Good News for Mr. Deasy
But not for a Prince George's County school system that is just hitting its stride

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS are probably in order for John E. Deasy, the Prince George's school superintendent who's getting a grand new job. But we can't muster words of celebration, only of commiseration. Mr. Deasy's departure from a school system that is just now starting to benefit from his leadership is not good news. His disappointing decision to leave after less than three years is a major blow for Prince George's, and it should cause county officials to wonder whether there was more they could have done to retain this gifted educator.

Mr. Deasy announced yesterday that he will leave in February for a job as a deputy director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He tried to put the best face on his departure: Test scores are up, a good leadership team is in place, and the system is in good shape. There is no question of his achievements, and he can rightly be proud. Not only was he able to drive the pace of test score gains faster than the state average but he also brought a new culture of honesty and accountability to the system.

Nonetheless, Mr. Deasy is leaving well before the job has been done. Prince George's schools still rank as the second-worst in Maryland, with lagging levels of student achievement. Uncertain economic times face the county, and it may be harder to sustain the initiatives behind the system's improvements, thus magnifying the loss of Mr. Deasy's leadership. School board members and Mr. Deasy vowed that there would be a seamless transition, but lost is the continuity in leadership that is key to building a successful school system.

Without a doubt, many of the struggles of Prince George's schools are attributable to the upset and disruption caused by the succession of short-term superintendents. Mr. Deasy is the fourth since 1999, and none has lasted more than four years. Consider that when Mr. Deasy came to the county, he said it takes four years to get a system solidly on track and eight years to bring it to where it ought to be.

Unlike some of his predecessors, Mr. Deasy was not forced out. School board members said they are sorry to see him go. Nonetheless, behind-the-scenes tensions existed, and it is clear that Mr. Deasy had become worn down. Enter the Gates Foundation with its attractive offer for him to make a difference on a national scale. Good for Mr. Deasy -- but too bad he didn't stay long enough to make a lasting difference in Prince George's.