Last June, Dr. John Covington, the notorious former Chancellor of the state-run “School District for Misfit Schools” called the Education Achievement Authority, unexpectedly quit his position to “take another job” and “care for his mother”. Covington has a quite infamous history. When he left his position as the superintendent of Kansas City schools after faking a conflict with the board, the district lost its accreditation shortly afterwards. While he ran the EAA, Gov. Snyder’s failed education experiment on Detroit kids, he spent nearly a quarter million dollars on things like travel, gas, a chauffeur, and furniture. The incredible educational failures of the EAA under Covington have been well-documented on this website.
So, what was the “job” that Covington took? He started a new company called the National Institute for Student-Centered Teaching and Learning. I tried looking it up but the company literally has no presence on the internet. In fact, the only reason I know about it is because Covington is once again looking to head up yet another school district. This time it’s in Columbia, South Carolina:
The Richland School District 1 trustees have named three finalists in the district’s search for a new superintendent.They are a superintendent from Alabama, a deputy superintendent from Florida and the founder and director of a student-centered institute. […]
Dr. John Covington most recently founded the National Institute for Student-Centered Teaching and Learning after serving as chancellor of Michigan’s Education Achievement Authority. Prior to this post he was superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri, Pueblo City Schools in Colorado and Lowndes County Public Schools in Alabama. He began his career in education as a teacher and has served as a counselor, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and executive assistant to the superintendent in districts in Alabama.
As it turns out, he started the company just a month after deserting Detroit:
Fellow John Covington has served as superintendent of school districts in Missouri, Colorado and Alabama, and was chancellor of Michigan’s Education Achievement Authority for two and a half years. He founded the National Institute for Student-Centered Teaching and Learning, a new group of schools that finds innovative ways to improve student achievement, in July last year. Each school offers small class sizes and allows students to move onto the next grade level without having to wait until the end of the year. The school system also follows a digital learning model by supplying each student with a computer.
And now, just six months after he started this new invisible company, Covington is looking to run yet another hapless school district.
Gee, I wonder what software platform Covington’s group is promoting? Can you say BUZZ? I knew you could.
So much for “caring for his mother”.
All I can say to the Richland School District is:
DON’T DO IT!!! DO NOT HIRE JOHN COVINGTON NO MATTER WHAT!!!
That is all.
[Hat tip to Hector Solon for directing my attention to this.]
