A Successful Reform Agenda?

The Gallon and Plainfield saga is a classic case of local politics and its impact on educational systems serving students who are the furthest behind and have the greatest needs. Based on court documents read that were filed by Gallon’s attorney to the State in defense of tenure charges brought against him by the new Board majority,   “Dr. Gallon arrived committed to providing stability, accountability, and leadership to a district that had experienced a revolving door of superintendents in recent years and had languished academically in its failure to provide an effective, thorough, and efficient education to its students.”

The political demonizing of Gallon during this BOE elections is troubling. One mailer went over the top in characterizing him considering that the Board that selected Gallon went to great lengths to find and hire a quality educational leader and ensure that his background was properly checked. Gallon’s attorney further supports this by stating that Dr. Gallon’s “selection and hiring process required a comprehensive background check that included a review of his criminal history, education, work experience, driving history, credit and finances, a community site visit to his former district, and a media background check. Dr. Gallon successfully met all requirements of this screening which finally included fingerprinting, a medical examination, and a drug screening.”

Gallon seemingly arrived to Plainfield with much fanfare and after a sustained, stable career as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary and high school principal, and district administrator. They had in their new superintendent a published author of several books and one who had served as a university Professor of Educational Leadership, preparing prospective students for school leadership positions. By all accounts, Dr. Gallon seemed to be type of leadership that a failing district such as Plainfield needed---young, well educated, charismatic, energetic, and proven. A review of his experiences in Miami-Dade County shows that he was assigned to some of the most challenging schools, leaving a documented track record of success in student achievement and community involvement.

His formula and approach for improving schools as he had done for nearly twenty years in Miami-Dade seem to had been working and paying great dividends to the Plainfield School District. Noted among his achievements reported in court documents, state reports and the local media, who initially embraced him as Plainfield’s educational messiah, included the development of a Comprehensive Strategic Plan with accountability measures, the launching of K-8 Centers, the creation of a School for the Arts and Advanced Studies, Districtwide Mandatory Student Uniforms, increased community involvement and access through Town Hall Meetings, and the development of an evaluation system for administrators. Based on a State Quality Schools Accountability Continuum (QSAC) Report, principals and district administrators, though required by law, had not been evaluated for nearly four years prior to Gallon’s arrival. This resulted in many earning what has now become highly controversial tenure rights although never having their performance properly evaluated.  I read a recent blog which indicated since Gallon's departure principals again have not been evaluated as required by law. I will look into this further.

After only one year, Gallon’s initiatives and approach had shown improvements in the district and according to many, gained positive attention at the State level. In his first year, he had increased student enrollment, student attendance, grant dollars, the graduation rate, and courses and programs for gifted and honors students. Audit findings at the district level had decreased from 37 to 5 over the course of his tenure. Gallon inherited a high school that had been labeled the State only persistently dangerous and a district that had been classified “In Need of Improvement” for several years under the federal guidelines of No Child Left Behind Act. Both labels would be removed from the district after only 18 months of Gallon’s leadership as Plainfield’s Superintendent of Schools. There would also be double-digit gains in each of the five QSAC categories, with Curriculum which had scored the lowest---a sad 8%---realizing the highest gain. This was an area that curren BOE Member Wilma Campbell was listed as the Committee Chairperson for the past several years.

There has been no debate about Gallon’s positive impact on the educational programs for students and operations of the district, and his unique ability to lead. His efforts to lead a positive reform agenda had proven successful. It has been said among certain inner circles that he refused to play "political ball" with old and new power brokers in Plainfield and at the BOE.  

For a district that was seemingly headed in the right direction in its overall operations and education of its students, many are still left to ponder want went wrong. Most have resigned themselves to the sad reality that this episode is just another chapter in the book of New Jersey Politics, and even sadder, the persistent problems in the City of Plainfield, New Jersey.