Mayor Elect Rahm Emanuel shook things up over the past couple of days by appointing a new CEO, Jean-Claude Brizard, for the Chicago Public Schools in addition to naming an entirely new Chicago School Board. No doubt changes in the school system will accompany the changes in personnel.
The new CPS chief has been the Superintendent of the Rochester Public School system for the past four years. Prior to that he worked in the New York City school system for 21 years, starting as a junior high science teacher and high school physics teacher. Later he was to serve as regional superintendent in the NYC system.
I will reserve judgement on Mr. Brizard pending his performance. Mr. Brizard does have an education and managerial background. Most people wanted someone with a history in the field of education so that is a plus.
There is little doubt however that Mr. Brizard leaves a Rochester system where a number of teachers weren't very enthused with some of the Superintendent's ideas and manner of implementing them. According to the Rochester teachers union Mr. Brizard seems to favor merit pay while wanting to set up charter schools and to close underperforming ones.
No matter what ones ideas are about school reform, and that is open to serious debate, one thing is certain, whatever your ideas, you had better darn well find a way to get everyone on board and to buy-in. That goes for Mr. Brizard, anyone in the CPS system, the School Board and Mr. Mayor Elect Emanuel.
Thanks,
Dick
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