Real Estate Views from St Pete

One of the problems with many School boards is politics.  It seems to be popular for them someone who is easy to control.

This is a really nice post and I hope Mr Wilcox sees it and comments for you. Superintendents are mostly under appreciated. The complexities of running a school system with all the different political factions trying to be first in line on the WANT list, is very hard today. Education and its standards today are a really mixed bag. If teachers ( most) didn't have their passion, the system would crumble. Thankfully teaching is passion and not a job. Who would ever want to want to work those hours, handle those responsibilities and everyone's individual problems for the pay level. It is a love and passion but also then creates friction with the administrations who continue to heap it on. It is a difficult balance for a Super.

Interesting that your Superintendent is leaving with time left on his contract. Our Super is doing the same; only one year left but leaving none the less. He will be greatly missed. I know of three other districts also loosing great school leaders.

Our "Mr. C" said he wanted to leave "like Michael Jordan, on top." Makes you wonder if the stiffer "No Child Left Behind" standards are forcing real leaders out of our systems. (Just my 10 cents worth!)

Sharon~

As a former Florida educator, I found your post intriguing. Goodpoint that Wilcox has put in place a team that might be harvested...(applicable in all endeavors don't you think?) do you know where he's going?

Randy - yes, very few people appreciate others who make the think through what they believe and why.

William - it IS a difficult balance for a superintendent, and also a difficult balance for teachers who often don't have the support for expecting personal responsibility from their students.

Debbie - we have the same challenges here with educating the uneducated. Sometimes I wonder if the paperwork required for these programs takes away from what really helps the students.

janeAnne - yes, he's leaving public education and taking a job as vice president, education and corporate relations for Scholastic Corp, the largest publisher in the world of children's books.

I have served with the Washington County Public Schools for 11 years, here in Western MD. I have met him twice. He is the most sincere, personal, brillant, kid centered superintendent..and filled with immense integrity. He is just the right person to repair a system that was broken on the inside for children and staff but looked perfect on the outside. What a gem, I believe he has the courage to stand up for kids and people in our system that cares about kids, no bs, no self promotion, no masking data, no creating programs to propel his reputation to his next gig...finally we have the real deal that is people centered. I hope he stays with us for many, many, years.