Opinion: The Elevation of 'Principal Peter'

Do the best leaders come from within a system, or outside? For many, public education is hamstrung by hiring from within, rather than harnessing the skills that others bring to the table.

By Danté Braden
GUEST COLUMNIST

Unfortunately, except for Mr. Shaun Kenney, Fredericksburg region conservatives seldom adequately articulate their beliefs, particularly on local matters. For instance, conservatives advocated for an alternative option for a school superintendent simply because he is “outside the education establishment” without clarifying what that means.

Notwithstanding, my experience as a former student and employee in Spotsylvania County Public Schools provides me with the necessary context to articulate their position for them: The Peter Principle Critique of Public Education. 

Firstly, this critique is by no means tantamount to “undermining the school system as we know it,” as Martin Davis put in his most-recent analysis, “The H.M.S. Education Is Sea-worthy and Strong.” Instead, the critique is made to address a major flaw endemic to public education holding it back.

Generally, most conservatives and progressives agree public education ought to be the great equalizer, allowing anyone to succeed on merit regardless of socioeconomic status. No one I worked with in the previous administration wanted to undermine that. On the contrary, they wanted to improve public education by addressing the Peter Principle. 

I want to introduce you to Principal Peter. He used to be one of his school’s greatest teachers, so great the division promoted him to principal. His education administration classes came in handy, but, truthfully, he performed better as a teacher; nevertheless, he outperformed other principals, so he was the first to be considered for a job in the central office when it opened up. This is where the hypothetical ends because he could go to any position. There are multiple people in the surrounding school districts’ administrations with plenty of education experience, but little experience in their actual roles: HR, Security, Finance, or Administration.  

Why would I hire a great teacher to do anything but be in front of a classroom where they belong? Likewise, why would I hire a great principal to do anything but manage their school? Sure, teaching and education administration embody universally applicable skills, but no more than journalism, law, or business administration.

There comes a point of abstraction in all fields where their respective administration is just that — general administration. In these cases, candidates with managerial experience and legal expertise may be preferable to candidates with experience in a specific role in that organization. 

Then again, I concede that fiscal conservatives’ apprehension to fund public education adequately necessitates educators wanting greater compensation to pursue vertical promotion to their and their school division’s detriment; instead, an amazing teacher should theoretically be able to make more than any central office employee, including a superintendent. 

That is all to say that Drew Gallagher is a great humorist, but that does not mean he would be a great CEO for the FXBG Advance. Or maybe he would; that story about dinosaur porn got a good bit of traction. 

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