Education reform: number one of eight school chiefs to watch in 2011

Happy New Year! It's time to look forward to another year of finger pointing, teacher bashing, and false solutions by bureaucrats who don't want to anger voters by saying, "Parents....we can't do it without you" *Sigh* Well, let the parade of inept politicians begin.
Our first Mr. Fix-it is Jason Glass of Iowa. Appointed to be the new director of the Iowa Department of Education by Gov.-elect Terry Branstad (R), Jason Glass is a former teacher and school administrator. In Eagle County, Colo., where he was human resources director, he helped bridge divides when the school system set up a merit pay plan for teachers, the Des Moines Register reports. He now wants to bring that experience to bear on how teachers in Iowa are evaluated and paid.
Overall, he says, he wants to “allow for greater innovation in schools.... That happens by not imposing greater central control on schools, but actually freeing up local school districts to try new things,” he told the Register.
Yes, that's a fabulous idea Jason. Surely, with more local control, students will begin to study and stop bullying the smart kids and calling them nerds. This idea is so innovative, that it is only 200 years old, as featured in this Educational Leadership article from November 1980. Great job Jason! You're on the cutting edge and those scores are gonna skyrocket! However, YOU get an F on your pre-test as Education director for Iowa. Later in the "semester," I sure hope your grade is higher so it will average out to passing.