As many of you know, I have spent the past six years producing wholesome family entertainment and educational media, after spending 13 successful and frustrating years in education - 8 as a Central Office Administrator and building principal. I left public education to pursue my other passion of family entertainment - but I was probably more pushed out than I was someone leaving on his own. I call it the blocking of energy by those who were "Collecting checks instead of earning them"
When someone with energy, vision, and passion is around the likes of conservative (not politically) "caretakers" of deeply rooted, union controlled organizations like public education, the ones in control are fearful of their cushy positions and, quite frankly, feel they have earned the right to now rest on their past successes that got them the big offices and high salaries.
I have been following NJ Governor Chris Christie's initiatives to overhaul and reform public education and am encouraged by the fact that people are talking about reform. We have been running our schools the same way since we moved out of the one room schoolhouse and it is time for some REAL REFORM. Our education system is broken, and until we actually resolve ourselves to really fix it, we are going to continue to go through cases of duct tape and bubble gum to patch up the holes and weak structures that are a result of top-heavy administrative budgets, overpaid local superintendent positions, and ridiculous union-forced job security measures such as tenure.
We continue to recycle administrators that were not successful in other positions because of the length (which is misrepresented as strength) of their resumes, the color of their skin, or the graying of their hair. We are trying create new educational models with components that are not really compatible. We continue to recyle these candidates because their "experience" brings comfort to those making the decision to hire them. We are attempting to run new plays with players who are not fit enough to execute them.
I have sat by and watched silently, seething as I see do-nothing wannabe politicians become superintendents and principals who are satisfied with not taking risks and collecting their checks in their cushy offices, while the children are delivered the same laminated programs of years past.
It is time for us to dump out the "sock drawer" that is the decision makers (or non-decision makers) that make up a large percentage of our education system. Throw away the the ones that no longer match, fit, or have holes in them, and systematically replenish the collection with ones that actually fit and match our new wardrobe (plans for reform).
Stay tuned, as I have just begun to discuss what needs to be done. Just like the reasons I went into broadcasting, these opinions will ruffle the feathers of the "Check Collectors" and further energize those who really are "Earning their check" and making positive strides in education reform.
We can't wait for Superman. We need to all put on a cape and do our part.
