In response to the post, “Problems with the Boss,” a reader writes:

“I have noticed a problem with some bosses. In my career I have taken over two failing high schools. One principal was removed and the other chose to leave. Both of these people became superintendents the very next year. We have entered a strange situation in education where excellence may not get you a promotion, or even allow you to keep your job, but mediocre performance, no, I correct myself, utter incompetent performance is well rewarded.”

SC Response
I am well aware of the two people that you are writing about. I can tell you that I was as baffled as you. How you get a promotion after causing the train wreck is beyond me. There is another “bad penny” who consistently shows up in a district two years before I do. The only “positive” thing he does is to provide a steady supply of campuses that need my services.

The fact that the incompetent are allowed to survive and even flourish is a discredit to our profession. It is this fact that makes me a proponent for increased accountability. It is our inability to police ourselves that fuels the need for external rankings and sanctions. The truth is that as the focus shifts to student performance, the wiggle room for the ineffective educator is decreased.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…