LETTERS - Letter to the Editor

School Administrator, May, 2001

Hewitt's TOo-Real Account

Paul Hewitt's to-the-point article ("Why the Evaluation Instrument May Not Matter," February 2001) describes one of the unfortunate realities of the school superintendency today.

I've seen superintendents who have received state and national recognition lose their jobs during the same year. The wickedness of local politics runs deep. Ever since Georgia changed state law to provide for board-appointed superintendents in 1993, I've seen several effective superintendents have their contracts non-renewed.

This is an issue where the questions outnumber the answers, but one that touches the nerve of superintendents across America.

L. C. "BUSTER" EVANS

Superintendent,

Bleckley County Schools

Cochran, Ga.

How refreshing to read a totally honest account of the evaluation process in a national magazine.

Paul Hewitt is dead on the mark when he writes: "They hire you because they like you and fire you because they don't like you and what you do in between makes little or no difference."

However, Hewitt left out one important point: "If you can't deal with the rules, don't get in the game."

ARTHUR C. "SKIP" CASEYJR.

Superintendent,

Coleman Independent School District

Paul Hewitt's article is the most eloquent and useful article I have read on this subject. It is undeniably true, and I was pleased The School Administrator published it.

Coleman, Texas

JAN G. BORELLI

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and

Policy Studies,

University of Oklahoma

Norman, Okia.

A Shared Experience

Thanks for the articles on "slippery slopes" in your February issue.

Having recently gone through a severance with my board and resignation after 14 years as superintendent, I have concluded that relationships between boards and superintendents always will remain a mystery.

Whatever leadership style, competence or skills you may have, always consider that you are under 24-hour evaluation. No wonder there are fewer candidates for superintendent jobs today. Who wants to be in a constant looking glass?

NORMAN CZUBAJ

Stow, N.Y.

A Wrong Impression

Larry Vaughn's statements in "Tying the Contract Knot" (February 2001) leave an erroneous impression regarding the circumstances of his resignation as superintendent from the Pasadena, Texas, Independent School District.

I am Hispanic and served as the school board president at the time of his departure. The implication that our board of trustees does not want to educate all children blatantly ignores the success our district has had in the last eight years in improving the academic achievement of our minority and economically disadvantaged students. No such statement was ever made by me or by any member of the board. The differences the school board had with Vaughn were a matter of management style, not educational substance.

Pasadena is one of only two school districts in Texas with enrollments greater than 30,000 to be named a Texas Recognized District for three consecutive years. This board consistently provides the resources needed to effect positive change for all children. The achievement gap among our minority and our economically disadvantaged students and our white student population, once above 20 percent in reading and math, has fallen to between four and 10 percent, depending on the subject tested. Our commitment is strong.

CARMEN OROZCO

Member, Board of Trustees

Pasadena Independent School District

Mandate Board Training

Pasadena, Texas

I really liked William Morehouse's guest column ("Training for My Board Colleagues? You Bet," February 2001).

I once left a school board position for reasons related to the frustrations he discusses. I was working with people who refused to listen to anyone. Everything from top to bottom was in chaos.

Board members wouldn't go for training because they were "in charge." Members stuck to their own agendas. Somehow they never viewed training for its real purpose--to serve the needs of children. Mandatory training would have helped.

JEANNE BURNS

Board Member,

Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex

BOCES

Greenwich, N.Y.

Politics in Testing

As a professional educator for nearly 40 years who currently serves as principal of Utah's Electronic High School, I read with interest Peter Sacks' article, "Predictable Losers in Testing Schemes"(December 2000).

I serve as a member of our state's House of Representatives and have watched with interest and alarm as members of the far right have created and chaired a two-year task force dedicated to accountability.

The results of this task force include mandated criterion-referenced tests in reading and mathematics and a grade competency exam that must be passed in order to graduate. They have based much of their work on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills. It appears we will now put several million dollars into this task, which I fear has little hope of increasing the quality of education for Utah students.

REP. RICHARD SIDDOWAY

Utah House of Representatives, Salt Lake City, Utah

Daily Advice

I enjoyed David Smith's thoughts in his guest column ("10 Rules for Daily Living," January 2001) and recognized many ideas that he has shared with me and others over the years.