How best to train school principals? At what cost? And who selects those who get free tuition to the Leadership Academy at UT?
As a school board committee ponders these questions, the board itself is divided on whether to continue participation with the UT Center for Educational Leadership, headed by former Superintendent Jim McIntyre. The Leadership Academy is its flagship program. Knox County Schools spent over $900,000 in this year’s budget to train eight future principals there.
Aside from the cost, school board members elected on an anti-McIntyre wave are hard-pressed to explain why the man they didn’t want to run the system is training its future principals. The board voted 7-2 in December to terminate Knox County’s contract with UT. (Gloria Deathridge and Lynne Fugate voted no.)
But Superintendent Bob Thomas went all-in to save the relationship. He devised a plan to virtually eliminate the cost to Knox County Schools, dropping the stipend to mentoring principals and requiring that participants already be assistant principals or administrative assistants.
He asked the board to let him negotiate with UT to continue the program.
The board created a committee to work with Thomas, and that group met today (Jan. 19). Board members Susan Horn and Jennifer Owen are members, along with retired administrator Rodney Russell, HR director Kelly Drummond and high school director Cheryl Hickman.
Positives: Committee members reported on conversations with KCS employees – teachers, principals and program graduates. Responses included the value of a mentor, “seeing the big picture,” rigor of coursework, high expectations, well-focused instruction, a “perfect blend of theory and practice.”
Negatives: Others noted a lack of consistency in mentors and said most seemed to be in rural or suburban schools. Teachers don’t see a pathway to engage if participation is limited to those already in administration. Some questioned participant selection, saying those not chosen are not told why.
Horn said a perception is that the university chooses Academy participants. Owen clarified: “It’s not ‘the university,’ it’s one individual – Dr. McIntyre.”
Hickman said about 100 apply annually for the 10-12 slots in the Academy. Both UT and KCS agree on those chosen. She said the process includes aptitude testing and interviews. Selection is “a collaboration among many” with the superintendent having “a big voice.”
Ideas: Russell suggested an application process for principal mentors. (Which might be slim if the stipend is eliminated.) He suggested an “aspiring principals” summer program for teachers, especially those applicants not selected for the Academy. Drummond said those not chosen should be told why. Russell asked Hickman and Drummond to tweak the selection process for consideration at the next committee meeting. Stay tuned.
Note: Board chair Patti Bounds and member Gloria Deathridge also attended Friday’s meeting.