Montgomery County schools Superintendent Jerry Weast announced Tuesday that he’ll retire at the end of the school year, bringing to a close a contentious 12-year tenure as head of one of the nation’s largest and most diverse school systems.
“Quite frankly, I do not believe that there is another large district in the nation that has experienced such tremendous demographic change and seen student achievement continue to increase at the levels seen in MCPS,” Weast wrote in a memo to the school board.
He commended the work of the school board — while saving a few pats on the back for himself — in sticking with reforms long enough for them to become ingrained in the system. Students’ SAT scores are at an all-time high, he wrote (not mentioning that participation on the college entrance exam has declined). And the district’s “Peer Assistance and Review” program has “resulted in about 400 underperforming teachers leaving the system,” he wrote. That breaks down to about 36 teachers per year, out of about 11,500 overall.
Those numbers are pretty small shakes compared to the more than 400 teachers fired in a single year by D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee. But as Weast pointed out, MCPS dropped its dead weight quietly.
“There is not another large school system in the country that has removed so many underperformers from its ranks with very little rancor,” he wrote.
Rancor found its way into other aspects of Weast’s leadership, however — most notably in his relationships with parents and the school board. While few discount his ability to push through his favored reforms, many turned sour on what they perceived as a bullying and behind-closed-doors style.
A June article in the Washington Examiner revealed that only one board member — President Pat O’Neill — would have preferred Weast stick around for another term.
That fact was not lost on Weast, who singled out O’Neill in his final round of thanks, offering a subtle snub to other board members.
“Finally, I want to thank you, Mrs. O’Neill, for your steadfast leadership and determination … You did not shy away from casting tough votes and making difficult decisions.”
