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

Our next "magic bullet" candidate is Janet Barresi (R), new superintendent of public instruction in Oklahoma. She is a former school speech pathologist, dentist, and founder of a charter school. She opposed a ballot question that would have increased funding for Oklahoma schools, saying it would require big cuts to other agencies and that schools should instead be run with more efficiency.
Her agenda includes increasing the rigor of the state curriculum to ensure that students are ready for both college and careers. Ms. Barresi also wants to revise testing requirements.
“We should be looking at using a handful of reliable and proven instruments, like the ACT and the Iowa tests, and not the mishmash of standardized tests ... the state now has,” she told CapitorlBeatOK, a news service at the Oklahoma capitol.
While the article is far from a comprehensive representation of her philosophy, from what is featured I find little to disagree with. Are schools run inefficiently? Absolutely! Never have I seen so many assistant assistants using their local school district as their own personal cash cow. Or small class A or B districts with a superintendent and vice-superintendent? C'mon...seriously? But it is reality. In the 80s, when faced with competition from Japan, the big auto companies in America thought the way to compete was to cut all the WORKERS, but keep their seven vice-presidents of marketing. Likewise, school administration is following suit. Got budget problems and three superintendents? No worries...just ditch the art program!
As for her comment regarding the mishmash of standardized tests, I again couldn't agree more wholeheartedly. If, as educators, our ultimate goal is to encourage as many students as possible to attend post-secondary institutions, then we should be teaching LIKE post-secondary institutions and preparing students for the tests that will get them IN the college of their choice.
Here in New Mexico, where 40% of high school seniors have to take remedial math classes as college freshmen, we continue to shove Connected Math (the math program that is responsible for the remedial math enrollment) down the throats of students, teachers, and VERY confused parents. I for one have experienced a couple of students angrily exclaiming, after seeing their college dreams evaporate, "There wasn't a DAMN bit of Connected Math on the ACT." While my personal evidence is very anecdotal in nature, there is much to suggest that this "new" math, this "fuzzy" math, shows NO improvement.
My pre-test grade for Ms. Barresi is a good solid B+. Let's see how she does later in the semester.