Elect Mary Welsh Schlueter Featured Content

BOE: Does Teacher Know Best?

Mary Welsh Schlueter schlueter@fuse.net — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:43:27 PST

Several weeks ago, during a candidate's forum, one BOE challenger was asked why she -- as an educator and union leader -- would want to serve on the Board. She simply stated that only "teachers knew best" the rigors of the Board and could accurately design curriculum and objectives for the district's needs.

I felt like I was in school again; except, this time the teacher was misinformed. If you look at any experts on corporate and non-profit board management, the most successful boards are those who have both a depth and breadth of professional involvement.

In fact, some corporate boards make a point of having members who have no experience at all with the product or service they are regulating, hence making it easier to create new opportunities entrenched interests might not have considered. P&G is one great example of using this practice with its new hires and corporate board selections.

Cincinnati represents a wide array of stakeholders, with varying cultures, religions, careers and overall concerns. Why can't our BOE look like that? What's more poignant than reviewing how many different voters are found in places such as Cheviot, Amberley Village, Price Hill, Westwood and Oakley, to name a few? We are not a homogeneous band of citizens, parents or property owners.

Because there's been so much interest in corporate governance in the past few years, numerous business schools offer criteria for successful board governance. Having a homogeneous group of members is not one of them!

Instead, Board criteria rely upon an understanding of the service provided and how its delivery affects the consumer, community and overall budget. You need business people, medical personnel, laborers, teachers, parents, empty nesters, etc. who have one idea in common: Create the best possible outcome for the one, primary consumer while meeting budgetary constraints.

Since most boards are not big enough to accommodate every single interest, candidates must represent a collection of these attributes. That's where I come in. Besides my parent status, as I serve as business executive, educator, public servant, author and community volunteer in my service portfolio.

Yes, it would be so much easier to fill our BOE with everyone with similar professions. But that's not the job of the Board. It may not be pretty, but all stakeholders deserve a voice at the table, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it builds stronger resolutions, more workable strategies and greater ownership of progressive results.

So, let me tell you again: I am running so that I can have an impact on Cincinnati's future. Yes, the Board may pull me every which way, but it's my job to discern the best path and effectively help move towards the best option. With a combination of business, education and academic experience, I can do that in an effective manner.

I also welcome discussing new ideas, and as you'll see in the next year, the BOE will be making crucial decisions about CPS's future, and by default, those decisions will determine Cincinnati's economic viability.

Next blog: I'll review the impact of several innovational ideas being discussed both here and in other cities.

Variety Spells S-U-C-C-E-S-S

Mary Welsh Schlueter schlueter@fuse.net — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:15:41 PST

I was talking to Bob Dehner of the Charter Committee and reminded him of a statement from attorney George Vincent (Dinsmore) noting the most "differentiated corporate boards" he had encountered were some of the "best performing entities" he had ever seen. Considering Mr. Vincent is a member of many national and regional boards, he has an informed opinion.

But why would someone want to elect a board with a variety of stakeholders? Who wants more argument and debate? Aren't collaborative, single dimension boards the most efficient or pushing through mandates -- and what's more collaborative than everyone working together representing the SAME background and career path?

If we are talking merely speed, this is the best type of board. Unfortunately, however, this type of board only represents one stakeholder, namely it only serves current members' interests. Just think if everyone in Congress represented the Tobacco lobby or the Firearms lobby-- whose interests would be best served?

With the Cincinnati BOE race, several candidates are current or former teachers, union members or both. They are good people. But they don't represent all the stakeholders within the district. With parents, administrators, property owners, business owners, and non-union suppliers, CPS exemplifies a variety of interests. With only one type of stakeholder represented, Cincinnati will miss debating the hard issues serving everyone, and the solutions will be one-sided.

Another example: If General Electric or P&G staffed their corporate boards with local employees skilled in sales and marketing, would all global shareholders, customers and employees be well served? Of course not. Tough decisions and tougher solutions emerge from different forms of thinking, different viewpoints and different experiences. Electing a board that looks, acts and feels the same, puts CPS at a disadvantage.

Take a good look at me. As a parent, homeowner, business owner, elected official, university educator, author, I offer a multi-dimensional, innovative and contemporary point of view.

Remember, electing multi-faceted citizens allows for innovation, and allows for a type of collaboration that values all viewpoints, and tries to satisfy all stakeholders' main concerns.

My next blog talks about how we define innovation. Some lead innovational educators believe you only really "know it" when you "practice it". Rather like our 2008 presidential election's use of the word "maverick"...

Defining Innovation: Palin's Maverick

Mary Welsh Schlueter schlueter@fuse.net — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:38:11 PST

Whenever I speak at Candidate's neighborhood forums, I bring up the "maverick" Issue. in Sarah Palin's opinion, she was a "maverick" -- an independent woman who exemplified the Great Western Frontier. But was she? The term is relative to everyone's experience, and most of us don't tally our maverick moments every day. The only way you define maverick is by using examples, only then can we determine if she fits our profile or not. Some think she did, others not much.

The same "relativity" applies to the word innovation. Everyone wants to use the sexy word, but few know how to give concrete examples of innovation, especially as it pertains to innovative educational policy, curriculum and objectives.

Innovation holds both positive and negative connotations. For some it exemplifies opportunities, while others consider it unknown and scary. Both viewpoints are viable. As an example, I'm sure in the early 1900's people thought the invention of the car was a waste of time. Who needed this smelly, unsafe and unpredictable transportation option, when horses were available at every juncture? You can say the same thing about television, as it slowly replaced the radio for entertainment and news. Clearly, most viable innovations become acceptable with time and use.

The same can be said with innovation in the educational system. CPS is looking to use the "next best thing" to halt the slide in achievement scores. But unfortunately, you need more than one option to increase achievement across all learning and grade levels.

Adopting an innovation can be transformational. Just ask students who attend urban schools in Denver, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Dayton. Why not look at our own STEM school here in Cincinnati? What catalyst served to change poor performing districts into stars? One word: Innovation.

CPS has the capability to learn from other's innovations. We can bridge the achievement gap AND maintain educational excellence. It's being done right now! And unions are not being broken, people aren't losing jobs, and paychecks are not being cut.

I'll offer that contemporary view on the Board of Education. No, I won't be a maverick - - I don't want to be the lone voice. I want joiners and followers. I want buy-in from everyone. Won't you join me?

I'll tell you in a few days what some of these innovative, educational solutions would look like. Keep it tuned to my blog....