John Folks: The TT Interview
When John Folks was named Superintendent of the Year at an annual gathering of the state's education leaders earlier this month, 4,000 administrators and school board members rose to give him a standing ovation.
A fierce advocate for Texas public schools, the silver-thatched chief of San Antonio's Northside Independent School District was a familiar figure at committee hearings and in the halls of the Capitol during the 82nd Legislature, where he frequently testified on the perils of reducing funding to public education.
Folks has led the state's fourth-largest school district since 2002. He began his more ...
Comments (2)
Mark Singleton
Why do education administration folks think they should not be forced to look for ways to do more with less as ever tax payer has in America? The entire nation has had to seriously look at everything it does and decide what it cannot afford to do any longer. Education and Governmental organizations across this country have no clue except to just throw more money at something and this has to stop. There are hundreds of programs that hatched when budgets were very good with little to no clear missions and or goals established. No real accountability can ever be determined without a well-defined mission and measurable goals.
A human flaw we all share is no one ever questions or stops anything until we have to. The financial crisis we are all experiencing is forcing us to be better stewards of the money we are entrusted with and or earn. The first priority should be focused on finding ways to identify and cut wasteful spending rather than just run out and sue the state. I will suggest to you that a program without a clearly defined mission and specific measurable goals that have been reviewed annually by our school boards should be considered for significant funding reductions if not removed entirely. School boards across Texas need to get their superintendents and staff focused on doing more with less. Our children need problem solvers in these positions with the ability and understanding that it is not just about spending more money for education but specifically making sure the money you are currently spending is returning the results you expect. The real problem for us all is what do we expect from our education system? We have allowed the original mission of education to become so diluted with social issues and litigation mitigation tactics that we are unable to stay focused on education. I want our students to be able to think their ways thru life and not just bounce around mindlessly waiting on the government to save them.
There are far too many people with opinions but no practical experience or for that matter any intention of ever working to solve the problem. Our nation is founded on hard work and sacrifice not lip service. We all need to get involved and bring solutions to the board tables of our school boards.
John Carhart via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Just another facet of the "Texas Miracle!"