As a proud if beleaguered public school teacher, it is my judgment and experience that there is a “trickle down” of management philosophy, and what I experience at my school site is often anything but supportive of my professional work or growth. What should be collaborative is instead directive and adversarial—a “luna” rather than a leader mentality. That is what seems to trickle down from the current superintendent’s office.

A former educator with a heart for our keiki and our teachers would model an appropriate, constructive, collaborative management style. Such an attitude and approach trickling down from the top would improve morale and empower teachers and schools far more effectively than our current dictated, mandated, often micro-managed current experience. With the rigid structures of No Child Left Behind left behind, a superintendent adept at the human work of education would serve us better.