Summer's over, that's for sure. First we have more turmoil on the Board of Education, and then the flap over Head O'Meadow's lead teacher.
I have to confess to being at a loss over the problem some are having with the lead teacher appointment at HOM.
The elementary schools have had lead teachers for years — to the best of my recollection — almost 15. I was the very first lead teacher appointed.
The then-principal and superintendent brought the idea to the Board of Education and argued that with the growth of the elementary schools the burden on the principals was overwhelming.
I'm sure the role has changed over the years but initially the purpose was to handle issues not necessarily required by a principal — or, more precisely, someone with an administrator's certificate.
Things like discipline problems, bussing issues, scheduling, technology related tasks, budgeting, working with the PTA, etc. were all jobs I took on.
At no time was I ever called upon to evaluate teachers. That was the lone province of the principal, or administrator.
Therein lies a source of misunderstanding. Lead teachers are not administrators. They can not make the decisions or perform the tasks required by a certified administrator.
As a result of the success of my year as lead teacher, the superintendent and Board of Education decided to extend the position to the other elementary schools. For whatever reason, the then-principal of Head O'Meadow declined the offer.
In the meantime, Sandy Hook School's enrollment grew and therefore its faculty, so it was decided to appoint an assistant principal to replace the lead teacher position.
This way it would be possible for the principal to have help with the time-consuming task of evaluating faculty.
And that's the way it continued — until now. Unlike the previous principal, the new principal at HOM decided it would be to the school's (read students) advantage to have a lead teacher.
So, what's the problem? It's not like there's anything new going on here.
If anything, I suppose there should have been more of an effort to explain the history of this to parents.
Fine, we can acknowledge that, but why are the board and some parents upset with the superintendent's way of handling the appointment?
Let's be realistic. The only two people who have a clue as to who would be a suitable lead teacher are the superintendent and the principal of the school involved.
Previously it was always the superintendent and principals who handled staffing assignments.
Let's cut the superintendent a little slack here, folks. She's doing her job. Do parents and the Board really want to get into the business of "micromanaging?" I sure hope not.
Politics, politics, politics. It's pathetic!!!
