LAUSD's astonishing decision

From: Stephen Krashen's Mailing List <krashen@sdkrashen.com>

Sent to the PCH Press (Malibu, CA)

LAUSD’s new superintendent is a retired admiral with
zero experience, credentials, or demonstrated
expertise in teaching, educational administration, or
educational research (“LAUSD picks new sup,” October
13).

The genuine experts in education, people who
understand children, learning, and schools, are
astonished at this decision. Respected education
writer (and former teacher)
Susan Ohanian (susanohanian.org) notes that LAUSD
apparently thinks that a background in managing
supplies for the US military is great preparation for
leading and inspiring children.

Just as we are now insisting on having a fully
qualified teacher in every classroom, experienced
teacher educator Gary Stager suggests that “perhaps we
need federal legislation requiring a fully qualified
superintendent in every school district” (www.
Districtadministration.com/pulse).

Of course, it will be pointed out that Admiral Brewer
is a quick study and will learn on the job.  Just like
airplane pilots, physicians, and, of course, admirals?


Stephen Krashen





LAUSD Picks New Sup

by KRISS PERRAS RUNNING WATERS
PCH Press
October 13, 2006 9:11 PM PT
kriss@pchpress.com
MALIBU - The Los Angeles Unified School District
(LAUSD) Board of Education, Superintendent Roy Romer
and members of the Search Selection Committee
including Senate Member Elect Mark Ridley-Thomas and
Loyola Marymount University President Father Robert
Lawton today announced David L. Brewer III is the
final candidate for the next Superintendent of the
LAUSD, the nation's second largest school district.
Last night, the District announced that it entered
into negotiations with Brewer, a retired Three-Star
Admiral, to serve as the new District Superintendent.
Brewer, who comes from a family of educators and has
overseen educational initiatives during his 35-year
career in the United States Navy, will replace
Superintendent Roy Romer who will retire after six
years of leading the District. Criticisms have already
surfaced in the choice because Brewer does not have
have experience in running a school district but
rather has an extensive background in administration.
The choice also prompted criticism from Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa who will soon have partial control over
the district because the decision was made without the
Mayor's input.

Brewer said he wanted to extend his hand to the Mayor
of Los Angeles, the leaders of the 26 cities within
the District and to the broader community of Los
Angeles.
“I’m going to work with the Mayor and all of the other
26 mayors. I’m going to reach out to them,” Brewer
said. “In fact I’m going to reach out to Mayor
Villaraigosa and talk to him and let him know that,
listen, I want to partner with you. I want to join you
in helping to educate the children of this district.
LAUSD is comprised of world class leaders who inspire
our students to succeed and help our families thrive.
I am truly honored to be here and have the opportunity
to be a part of such a meaningful organization.”
The school district reports Brewer was Vice Chief of
the Education and Training Command, where he
"spearheaded innovative programs to support students
in their academic and personal development. During his
tenure, he was responsible for educational programs
for hundreds of thousands of sailors and their
families, and developed models to provide customized
learning by leveraging technology and 21st century
teaching strategies to accelerate student learning and
deepen comprehension."

Brewer has extensive experience managing complex
organizations, the board reports. As head of the
SeaLift Command, he was the chief executive officer of
a $3.1 billion dollar enterprise responsible for
moving large volumes of staff and supplies all over
the world. He managed a fleet of 120 ships worldwide,
comprised of thousands of sailors and civilian
employees, the district said in a statement today.
Brewer is the head of The David and Mildred Brewer
Foundation which is a family organization that
provides scholarships to African-American students.
the board reports Brewer has also visited hundreds of
high schools around the country to "inspire students
to remain focused on their academic goals and earn
their diploma."
In his role in the Navy, he developed partnerships
between the maritime unions and public schools in the
San Diego area to motivate students to stay in school
and participate in apprenticeship programs, the
district reports.
“The Board welcomes Admiral Brewer, and along with our
parents, teachers and other community leaders, we look
forward to rolling out the red carpet for him,” Board
President Marlene Canter said at the announcement
meeting. “We are confident that he will become a civic
leader that the entire Los Angeles region can depend
on to challenge our children to their full potential
and to lead this district in the next phase of
reform.”

The board reports last night’s selection culminates an
eight-month process which commenced in February and
included extensive outreach to thousands of parents,
staff, and community leaders to identify the qualities
they wanted to see in the next superintendent. The
district states a Search Committee comprised of
community and business leaders, elected officials, and
faith based representatives spent months interviewing
candidates and winnowing down the list to a group of
five candidates that were presented to the Board of
Education last week. The Search Committee and Board of
Education relied heavily on the results of the
community input process when reviewing the strengths
of the candidates and finalists in the deliberation,
the board reports.
Villaraigosa, who is in Hong Kong on a trade mission,
said in a statement he was "deeply disappointed that
the school board made this decision without the
meaningful inclusion of parents, teachers, the Council
of Mayors or the broader Los Angeles community."
"I look forward to learning about Admiral Brewer's
qualifications, record and educational philosophy,"
Villaraigosa said. "It is my hope that the admiral
will be committed to bringing fundamental reform to
our schools, putting students first and building a
genuine partnership with the Council of Mayors."
Assembly Bill 1381 (AB 1381) which was signed into law
by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 18, 2006
established the Council of Mayors which is comprised
of the mayors of Los Angeles and the district's 26
other cities. The bill also gives some control over
the district during a six-year trial period to the
Council.

However, AB 1381 does not go into effect until January
1, 2007. The Board of Education, U.S. Rep. Diane
Watson, D-Los Angeles, the California School Boards
Association, The League of Women Voters and district
parents, students and administrators have filed suit
challenging the bill's Constitutionality.
On October 10, 2006 the LAUSD Board of Education
followed through with its promise to file suit against
AB 1381. The Board filed suit in Superior Court
Tuesday challenging the new state law that grants
substantial control of the district to Villaraigosa
and the Council of Mayors. The bill gives Villaraigosa
say in selecting a Superintendent and allows the mayor
to directly manage the city's 36 worst-performing
schools.
The lawsuit asks the court to determine if the school
district should be the exclusive authority operating
the schools and requests a "swift hearing before the
courts."
Brewer, 60, has a Masters of Arts in National Security
and Strategic Studies from Naval War College, a
Bachelor of Science in Biology from Prairie View A&M
University and has received distinguished awards
including the Naval War College’s Distinguished
Graduate Leadership Award and the Navy League of US
Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award. He currently lives
in Virginia with his wife Richardene (Deanie), who is
an instructional leader in a middle school. They have
one daughter, who practices law in New York.