Jack D. Dale

Jack D. Dale
Born Seattle, Washington
Alma mater University of Washington
Organization Fairfax County Public Schools

Dr. Jack D. Dale is the Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, the public school system for Fairfax County, Virginia and the twelfth largest school system in the United States. He has held the position since 2004. He had previously served as the Superintendent of Frederick County, Maryland Public Schools since 1996, and was named Maryland's Superintendent of the Year in 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and education; a Master's in educational administration; and a Doctorate in education from the University of Washington.[1]

Dale is co-editor and author of the book: Creating Successful School Systems and has conducted workshops on teacher compensation systems for No Child Left Behind initiatives. He has also published papers in The Executive Educator; International Journal of Education Reform; American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) Research Brief; and SIRS Management Information.[1]

During his time as Superintendent, Dale has been criticized by some parents and students for refusing to change the county's grading scale and school start-time policies. Despite some opposition, the Fairfax County Board of Education renewed his contract until June 2013 in September 2009.[2]

Controversy over disciplinary policies

Dale has been criticized for the disciplinary system in the Fairfax County school system, which has been blamed for the suicides of two students: Josh Anderson, of South Lakes High School, took his life in March 2009; and Nick Stuban, a student at W.T. Woodson High School, committed suicide on January 20, 2011.[3] On January 11, 2011, before the second suicide, Dale had defended himself in a letter to the Fairfax County School Board and the Board of Supervisors. In that letter, Dale refused to admit that the disciplinary system needed to be reformed, and blamed Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins for "unconscionable" actions and "furthering a falsehood" by associating the student's suicide with the disciplinary process that had "crushed" his spirit.[4]. He is going to announce reitrement on June 13th, 2013, when his contract ends.

References

  1. ^ a b "FCPS Superintendent's Office". Fairfax County Public Schools. http://www.fcps.edu/supt/suptoff/. Retrieved April 20, 2010. 
  2. ^ "Making the Grade: Fairfax schools Superintendent Jack D. Dale deserves to have his contract renewed". The Washington Post. September 10, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/09/AR2009090902606.html. Retrieved April 20, 2010. 
  3. ^ "Suicide turns attention to Fairfax discipline procedures". The Washington Post. February 20, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/19/AR2011021904528.html. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 
  4. ^ "School Superintendent Jack D. Dale defended Fairfax County's discipline policies". The Washington Post. February 11, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021106160.html. Retrieved February 22, 2011. 

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