John Deasy (educator)

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John Deasy
Deasy in 2011
Born
John Edward Deasy

1961 (age 62–63)
East Providence, Rhode Island, US
Alma materProvidence College (BA, MA) University of Louisville (PhD)
Title
SpousePat Deasy
Children3
Superintendent of Stockton Unified School District
In office
June 1, 2018 – June 15, 2020
Preceded byDan Wright (interim)
Succeeded byBrian Biedermann (interim)
Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District
In office
April 15, 2011 – October 15, 2014
Preceded byRamón C. Cortines (interim)
Succeeded byRamón C. Cortines (interim)
Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools
In office
May 1, 2006 – 2008
Preceded byWilliam R. Hite, Jr. (interim)
Succeeded byHoward A. Burnett (interim)
Superintendent of Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District
In office
2001 – May 1, 2006
Preceded byDr. Neil Schmidt
Succeeded byDianne Talarico
Superintendent of Coventry Public Schools
In office
1996–2001
Preceded byRaymond Spear
Succeeded byDonna Bernard

John Edward Deasy (/ˈdeɪsiː/; born 1961) is an American businessman who served as the superintendent of Stockton Unified School District from June 1, 2018, to June 15, 2020. Prior to that, Deasy served as the superintendent for Los Angeles Unified School District from 2011 to 2014, Prince George's County Public Schools from 2006 to 2008, Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District from 2001 to 2006, and Coventry Public Schools from 1996 to 2001.

Career

Early career (1983–1996)

Deasy started as a teacher of chemistry, biology and earth science before becoming the assistant principal of La Salle Military Academy in 1984. He became the director of personnel of Coventry Public Schools in 1987, the principal of Lake George Junior/Senior High School in 1983, and the principal of Coventry High School in 1993.

Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District (2001–2006)

In 2001, Deasy was selected to head the

Los Angeles County average for the 2004–2005 school year.[2]

During his tenure at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, Deasy awarded a $375,000 consulting contract to the National Center on Public Education and Social Policy, which was headed by Robert Felner. Felner was also Deasy's doctoral advisor at the University of Louisville. In January 2010, Felner pled guilty to nine federal charges, including income tax evasion, and was sentenced to 63 months in prison.[3][4]

In 2006, Deasy was picked as a finalist for the superintendent for Prince George's County Public Schools, and in February 2006, resigned as superintendent of SMMUSD.[5][6][7]

Prince George's County Public Schools and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2006–2010)

Deasy started as superintendent at Prince George's County Public Schools on May 1, 2006.[8] He was elected unanimously in February 2006 and was the fifth superintendent in a decade.[9] During this time, there was controversy due to discrepancies in his records, which say that Deasy received his doctorate from the University of Louisville with only nine credit hours. According to his resume for Prince George's Schools, he received his master's in 1987, while Providence College records show that he received it on May 21, 1989. The University of Louisville formed a six-member blue-ribbon committee to investigate the discrepancies for Deasy's degree, but University president James R. Ramsey said that they found no violations.[10] Mike Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, said that his credentials did not matter but the results of his tenure did.[11]

After two years, Deasy announced his plans to resign to take a job offered by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.[12][13][14] He served as the Deputy Director of Education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for three years before being hired by the Los Angeles Unified School District as a deputy superintendent.[15]

Los Angeles Unified School District (2010–2014)

Deasy started serving as deputy superintendent of LUASD in August 2010.[16] On January 11, 2011, the LAUSD school board voted 6–0 to name Deasy as superintendent, with only Board member Steve Zimmer abstaining.[17][18] During his tenue, the district saw improved test scores and graduation rates and lower suspension rates, but was criticized for uncompromising positions on teacher evaluation and employment.[19]

In 2013, he embarked on a mission to give iPads to all 650,000 students in the school, and was met with criticisms about how they were more expensive than other tablets from other manufacturers.[20] That same year, his contract with LAUSD was extended to 2016.[21] He also introduced the My Integrated Student Information System (MISiS), which was criticized for randomly disappearing grades and assignments.[22][23]

In 2014, it was revealed that Deasy had ties to Apple Inc., the makers of the iPad, and Pearson PLC, creators of applications on the iPads, raising questions about the bidding process.[24] Deasy resigned on October 16, 2014, after mounting criticisms and the failed iPad program.[25] He remained in the district with a special assignment until the end of the year and received about 60 days pay, which totaled to $60,000.[26][27] Cortines was picked to become superintendent again in an interim capacity.[28] After Deasy's resignation, there was speculation about who would replace him as an official superintendent, but it was decided that, after Cortines, deputy superintendent Michelle King would become superintendent.[29][30] In December 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized records from LAUSD pertaining to the iPad program.[31]

The Broad Center (2015–2018)

In 2015, he landed a job as a consultant for the Broad Center, funded by Eli Broad.[32] He also served as a superintendent-in-residence for the Broad Academy.[33][34] He continued until 2018.

Clark County School District election and Stockton Unified School District (2018–2020)

On April 6, the Clark County School District announced the top four candidates for superintendent, which included Deasy.[35][36] His pick was controversial due to his resignation with LAUSD.[37] On April 12, Deasy announced that he would withdraw from the election.[38] The announcement came after the School Board of Trustees said that they would extend the search timeline and look for internal candidates.[39][40]

In May 2018, Deasy was hired as superintendent of Stockton Unified School District.[41][42] Once again, as with his tenure in PGCPS, questions arose regarding Deasy's Ph.D.[43] In April 2020, Deasy announced that he would resign as superintendent.[44] The board accepted his resignation with a vote of 4–3, with then-mayor of Stockton Michael Tubbs opposing the move.[45][46]

Personal life

According to Deasy, he earned his

PhD from the University of Louisville.[47] The validity of his PhD has been called into question.[48] Deasy also received the Service to Education Award by Providence at their 2013 reunion.[49][50]

His wife, Patricia Deasy, is a nurse practitioner and has three children. Deasy described himself as a liberal, supporting Howard Dean during his 2004 presidential campaign.[51]

References

  1. ^ Belmond, Sylvie (May 3, 2001). "School district hires new superintendent". The Malibu Times.
  2. ^ Varghese, Anita (August 25, 2005). "SANTA MONICA: PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IMPROVE ON STAR TESTS; RANK HIGHER THAN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AVERAGE". The Argonaut News.
  3. ^ Gibson, Rich; Gosler, Amber (January 7, 2011). "LA schools Boss to be John Deasy, of fake degree and Gates (and Broad) foundation fame". Substance News. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. ^ Rodriguez, Nancy (July 2, 2014). "Look back | Former U of L dean Robert Felner sentenced to 63 months in prison". The Courier Journal. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ Anderson, Nick (February 14, 2006). "Finalist for School Superintendent Visits Pr. George's". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ Varghese, Anita (February 23, 2006). "SANTA MONICA: SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY LEAVING IN MAY FOR A BIGGER DISTRICT IN MARYLAND". The Argonaut News.
  7. ^ February 22, 2006. "SMMUSD head Deasy resigns". The Malibu Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Anderson, Nick (March 9, 2006). "The New Kid in Class: Superintendent John Edward Deasy". The Washington Post. p. 1.
  9. ^ Dickman, Allyson (September 24, 2008). "Deasy's Resume Shows Questions, Doctorate Remains Under Investigation". Southern Maryland Online.
  10. ^ Dickman, Allyson (September 24, 2008). "Deasy's Resume Shows Questions, Doctorate Remains Under Investigation". Capital News Service.
  11. ^ Petrilli, Mike (September 12, 2008). "Don't get queasy about John Deasy". Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
  12. ^ Alford, Amy (May 18, 2015). "A Dozen Years of Changes in PGCPS Governance Structure". Prince George's County Advocates for Better Schools.
  13. ^ Hernandez, Nelson (September 30, 2008). "Pr. George's Superintendent Is Leaving". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ Bowie, Liz (October 4, 2008). "Maryland says goodbye to John Deasy". The Baltimore Sun.
  15. ^ Blume, Howard (June 23, 2010). "L.A. Unified hires Gates Foundation official as deputy superintendent". Los Angeles Times.
  16. ^ "JOHN DEASY, FORMER SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, NAMED NEW LAUSD HEAD". The Argonaut. January 13, 2011.
  17. ^ Ebright, Olsen (January 11, 2011). "Board Votes 6-0; John Deasy Named LAUSD Superintendent". KNBC.
  18. ^ "Deasy picked to lead LAUSD". Santa Monica Daily Press. 12 January 2011.
  19. ^ Iasevoli, Brenda (October 17, 2014). "Why Did the Los Angeles Superintendent Resign?". The Atlantic.
  20. ^ Pickert, Kate (October 17, 2014). "How the iPad Helped Bring Down the Los Angeles Schools Chief". Time.
  21. ^ "LA Schools Chief John Deasy Gets Contract Extension To 2016". KCBS-TV. October 29, 2013.
  22. ^ Sewell, Abby (October 11, 2014). "LAUSD's student information system becomes a technological disaster". Los Angeles Times.
  23. ^ "Technology Isn't the Solution for Public Education's Problems". Valley News. October 28, 2014.
  24. ^ Blume, Howard (August 24, 2014). "LAUSD officials had close ties with Apple, Pearson execs, records show". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ Rich, Mokoto (October 16, 2014). "Deasy Resigns as Los Angeles Schools Chief After Mounting Criticism". The New York Times.
  26. ^ "LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy Resigns". KNBC. October 15, 2014.
  27. ^ Romero, Lynette; Bloom, Tracy; Wolfe, Chris (October 16, 2014). "Embattled LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy Announces Resignation". KTLA.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Freedberg, Louis (October 16, 2014). "Deasy resigns as superintendent of LA Unified". EdSource.
  29. ^ Torres, Zahira (September 5, 2015). "After John Deasy, LAUSD faces a tough choice: Play it safe or take another risk?". Los Angeles Times.
  30. ^ Clough, Craig (January 11, 2016). "LAUSD turns to district 'lifer' Michelle King as new superintendent". LA School Report.
  31. ^ Blume, Howard; Kim, Victoria; Rainey, James (December 2, 2014). "FBI seizes LAUSD records related to troubled iPad program". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Brown, Emma (January 13, 2015). "John Deasy, former L.A. and Pr. George's superintendent, lands new consulting job". The Washington Post.
  33. KPCC
    . January 12, 2015.
  34. KPCC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  35. ^ Valley, Jackie (April 6, 2018). "Top four contenders for Clark County superintendent job are all outsiders". The Nevada Independent.
  36. ^ Lupiani, Joyce (April 6, 2018). "UPDATE: Clark County School District announces superintendent candidates". KTNV-TV.
  37. ^ Molina, Alejandra (April 7, 2018). "Former LAUSD superintendent John Deasy is a finalist to lead Clark County School District in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Daily News.
  38. ^ Park, Amelia (April 12, 2018). "Finalist for Clark County superintendent job withdraws". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  39. ^ "Former Los Angeles school superintendent withdraws name from Clark County search". The Nevada Independent. April 12, 2018.
  40. ^ Bleakley, Caroline (April 12, 2018). "Finalist for CCSD superintendent job withdraws name". KLAS-TV.
  41. ^ Filipas, Nicholas (May 2, 2018). "Former Los Angeles superintendent picked to lead Stockton Unified". The Record.
  42. ^ Filipas, Nicholas (May 2, 2018). "SUSD confirms controversial pick as superintendent". The Record.
  43. ^ Filipas, Nicholas (May 4, 2018). "Questions surface about new SUSD chief's past". The Record.
  44. ^ Gross, Kristi (April 22, 2020). "Stockton Unified School District superintendent resigns". KTXL.
  45. ^ "Stockton school board votes to accept superintendent resignation". KCRA-TV. 22 April 2020.
  46. ^ "John Deasy Out As SUSD Superintendent After Resigning Amidst Investigation". 209 Times. April 21, 2020.
  47. ^ "Bio: John E. Deasy" (PDF). Talent Development Secondary.
  48. ^ "John Deasey - Substance News". www.substancenews.net. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  49. ^ "Reunion Weekend 2013: 7 Honored by Alumni Association for Contributions". Providence College. October 1, 2013.
  50. ^ "East Providence native Deasy receives Providence College honor". East Bay Newspapers. June 17, 2013.
  51. ^ Anderson, Nick (March 9, 2006). "The New Kid in Class: Superintendent John Edward Deasy". The Washington Post. p. 2.
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