Letter: Consider local people for new superintendent

Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 | 9:09 a.m.

I have been a high school teacher in Nevada for more than 30 years and I cannot believe the articles that I am reading about raising private money for a national search for a "superstar" superintendent for the Clark County School District, one who will be paid $600,000 a year.

People who look for jobs on a national level are usually looking to move up, make more money fast and quickly move on to the next higher level. What we need are people who understand our local situation and want to dedicate their careers to improving the education of our children.

The Clark County School District employs hundreds of administrators. What kind of people is it hiring if none are qualified to lead our school district? People who are familiar with the system and have dedicated their lives to education locally must be better than national candidates with their empty promises. Brian Cram, who served as superintendent all through the 1990s, certainly did a decent job and he hit the ground running because he was a local.

I believe we would be better off if we increased the pay of teachers and hired more of them. Good teachers can steer kids away from the easy path of dropping out of school, which is a tempting choice because of the nature of our job market. Many kids, especially those getting low scores on proficiency tests, ask: "Why should I stay in school when full-time jobs are available?" Perhaps the district should concentrate more money and effort on vocational education.

What happens in the classroom is where the magic takes place. Superstar superintendents are not worth anything if they cannot facilitate the learning process. Let's get someone who knows and cares about our kids and wants to see them grow, not his bank account.

ROD POTEETE