Ann Denlinger, president of the Wake Education Partnership, is speaking out about Del Burns' resignation as Wake County schools superintendent and the upcoming search for his replacement.
Denlinger was interviewed by Chris Fitzsimon, executive director of the liberal N.C. Policy Watch, for this Sunday's broadcast of "News and Views." According to N.C. Policy Watch's Progressive Pulse blog, Denlinger says it’s clear to her that Burns “fell on his sword” to take a stand against those who hope to end the school system’s socioeconomic diversity policy.
You can watch online a preview of her interview where she talks about why Wake should pick an educator to be superintendent over a businessman.
Denlinger said that Wake has a "wonderful chief business officer" in David Neter. If he stays in place, she says the school board can feel good about hiring an educator to replace Burns who will stay focused on education and teaching and learning.
Denlinger says the thousands of Wake teachers "would feel good knowing that their leader is someone who understands their roles and what they're doing with children everyday."
The Wake County Taxpayers Association has urged the school board to hire a businessman to be the next superintendent.
You can hear the interview Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on WRAL-FM (101.5) or afterward on N.C. Policy Watch's web site. The group is funded by Jim Goodmon, the CEO of Capitol Broadcasting, via the A.J. Fletcher Foundation.
Comments
I believe his leaving has to
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 11:19 — changewcpssI believe his leaving has to do with shame over allowing the system to go downhill and being unwilling to act to fix a broken system.
"Denlinger says it’s clear
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 11:30 — woodstock"Denlinger says it’s clear to her that Burns “fell on his sword” to take a stand against those who hope to end the school system’s socioeconomic diversity policy."
Quitting is not "taking a stand." It is what those unwilling to take a stand do. Let's face it, he wimped out and turned his back on his principles.
Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled Burns is out of the way, but I don't buy that he is an example of how to face challenges. He is running away from a system that he knows is broken and does not want to be around when the details of just how broken it is comes to light.