One of Mike Sentance’s early hires was Jermall Wright of Philadelphia, PA. Sentance told the state school board in March that Wright would head the new office of school improvement/intervention. The superintendent gushed about Wright, “He has an amazing set of experiences in other school districts in Colorado, Washington D.C. and Florida and a breadth of experience in turnaround school strategies.”
“Amazing?” Who knows? His resume’ says he was an elementary principal in D.C. from 2009-13. Then he was Instructional Superintendent for Denver public school 2013-16. Then he was in Philadelphia for less than a year before coming to Alabama. And after just a few months in Montgomery, he is once again moving on.
Supposedly he is going to the Birmingham city school system, though he has indicated to some that this is just one of several options he is considering.
What is interesting is the trail he left while with the state department of education. Most of which had to do with the ill-fated Montgomery school intervention. Here is what Jermall Wright posted on July 12 on social media:
“I am elated that we have recruited and assembled a super star team of educators to join the Montgomery Public School Intervention Leadership Team. Keith Miles, the former PG County Teacher of the Year; accomplished high school turnaround principal in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ will be joining us as Principal Manager for our Innovation High Schools. The infamous Evan Daniels, from Duuuuuuvvvvvall; who lead Andrew Jackson High School to the grade of B will be joining us as Principal Manager of our Innovation Middle Schools. Dr. Stephen Bournes, all the way from Chicago via Camden, NJ was selected to be our Chief Academic Officer. And last….but not least, Aaron Dukes, will be joining me at the state department as our Director of Professional Learning and Performance. This is truly an #ATeam. Excited to work with and learn from these awesome leaders. Montgomery….watch out!!!!”
Miles, Daniels and Bournes are today listed on the Montgomery “leadership” team. Dukes also works for MPS.
Sources say that Wright was also instrumental in a contract for $210,000 to bring a group known as the Achievement Network (ANET) to Montgomery this past summer to train teachers and principals.
This training was led by Vaughn Thompson, a former principal in New York City. However, Thompson’s background is certainly suspect According to newspaper articles and a court document (In the matter of Vaughn Thompson COIB case no. 2009-845) He stole $9,000 from the school system he worked for and agreed to never apply for another job with this school system.
And we bring him to Alabama to train educators?
Interim state superintendent Ed Richardson is now trying to unravel what has happened in Montgomery since Sentance kicked the local school board to the curb last January. He told the Montgomery County school board tonight (Sept. 28) that he will be reviewing the roles of those in Montgomery’s central office next week.
One has to think that Jermall’s friends who followed him to Alabama are now having second thoughts. And it is all just one more example of why those state school board members who decided Mike Sentance was unqualified to lead our schools were correct.
Other than saying, “well leadership accountability is every four years at election time,” where is the accountability for appointed leadership? Bad leadership usually results in corruption. Unrestrained, poor leaders can spread corruption throughout a department like a terrible disease. Poor leaders have a tendency to hire and promote those who share their views and those that can be molded to infect others with the same disease. These practices usually keep being passed on down the line until finally, decision making becomes all about those unscrupulous individuals and their self-serving power instead of being about those they are supposed to be serving. Corruption begets corruption! WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR APPOINTED POSITIONS?
You know Earl, Dr. Richardson stated last night at the board meeting, “it has been my observation that a major variable contributing to intervention is the Board of Education,” & he followed this up by stating a superintendent is often selected because he/she will follow the Board’s lead NOT because of HIGHLY COMPETENT credentials or proven leadership ability.” Let me make myself clear here – he’s talking about hiring friends & family! If you think for one minute, that this board will do anything about that, allow me to sell you some swamp land! As for Dr. Richardson stating that if the “performance of the board is not SUBSTANTIALLY improved then more STRINGENT intervention measures will need to be implemented;” let’s hope & pray he WALKS THE WALK! When a school system that has 80% NOT proficient & Superintendent Richardson shooting for the goal of 70% at least we have set the bar to move toward that. The problem is- He is only there until the end of December & that has me concerned. I took the time to sit down & talk, write, etc. to most of the new hires. By far & large I hope Dr. Richardson will have noticed such hires as: Dr.Dee Fowler, Dr. Barbara Cooper & Dr. Jason Taylor, Dr. Reginald Eggleston & I also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Aaron Dukes at the last expulsion hearing & he was super & I was much impressed. I believe Dr. Dee Fowler is much like Dr. Richardson. I have watched this man walk the walk & it is a mentality of having to ACTUALLY put their foot down that I believe they will do! We need leadership across the board that are NOT afraid to clean house(That includes principals & superintendents)! The people of Alabama are tired of status quo & our children deserve more ! Dr. Richardson was right on 1 thing -“THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN 1 year!” I am in no way an expert, but I sincerely hope that this friends & family (nepotism) comes to a stop! I am sure there will always be some, but there are so many leadership positions – mainly principals that have been filled with friends & family & since they did the hiring & NOT Human Resources, what do you think? SO how do you figure who these people are? Can we check last names, in-laws, or could this be a ‘priority school because 85%- 90% of the students are failing math & reading? This is not rocket science! Sure they have contracts, but when they have been involved in very questionable issues that can be proved & that’s all I will say, then I will say it again – it’s not rocket science! Let’s check the attendance of some of these teachers & when they are missing (say 25 days +) let’s let them find another job.When teachers are not allowed to discipline- my gosh, can we listen to the teachers who are truly trying to teach? All I can say is kudos to your comment & by the way I’m the VP of the BOE & I own every bit of the blame! I will pledge to continue the fight, but I hope God somehow gives me the gift of coming across to those I sit with better than I have in the past. I need to pray for tact, grace & hope that our entire BOE, including me UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY what Dr. Richardson was trying to convey! I guess we will see if he truly walks the walk & hopefully we will all follow his lead & walk the walk immediately!
So kudos to your comment!
BTW – Dr. Richardson stated when we did hire a new local superintendent, that it needed to be someone of leadership that had been there & done that. I have a little wager – How much would you like to bet that this WON’T happen? & it won’t happen because the BOE that I sit on, did NOT get the same interpretation. Again, thanks for this comment- you couldn’t be more on point!
Earl, that’s a good question! I’m assuming it’s rhetorical of course. I typed a reply, but since this is my first time, I think it was lost in cyberspace. Last night at the BOE meeting, Dr. Richardson did not mince words when he stated he was “embarrassed” & that it was his observation that a “major variable contributing to intervention is the Board of Education.” He also went on to state “a superintendent is often selected because he/she will follow the Board’s lead NOT because of highly competent credentials or proven leadership ability,” (i.e. friends & family/nepotism). Other than discipline & teacher absences, nepotism is the MAIN issue in the MPS system. Many of the principals we have in our failing schools have hired their friends & family & it trickles downhill from there. If Dr. Richardson thinks for 1 minute the MBOE is going to do anything about that, then his statement of “if performance is NOT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED then more stringent intervention measures will need to be implemented” will certainly be tested from the get-go! My main concern is Dr. Richardson is only there for 3 months & for his priorities to be met with ESSA, the budget, a search for a superintendent to follow his lead & the Montgomery intervention, well the first thing that comes to my mind besides prayers for him, is the movie “Waiting for Superman.” I’m going to post this & if it works, I will finish my reply. If there’s nothing else, then this comment section may only allow 1 reply. Kudos to your comment regardless!
All comments from new posters have to be approved by the moderator. That’s me. (At least that’s the way it seems to work. In this case, since Earl has been here before, I do not have to approve. But apparently Lesa has not and I was asked to say yea or nay. But remember, what I know about all this soical media stuff I could write on the head of a pin.)
And sometimes when a new comment shows up in my email inbox I am not around my compter.
According to Dr. Richardson, this next week, he will concern himself w/personnel issues. Allow me to quote the ‘Montgomery Advertiser’ on the first day Dr. Richardson was hired. “Richardson has a reputation for bluntness. He told the Montgomery Advertiser in 1998 that a new Montgomery County Schools superintendent needed both the support of the local board and to be a “son of a bitch.” At Auburn, he earned the nickname “Chainsaw” for 9 a.m. meetings where employees were dismissed.”
We need Dr. Richardson & I wish it were for more than 3 months & when there is a new superintendent hired for the MBOE to come in & clean house. If Dr. Eggleston has that power, then I hope he uses it! If not, then we need somebody ASAP that can. My concern which might as well be put in the trash file along with all the others that are now moving OUT OF MONTGOMERY is simply – Does anyone think under this BOE’s watch that ANY principal will be let go???? Progress cannot be made until the tough decisions are made to rid MPS of the ever so present & obvious buddy system.Perhaps if I use a lot more tact (which is so tough), a little of God’s grace, prayer & a little luck, maybe someone other than the general public will listen!
Well Larry am I a nay?
All I can say Mr. Larry is if I am a nay or Yeah, I probably won’t write for a while. I’ve been reading your column since 2012 & all I can say is if someone is complaining, then I guess the truth hurts. After all the length of my replies are mostly quotes. I have a passion for education & I just won’t apologize for this passion or the truth.