Board approves $198,000 contract for new Alabama superintendent
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A divided Alabama Board of Education on Thursday approved a contract for the state’s new school superintendent who has drawn criticism for his lack of experience at the school level and in the classroom.
In a 7-2 vote, the board approved the contract for education consultant and former Massachusetts education secretary Michael Sentance. He will take over as superintendent on Sept. 12.
“My goal here is to raise the achievement of students in Alabama so whatever people think about Alabama, they know that their schools are good and improving, Sentence said after the vote.
Sentance spent most of his career as an education adviser and reformer. He has worked as an education consultant, the New England regional representative for the U.S. Department of Education secretary and the senior education adviser to the Massachusetts governor.
Sentance has an American studies degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from Duquesne University of Law and a master’s degree in law from the Boston University School of Law.
The board narrowly named Sentance as their pick last month, choosing him over candidates with extensive experience in Alabama schools. His outsider status has drawn a mixture of criticism and praise throughout the selection process, with some saying he would bring fresh ideas and others charging he is unqualified because of his lack of school-level experience.
“He has no terminal degree in education. He has no classroom experience. He has no experience as a principal,” board member Ella Bell said before the vote.
Richard Franklin, a teacher and president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said Sentance would not meet the qualifications required to lead a local school system, and therefore should not be lead the state system. “Qualifications should and do matter,” Franklin said during a public hearing before the vote.