Georgia’s new school superintendent has hired some campaign supporters and a donor who will now make two or three times their prior salaries.
Richard Woods, who took office this month, has the power to hire people to top administrative positions, and new superintendents usually hire some new people. Woods said his hires are well-qualified people he trusts. Some education activists, groups and others have raised their eyebrows about the appointments.
State records show one of the new hires, Jeremy Spencer, made two campaign contributions to Woods, a Republican, totaling $635.50. Another hire, Cindy Morley, was a key adviser to Woods and was state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler’s campaign manager in 2010. Roger Hines, a former state lawmaker from Cobb County who will make $42 an hour as the department’s legislative liaison, endorsed Woods in 2010 and 2014.
“It smells of political payoff,” said Verdaillia Turner, president of the 8,000 member Georgia Federation of Teachers.
Turner asked what kind of process Woods used to hire the workers. “He picked them,” Turner said, answering her own question. “Democrats and Republicans do the same thing. They put their friends in.”
Turner’s organization did not endorse Woods.
Woods described the new employees as “great people” who share his vision for education in Georgia.
“If I didn’t hire people who were competent then I wouldn’t be able to accomplish my own goals,” Woods said via email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Ultimately, it’s my record the people of Georgia will look at, and I know that with their leadership at the (Georgia Department of Education) we will be able to accomplish many things for Georgia’s students and the record will speak for itself.”
Matt Jones, the department’s new chief officer of academics, will make an annual salary of $144,200 in his new position. Jones, who spent six years as a teacher and was most recently the technology director for the Toombs County school district, previously made $53,000 a year, according to state officials.
Morley, whom Woods hired to be chief officer of governmental affairs, will also make $144,200 a year in her new job. She previously worked for the state Labor Department, where her duties included promoting events and coordinating a course called GeorgiaBest to prepare high school students for the workforce. State records showed her prior annual salary was $47,500.
Spencer will make an annual salary of $138,000 as the associate superintendent of virtual schools. State records show his prior annual pay was $59,634 in his job as Wilkes County assistant superintendent.
Tim Callahan, spokesman for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, which claims about 86,000 members, described the salary increases as “quite a leap.” PAGE says Georgia’s superintendent should be appointed, not elected. Elected superintendents, Callahan said, are often beholden to top campaign donors who want jobs in government, or to others in various positions.
“What you have to hope is when you make these appointments you take the qualifications of these people and match them accordingly,” Callahan said.
Woods believes he has matched highly qualified people to these positions. In Jones’ case, Woods cited his teaching and administrative experience. The superintendent also pointed out Jones’ involvement with EmpowerED Georgia, a grassroots group Jones co-founded that has been critical of cuts to the state’s Quality Basic Education formula.
Woods said Morley’s experience with state leaders was an important reason he asked her to join his team.
“In the short time we’ve been in office, Matt and Cindy’s actions have already had a major positive impact on restoring the faith in our work as an agency to improve the education system in Georgia,” he said.
Woods, who enjoyed the support of many conservatives during his campaign, had the benefit of the doubt from some prominent activists.
“Unless they find something seriously wrong with one of the hires, I think that they would support the hires,” said Georgia tea party leader Debbie Dooley.
Callahan said he’d reserve judgment.
“The jury is out on all of these people,” he said. “We’ll have to see if they are up to the task.”
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