The job description for Tacoma’s interim school superintendent has all the standard stuff.
He or she will be the chief executive officer of the district, report to the board, recommend policies, organize staff members, prepare budgets and lead the district’s academics.
It even notes that the new boss will have to respond to sensitive and controversial matters and deal with “angry and distraught people” – and that’s just the members of the school board.
But given the facts that the previous guy lasted only a year and that the board seems unwilling to take any blame for the self-destruction of Charles Milligan, perhaps the description for the interim job and the permanent job should be more specific.
Essential Job Functions – To be a successful applicant, you should have most if not all of the following attributes:
1. You’re not a jerk.
2. You can persuade people to follow your vision by the strength of your ideas, not the volume of your voice.
3. Knowledge that the elected board and the elected Legislature set policy; hired superintendents carry it out.
4. Recognition that high academic standards are in the best interests of all students; relaxing those standards are in the interests of only some adults.
5. You don’t say it’s all about the kids and then insist on compensation and severance packages that are all about you.
6. The cops won’t tell you how to teach algebra, so you won’t tell the cops how to respond to public safety emergencies.
7. You’re not a jerk.
8. Since the board will have checked out your résumé, you should check out the résumés of people you hire.
9. You’ll think about this: We might have to close some schools because of declining enrollment. That will be a tough political decision that the next superintendent can’t expect the school board to take responsibility for. Of course, if we make our schools more attractive and our neighborhoods more affordable to families, we might not have to close any schools.
10. You value diversity and tolerance but recognize that the best diversity policy is one that respects differences so that everyone can learn together. Achievement is the goal; diversity is one means.
11. You understand that granting meaningless diplomas doesn’t build self-esteem; knowing how to read, write and calculate builds self-esteem.
12. You endorse the policy that all kids can learn but understand that some kids will fail and that sometimes it’s their fault, not the system’s fault.
13. You’re smart enough to know that other people are smart, too – regardless of their titles – and might have good ideas on how to solve the tough problems facing public education.
14. You understand that schools must be safe and that even minor disruptions can affect learning. You believe that central schools and building administrators must support school staff members in enforcing discipline.
15. You’re not a jerk.
16. You know that the easiest way to deal with school employee unions is to give them everything they want. But you also know it’s not the cheapest way or necessarily the best for learning. A successful applicant will ask the board to help make tough decisions that treat people fairly but keep the emphasis on students and learning.
17. You accept that there is never enough money but demonstrate a willingness to push staff and parents to do the best they can with what’s available.
18. You can live with the harsh reality that whether or not it’s your fault, it’s always your fault. The board members certainly aren’t going to take the blame, and neither are the unions. Take the heat and move on.
19. You realize it’s not that big of a town. If you spend your days accumulating enemies, it won’t take long before everyone’s your enemy. Try accumulating allies instead.
20. To that end, see Nos. 1, 7 and 15.
Peter Callaghan: 253-597-8657
