Why Superintendents Are Our Best Hope

One of the most serious problems facing our country today is that the vast majority of Americans no longer trust most of our major institutions.  Fortunately, however, the American people still have faith in their local public schools.  In the “45^th Annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools,” citizens reported that they are highly satisfied with their local schools.  More than 70 percent have trust and confidence in their teachers and 53 percent gave their schools an A or B, the highest rating ever recorded in the poll.  Having worked with hundreds of superintendents throughout my career, the public’s faith in their local schools is nearly always justified because most superintendents are honest, dependable and caring individuals who can see the big picture.  As a result, they are ideally positioned to help lead a frank and open national grassroots conversation about the future of public education.  Superintendents are truly our best hope for insuring that our public schools survive the attacks coming  from the leaders of our nation’s education reform movement.