Outside Consulting Can Cause Conflicts for Superintendents, Says TC's Sam Abrams
An article in the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette reports that, in addition to serving as Cedar Rapids' new superintendent, Brad Buck is teaching a course for principals at Iowa satellites of Viterbo University, based in Wisconsin. The article reports that school officials in Iowa and across the country are moonlighting for educational companies, universities and professional organizations. "These opportunities can help administrators hone their skills and promote home districts — but they also can lead to potential conflicts of interest," the article says.
“It’s not just about the extra money you’re making on the side,” said Samuel Abrams, director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at TC. “Superintendents are making money from counseling other school districts about getting scores up. They’re consequently that much less likely to criticize an accountability system that should be criticized.”
Published Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015