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Board Quizzes Education Chief Hopefuls

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By MARILYN BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2007

TAMPA - The Florida Board of Education interviewed seven candidates Monday for the Education Commissioner's job and decided to name finalists today for more interviews in a couple of weeks.

The seven-member board meets again today beginning at 8 a.m. at the Tampa Airport Marriott for its regular board meeting. Members agreed late Monday night to narrow the candidates to two or three.

The education commissioner oversees the state's public kindergarten through college system, working for the board to implement policy and law. The new commissioner will replace John Winn, who resigned early this year.

The seven candidates interviewed Monday included former Hillsborough superintendent Earl J. Lennard, the current and former K-12 chancellors of education and several men with ties to Florida.

Each candidate was given about 45 minutes to field questions. Most were stumped, however, on how to improve the state's strategic education plan, saying that it is basically good.

During most of the eight hours of interviews, the board was attentive and inquisitive, warming noticeably to the second candidate, Lennard, whom most knew.

The seven candidates are:

•William E. Harner, deputy to the chief executive office, school district of Philadelphia since 2006. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy with a 20 year military career. He was a superintendent of Greenville County Schools in South Carolina. He crisply described himself as 'a systems thinker, a quick study - I'm a problem solver.' As superintendent, 'we set the world on fire,' he said, promising once the board set a goal, 'I'll get you there - that's a guarantee.'

•Lennard, a Hillsborough County native who spent 41 years working his way up in education, beginning as a teacher. He retired as superintendent in 2005. He drew on his rural roots and upbringing as one of nine children, emotionally recounting how education can bring someone up from poverty. He said the state never sold its accountability program in a positive light as a means of assessment by saying, 'This is going to measure where you want to go.' His first priorities as commissioner would be to examine the budget, look at changes to the FCAT for improvement and build a relationship with the state board, governor, House and Senate. Board Chairman Willard T. Fair told him he was a mild-mannered man and that dealing with all the stakeholders could 'just eat you up.' Lennard said, 'I have no qualms imposing my will when it's the right thing to do.'

•Joseph Marinelli, a district superintendent for five New York districts since 1994 and a former lobbyist. He called Florida 'a model for standards-based education in this country' but proposed a revision of Florida's standards and its testing system that ends with 10th grade in every subject except science. 'I don't believe the FCAT system would be sufficient when world class standards are imposed,' he said. He said he has been opposed to vouchers, a trademark of Florida public education.

•William J. Maloney, former Colorado commissioner of education for a decade ending in June. He was also a superintendent in Prince Frederick, Md. He quoted Robert Kennedy, said it is normal to go through dissent and bitterness when you make changes and called politics 'the lubricant of great American democracy.'

•Eric J. Smith, senior vice president for college readiness, The College Board in New York and served two superintendencies, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg. N.C. He has roots in Florida, having served as a principal in Orange County and an administrator in Volusia County. 'This opportunity isn't one that comes along very often,' Smith said, He would focus on 'raising the floor at the same time you raise the ceiling' as you also move the middle students. 'I'm a data nut,' he said, with a sense of urgency. Diversity is the 'defining issue of the future,'

•James Warford, executive director of the Florida Association of School Administrators and former K-12 chancellor of education in Florida from 2003-2005. He is the only candidate without a doctorate degree. 'This is a leadership position, not a management position.' Warford said. He said there is a 'crisis of confidence' in Florida's school accountability system and wants an independent audit. 'Policy decisions need to go slower,' he said. 'The farther away from the classroom, the harder it is to keep it in perspective.'

•Cheri Pierson Yecke, K-12 chancellor of education since 2005. Former Commissioner of Education for Minnesota and senior adviser, USA Freedom Corps. in Washington, D.C. She said Florida can look to other countries with higher expectations. 'We could become a national model,' Yecke said. Florida has fared poorly on the national report card under the federal No Child Left Behind law, she said, because the state was an early leader, so had its own system by the time the national system was developed.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 or mbrown@tampatrib.com.

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