Saturday, February 2, 2013

Former School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene Ackerman dead at 66

Former School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene Ackerman died today of pancreatic cancer. She was 66 years old.

Today, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter made the following statement on Ackerman's passing:
“Arlene Ackerman was a truly committed educator who demonstrated a profound passion for students and in particular the most disadvantaged students in our city. Through her leadership, Philadelphia took on the difficult, long-neglected task of turning around low-performing schools. Today, thousands of Philadelphia students are getting a better education thanks to her vision and advocacy. Her educational legacy will live on for many years through the initiatives that she championed. Our prayers are with her family and friends.”
If you can recall any innovations she made to help Philly kids receive a quality education in a building that wasn't falling apart in a safe environment, you're better than most Philadelphians, Mayor Nutter.
What I remember is Ackerman was fired in 2011 and when she was let go, she collected a buyout of close to 1-million dollars.
Then, she applied for unemployment.
I also seem to remember that she used tax dollars to run a school district communications department that was completely devoted to building and protecting her image as some kind of beloved leader with insight and  knowledge. She had this communications team organize rallies in her favor...even going so far as to make up signs for "supporters" to bob up and down at these rallies.
Now, while I'm sorry to hear of anybody's death, especially from such a painful disease as pancreatic cancer, I'm not going to re-write history. Mayor Nutter has to be respectful, but the rest of us don't have to play nice.
"...demonstrated a profound passion for students and in particular the most disadvantaged students in our city." Really? How does taking a giant buyout for incompetence and then applying to take more money that could be used helping those disadvantaged students profoundly passionate?



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