From “The Servant as Leader,” by Robert K. Greenleaf: “The servant-leader is servant first ... It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions.”
“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest-priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?”
From “Standards for Effective Governance of Georgia School Systems 2010”: “School board governance is based upon the trusteeship ideology that the board works as one body representing the entire community. Imbedded in the concept of board action on behalf of a larger group of citizen owners is a shared focus on results and a good faith and honest effort to fulfill the oversight role.”
“With our school systems under constant pressure, and with standards throughout the world exceeding those standards of most of our schools, is it any wonder that school board governance is such a critical topic? In Georgia, the local elected school board members represent the community in its oversight and fiduciary responsibility. There is a newfound urgency that student achievement should be the primary focus of that attention, and with the exception of safety and civil rights, all other measures and outcomes are secondary.”
From the AJC May 29
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed: “The leadership of the city of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools is coming together to take on the challenge of moving the system off of probation and onto firm footing again.”
Board Chairman Khaatim Sherrer El: “I had people actually undermining good work because of their positions [on the leadership issue]. [My] stepping down removes any excuse” for not backing the board.
APS board member Brenda Muhammad: “This is a very difficult time on this board. One of the most challenging times I’ve known.”
House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, when asked about the board’s future: “Guardedly optimistic.”
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