April 28, 2009 5:37 PM
Loudoun Schools - Hatrick high on pay and perks #2
Clearly, Hatrick needs a school board who will call him to account. With 18 years under his belt, he's flying high and kiss-up school board members aren't helping the situation.In a county where money comes easy for buildings and super-duper new electronic white boards yet hard for personnel, where property values have plummeted and parents are scrambling to make ends meet, it just seems so - well, so unseemly to have a superintendent whose career reeks of self-indulgence.
It's also disturbing that both Tom Reed and John Stevens - two blogging school board members - have gone on record not just to tolerate our superintendent being out of the county one quarter of the year hobnobbing and making a personal name for himself. I referenced Tom Reed's blog this morning. Here is John Steven's take on the situation from Our Loudoun Schools:
I really liked some of the comments:The view from outside in: Hatrick elected to National Post
We live in a funny little fishbowl here in Loudoun. The bloggers, reporters, activists and leaders are keenly focused on everything that happens within our borders. Some local leaders are even criticized for thinking... and traveling... outside of those borders. It's interesting to discover how these leaders are perceived by those outside, and many are surprised to know that Loudoun County Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Ed Hatrick has a powerful reputation statewide.
Dr. Hatrick has also been active on the national education scene, and last Friday, Dr. Hatrick was elected President of the American Association of School Administrators. He is past president of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, which is an affiliated organization to AASA.
What is most important to the people of Loudoun is Dr. Hatrick's work locally to create a great school system for our kids. I am sure that most will be pleased with the national recognition that Dr. Hatrick has received from his peers, and with the increasing role that Loudoun will play on the national stage during this pivotal time in American public education.
Here's what I wrote to Dr. Hatrick last night when I heard the news:Loudoun is very lucky to have you, and so is AASA. I hope this means that your voice will be a larger part of the national conversation about education, and that the current national emphasis on education will become a larger part of the conversation here in Loudoun.
I couldn't agree more with most of these comments.
The problem seems to be that some individuals have an opportunistic streak characterized by using whatever position they find themselves in only as a springboard for the next bigger and better position. Sorta like when someone wins the senate and starts running for president a couple of months later.
Since Hatrick was hired by Loudoun County 18 years ago, the population has more than tripled and Hatrick has ridden the wave of prosperity and importance to advance his career. He is now the highest-paid administrator in the metropolitan DC area.
I say it's time for him to move on to a position where he is sure to be handsomely compensated for all the experience and knowledge he accumulated while growing with Loudoun. As Loudoun Insider said:
Why doesn't Hatrick just retire and be an independent educational consultant if he is so well respected and connected? I think LCPS deserves a superintendent who wants to be here in Loudoun County, not travelling the world and the country.I think it's time for the Board to ask for Hatrick to retire and to replace him with someone who will bring new enthusiasm and commitment to the job of Superintendent, not so interested in milking the position for "self-enrichment" and self-importance.
And if the School Board doesn't have enough leadership skill to let Hatrick go or rein him in, I think we need a new Board. In fact, I think this should become the litmus test question for those running for school board next time. I'll do my best to keep it front and center.
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btw, I love this shot of our School Administration building which accurately represents its fortress-like aspect.
Posted in Loudoun County, Public schools | Permalink
Comments
We had a superintendent who was traveling like this a few years ago. She's no longer with us.
By the way, just heard your voice on HSLDA's Homeschool Heartbeat. You sound less strident than sometimes in your writing. Motherly. :-)
[Julana, I think the problem is that sometimes when a writer is passionate about a subject and the reader doesn't agree with what is said, the reader hears a tone of voice that isn't there. That is my voice, no matter what I'm talking about, but people hear what they want to hear. Thanks for your observation.]
Posted by: Julana | April 28, 2009 6:47 PM
Great - I guess we can expect more out of state junkets!
Will he beat last year's TWELVE WEEKS away?
Here's a serious question - how does this help Loudoun County Public Schools???
Why doesn't Hatrick just retire and be an independent educational consultant if he is so well respected and connected? I think LCPS deserves a superintendent who wants to be here in Loudoun County, not travelling the world and the country.
Although I do not always agree with Dr. Hatrick's decisions, I am glad to see he is being recognized for his work and leadership in Loudoun and beyond.
Loudoun County tax payers have been ill served by Dr Hatrick's leadership over the last several years pertaining to the size, scope and costs of Loudoun County Public Schools.
What this county needs is real reform not an administrator further embedded into the educational establishment so out of touch with current economic conditions.
How does it help any student in our county when our leader is chosen "Most Popular" by a group of union supporting educrats? How will more meetings away from our county benefit anyone in Loudoun County?
Great, now Hatrick gets to be leader of the echo chamber. Too bad it can't be his new full time job.
LCPS needs a leader who will actually look for innovative ways to improve things. Hatrick just keeps ramming the same establishment ideas down our throats, while being applauded by the school board.