Bernstein

Kenneth Bernstein

Posted: January 5, 2011 03:57 PM



The superintendent of the school system in which I teach in Prince George's County, Maryland, according to the 2009 annual report, had a budget of $1.7 billion, serving more than 127,000 students, with roughly 18,300 employees, of whom about 9,000 were teachers.

In the U.S. Army a Major General, with two stars, might well command a division with 10,000 - 15,000 employees. It may consist of two to five Brigades, each of which might be led by a one-star Brigadier General.

Does the span of control of our superintendent and the budget and number of employees for which he is responsible qualify him to lead an Army