The CT Mirror reports that the State Board of Education is likely to appoint Deputy Commissioner George Coleman to lead the State Department of Education until our new Governor, Dan Malloy, is able to appoint a permanent replacement to Mark McQuillan. The State BOE will meet this morning to discuss the appointment, although the agenda makes it clear that this will be a closed door discussion.
When asked about his choices for a new permanent Commissioner, Malloy said, "I am looking for a track record of success, great potential, someone who thinks outside the box, someone who stresses collaboration and change."
With that said, I'm guessing Coleman will not be Malloy's permanent choice as there is no greater "inside the box" thinker than Coleman, who has spent his entire career as an insider that learned to work the system well. Coleman gives every impression of being a decent person and a smart man, but I dare anyone to come up with anything he's ever done that was innovative.
According to biographical information on Mr. Coleman, he joined the State Department of Education in 1987 as a kindergarten consultant. Could it be that George Coleman has never worked for anyone other than the State Department of Education?
Of course Coleman has a shot! "Thinking outside the box" is code for "rearranging the furniture" (when the roof is leaking, the pipes are bursting and termites are audibly gnawing away in the basement.) How silly of you, Lynn, to think that someone who has always worked for the CT State DOE would not be ... perfect?!
ReplyDeleteColeman was passed over the last time a new Commissioner was picked. Coleman was the interim commissioner just before McQuillan was hired. If Coleman wasn't good enough for Rowland, maybe Malloy will feel the same.
ReplyDeleteThe State made it official -- George Coleman is the new acting commissioner of education. The announcement clears up my misconception -- Coleman was a classroom teacher in 1972, so he has not spent his entire career at the State Department of Education.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing to note is that Coleman's first job was at St. Mark's School of Learning in Brooklyn. Could it be that he taught at a religious private school? I find that interesting.