In naming educator Ralph Simpson the interim superintendent over Region 5 in south DeKalb, DeKalb Schools is putting a lot of faith in someone who betrayed that faith in the past.
In 2010, DeKalb Schools demoted Simpson from assistant superintendent to assistant principal over a book purchase scandal.
The demotion grew out of an AJC investigation. In July of 2010, the AJC's Tim Eberly reported:
In the 70-page paperback, printed in large font generally reserved for children's books, Simpson writes about his evolution from a high school student in remedial classes to an assistant superintendent with a doctorate degree. Now Simpson and at least three other school officials are under investigation by the school district, which also is asking the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to review the matter. The commission has the power to investigate and discipline educators.
District spokesman Quinn Hudson said Simpson turned his career around, rising to become principal at Towers High. Simpson improved test scores there, Quinn said, adding that when the graduation rate for last year is tallied for the school, the district expects about a 16 percentage point increase.
It is always good to read about people turning around their careers, but I would still argue Simpson should have restored his career and his good name in another system. DeKalb’s decision not to fire Simpson in 2010 was a tremendous gift to him, as many other systems would have terminated an employee for a similar abuse.
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