Our Public Schools Are Struggling

Whenever systems struggle, human resources seem to be at the top of the list of problematic indicators associated with that struggle.

Our public school  system is struggling.

At the top of the human resources chain, The 74 reported this week that,

“Half of the nation’s 500 largest school districts have changed superintendents or are in the midst of a transition, according to a report tracking leadership churn since the pandemic began.”

“Forty-seven of those districts have seen two or more leadership changes. The turnover has been particularly hard on women: Of the 94 female superintendents who left their positions, two-thirds were replaced by men, according to the report, released Monday from ILO Group, a consulting firm that focuses on female school leaders.”

“This is the third time ILO has published findings on superintendent turnover, which it based on news reports and press releases. Superintendent transitions are up 46% in the 500 largest districts – 228 this fall, compared to 155 in 2018. Many of the changes followed intense political strife and debate over issues such as book banning, transgender student rights and confronting issues of historical discrimination in the classroom.”

“Some of the more dramatic departures over the past year have taken place in Florida, where Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has endorsed and replaced local board members. Moms for Liberty, a conservative advocacy organization, has also endorsed candidates in the state.”

“Superintendent Brennan Asplen in on his way out in Sarasota, Florida, after conservatives gained a majority in the November election. That’s despite the district’s A rating from the state and support from teachers.”

“Paulina Testerman, who founded Support Our Schools to counter Moms for Liberty’s influence in board elections, spoke in Asplen’s defense.”

“’There have been many decisions that you have made over these harrowing two years that I have personally disagreed with, but that is the definition of a good superintendent – someone who isn’t a lapdog,’ she said at a November 22^nd school board meeting. ‘You’re being forced out of your position…not because you were inept, but because you are not a bobble head who just nods his head.’”

The teaching profession is struggling too. Just yesterday, EducationWeek published an article titled “Long Hours, Second Jobs: New Federal Data Give a Snapshot of the Teaching Profession”. In the article, it was reported that,

“Teachers work long hours, far more than what’s required of them. Even still, 17 percent are also working second jobs outside the school system.”

“That’s according to newly updated federal data from the 2020-21 academic year. The data shine a light on teachers’ demographics, salaries, and their perceptions of how much influence and control they have over school policies. The release also captures the depth of staffing vacancies during the first full school year of the pandemic.”

“Here are five takeaways about the teaching profession from the new release:”

1. “The teaching profession remains overwhelmingly white – and grew even whiter.”
2. “Teachers are working an average of 52 hours a week.”
3. “Many teachers supplement their base salary with extracurriculars or second jobs.”
4. “Most teachers feel like they have control over school policies – but some more than others.”
5. “Teacher vacancies spanned all subjects.”

[Survey data showed public schools had difficulty filling vacancies (with at least 30% of the positions not being filled): biology or life sciences, career or technical, computer science, mathematics, English as a second language, physical sciences, special education, and foreign language]

A new learning system would be built on new types of human talent. All young learners would be supported by general learning coaches – one being an expert in literacy, the other being a problem-solving expert. When needed, young learners could access specialist learning coaches, someone skilled in calculus, physics, performing arts, or athletics, to name a few. Learning coaches would begin their work at a salary around $100,000, with specialists possibly making more.

There wouldn’t be a need for much administrative support, so many of the tasks assigned to a traditional K-12 central office, and a superintendent, would go away. Money spent here currently would be reassigned to supporting learning cohorts.

Once multiple learning cohorts form, there might be a need for a principal learning coach – someone assigned to support the work of several coaches and their learning cohorts.

School board responsibilities would transfer to the caretakers of those young learners participating in their cohort. Between parents, learning coaches, and the young learners themselves, decisions would be made in the best interest of the individual learner.

It’s clear the traditional system is struggling, and has been struggling for quite some time, especially when it comes to educating black, brown, and poor kids.

Isn’t it time for a new learning system to be created? One that centers on the needs of young learners, handsomely compensates the adult learning leaders within the system, and invites families to be a part of the decision-making process instead of political leadership?

Til tomorrow. SVB