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.