New Schools Director - Jesse Register

Yesterday Metro School Board members voted 7-2 to extend an offer to Jesse Register. Mr. Register is a soft spoken man with great credentials. He is well educated (Duke, MEd) experienced (Director of three systems - Hamilton Co, TN, Statesville, NC and Cabarrus Co., NC) and appears to enjoy the respect of his peers as a reformer (Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University).

Not everyone is thrilled about this selection. Parents of Special Education students have some concerns about how Hamilton Co., TN handled the education of a student with autism who subsequently sued the County. There is a special place in heaven for parents of Special Education students who, with the the patience of Job, have relentless pursued changes to our program. They have every reason to be concerned but I hope that Mr. Register's experience with the lawsuit makes him more thoughtful and educated about the issue.

Some people think we should have held out for a head banger change agent like Michelle Rhee at Washington, DC schools. However poor the reputation of Metro Schools they do not compare with Washington's. Washington, DC public schools were abandoned by the middle class of all colors over 30 years ago. Families moved to Montgomery Co., MD or Fairfax Co., Virginia or paid for private school. I know, you think that sounds like Nashville. But try this test - name everyone you know who has children in Metro schools. If you lived in Washington you would probably not be able to name one. DC schools have been utterly and completely divorced for a very long time from that portion of the population every city depends on for the success of its schools. What is left are those most in need - in need of special education, in need of remedial education, in need of someone who actually cares.

Add to DC's demographics the fact that its government has not exactly been a sterling example of municipal function. Unions have considerable adverse influence. Bribery and corruption, while not commonplace, have certainly undermined the city's credibility. (I lived there when the Alt-weekly dubbed the executive Mayor-For-Life Hizzoner Marion Barry.) During one particularly snowy January, the federal government almost ceased operations because the city couldn't get the snowplows out. It didn't help when it was discovered that the Mayor was out of town attending the Super Bowl. Things have gotten a bit better but DC struggles with its reputation as a city that mates northern hospitality with southern efficiency.

So, Washington may need a Michelle Rhee. Nashville, not so much. Not only are we not so far gone as a city and a school system, we tend not to like the change agent that kicks butt and takes names. Washington is home to a lot of military types and they are used to that approach. Controversy and debate are part of the milieu. In Tennessee, the operating political theory is "ease along." We like change agents but we like ones that can get things done using consensus, team building and compromise with a little bit of butt kicking in the background. That isn't the sort of thing that gets you on the cover of Newsweek but it tends to work with the particular personality that is Nashville's.

So, the decision is made. Let's all get behind the new Director, do what we can to make him successful and hold him accountable. And with a little luck and elbow grease we will ease along to a better school system.

Update: Mr Woods, I have corrected the typos and I apologize deeply for losing the last "t" from butt. Comments on any post are warmly received at emily.evans@nashville.gov.