We all know it is tough to be a superintendent, particularly in an urban area.  We hear the average tenure is now less that two years for these educational leaders.  We read stories of superintendents bouncing from district to district to district, hoping that the same approach may result in a different outcome in a new school system.  And, unfortunately, we’re now hearing the stories about supes using their positions to protect their careers.

There are very few supes who would ever be able to secure a true golden parachute from their districts, a long-term financial commitment that would be honored whether the leader is heading the schools or not.  But what about those superintendents who give the perception that they are acquiring their own parachutes?

Case in point, Pinellas (FL) schools superintendent Clayton Wilcox.  The full story is in today’s St. Petersburg Times (thanks, www.ednews.org).  — http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article509020.ece.  The song is a simple tune with a common refrain.  Education company does a lot of business with the district.  Supe gains some benefit from that business (albeit not a lot).  Supe senses his tenure is coming to an end.  Education company hires supe to an executive position.

Let Eduflack be clear.  There is a lot of smoke in this article, but I just don’t see the fire.  Scholastic was a long-time vendor to Pinellas before Wilcox got there.  Spending didn’t go up while he was there.  He even released a report criticizing Read 180’s effectiveness in the district.  Scholastic acquired some Broadway tickets for him, which he promptly paid for.  And as they did for virtually every other supe in the nation, Scholastic picked up the tab for a few breakfasts and dinners over the years.  Heck, I’m guessing most education companies have done that for Wilcox and his brethren during the same time period.

The issue here becomes one of a job.  Again, if we break down the facts and relate it to our own lives, it isn’t that big of a deal.  Wilcox suspected his time in Pinellas was coming to an end.  Like most of us would do, he contacted friends and colleagues about possible opportunities.  Scholastic got serious about the discussion, and asked him join their team.  So?

Do we think Scholastic now gets an extra benefit in dealing with Pinellas?  Of course not.  In fact, it may be just the opposite.  A new supe in Florida is going to think twice about signing a new Scholastic contract.  He’ll want to carve out his own path, and not follow in Wilcox’ footsteps.  And he’ll know everyone is watching him, particularly on his dealings with Scholastic.  It’s not the scrutiny Scholastic wants, even if Scholastic may be the greatest thing ever to be introduced into Pinellas.

It just doesn’t matter, particularly if we believe in what goes bump in the night.  Truth is often a subjective thing.  It shouldn’t be, but it is.  As a result, we believe in urban legends.  We listen to a series of facts, and make a blind leap into what we believe the truth is.  We believe what we want to believe.  We expect that something crooked must be up in the Scholastic-Pinellas-Wilcox triumvirate.

What’s the solution?  Non-competes and cooling off periods.  We all know Members of Congress or federal officials must wait a year (or longer) before they can lobby the federal government.  I’ve had to sign non-compete agreements stating I will not go to a competitor or to a client within 12 months of ending a job.  Maybe the time has come for such agreements in K-12 education.

We all know education is big business.  The line between for-profit and not-for-profit is blurring.  And many believe that former supes are the answer to lagging sales, thinking the thick rolodex leads to closed deals.  So why not a one-year waiting period before a school official can sell into his or her former district? 

It may be the only way to lessen the impact of conspiracy theories and the unfounded belief that a couple of tickets to Hairspray will get you $1.6 million in education spend. 

Let this be a warning to all other administrators.  Perception is the new reality.  Seems instead of leaders and innovators, we’re looking for Ned Flanders to run our school districts these days.