in Kentucky
Timeline
...a work in progress
Fayette County Public Schools
On The Record
Testimony before the US House
Published Editorials
Issues...over the years
...the professional and personal voice of a career elementary public school principal in Kentucky. The author has been uniquely situated to observe the sweeping changes that accompanied the Kentucky Education Reform Act (a product of the Supreme Court opinion in Rose v. Council for Better Education) - and unfortunately, the achievement gap.
After 31 years of service in Kentucky's public schools I have witnesed a few swings of the pendulum and developed some opinions about the importance of educating all of Kentucky's children - in all of their varieties. They are informed opinions.
I moved from Kenton County, in 1985, to what was thought by many to be Kentucky's flagship district - Fayette County. I have had a unique set of experiences to accompany my journey from the days of old-style autocratic school principals though KERA's implementation. Along the way, I witnessed a deadly natural gas explosion at Simon Kenton High School. A teacher at Cassidy School made national news when she was arrested for prostitution. I have seen children grow to graduate and lead successful lives. I have seen them go to jail, and I have seen them die.
I have been amazed by brilliant teachers, dismayed by impassive bureaucrats, disappointed by politicians and uplifted by some of Kentucky's finest children. When I am not complaining about it, I will tell you that public school administration is critically important work.
So, what do I have to offer after all this time and experience? I have a voice. I have one principal's voice. I can use it or not. It is my choice. While there is a certain amount of organizational encouragement to keep ones opinions to oneself, there is an equally strong belief in the freedom of speech. It is this one fact that makes a critical assessment of our public schools from "within" possible.
The more common voices of politicians, pundits and district level administrators are valuable, but certainly not to the exclusion of those at the school level who are charged to actually implement the programs and teach the children.
So, is my opinion biased? You bet. It's a practitioner's bias. It comes from witnessing three dedaces of promises about new math, mulit-aged classrooms and "can't miss" reading programs. Madeline Hunter promised that if every teacher would do what great teachers do, we would all be great. Ron Edmonds told us basically the same thing about building effective schools. Alice McDonald reduced our focus to time on task. And Thomas Boysen frequently explained KERA's rocky start with the metaphor that we were "building the airplane while we flew it." All of this behind a cloud of Kentucky's historically modest support for its schools has left me skeptical of many claims.
But over my career I have been honored to work with hundreds of dedicated public school faculty and staff who selflessly chose education when they might have chosen more lucritive careers. I have witnessed much good being done for many children, in their schools and in their neighborhoods - but for some more than others.
Recently retired, I have now turned my attention to higher education in an effort to help others refine their gifts...and add their voices...to the effort to build better schools for Kentucky's children.
issues facing today's schools?
Try my blog...
The Principal
The Story of the Council for Better Education, Equity and Adequacy in Kentucky's Schools
Winner:
Outstanding Dissertation of the Year
for 2003 !
Education Law Association
Abstract
Acknowledgements,
Table of Contents
and Note to the Reader
Prologue
Chapter One
Author's Prespective, racial equality and Political Culture
Chapter Two
The History of School Funding in Kentucky
Chapter Three
The Council for Better Education
Chapter Four
Litigation
Chapter Five
The Supreme Court Decision
Chapter Six
The Press, Advocacy Groups and KERA
Chapter Seven
Analysis: Case law, Judicial activism, Political culture, Advocacy coalitions
Epilogue
The Implications of the Rose Case for today's Public Schools
Chronology of Events
Rose v. Council for Better Education
Primary Sources
Bibliography
Brief Biographical Sketches
Table of School Finance Cases
Council for Better Education Documents
Council for Better Education Expenses
Council for Better Education Finances
Council for Better Education
Membership by District
Council for Better Education
Membership, Chronological
Author's Vita
