Joe Hairston has remained in his job for one reason only and it has nothing to do with his "success." It has everything to do with the ineffective, spineless board that gives the tyrant free reign within the system. The successes that he touts came in the first eight years as a result of smart, hard-working, ethical leaders and teachers, many of whom have now left the system. Let's revisit this in a few years and note the incredible damage that has been inflicted on our once quality system because of questionable and self-serving decisions made by the team of Hairston-Dezmon, fully supported by the selected board. What is the combined salaries of these two individuals who are being paid to dismantle the wonderful work of incredible leaders gone by? I am not at all impressed by this man...because I have seen his character. His statement about Alonzo demonstrates that in his eyes, "it is all about him." His inflated ego must be served above all else. I am still waiting for the Sun to produce the contract between Hairston and Dezmon. I am still waiting for the board to ask why a purchase order of three-hundred thousand dollars was presented to them four months after it was purchased. I attended the board meeting and not one question addressed the timeline of purchase. I am still waiting for the duo to explain why any system would invest millions of dollars on a 1983 one-time printing of a text. These are financially difficult times; however, Dezmon/Hairston are left untouched to spend millions with American Reading Company and Science Weekly. Where is the decency? The legacy of Joe Hairston will be that he served himself well, but not the system he was selected to serve. How sad for Baltimore County that two years and much more than a half-million dollars in salary later...we will finally be able to search for a real leader. However, if this current board remains in place, there is not much hope for change. Legislators missed their chance to make things right by keeping a selected board that answers to noone and listens only to the voices of Dezmon/Hairston. How do these board members face the children in their lives, knowing what they are doing to the system that is supposed to serve them? I cry for Baltimore County.

This article does not cover the multitude of sins revealed in the last months concerning Baltimore County Public Schools. The Sun has fallen short of being a serious publication with this article. The lawmakers have fallen short of serving the youngest citizens of the county with their decision to allow the incompetent board in place. The school board has failed all citizens of Baltimore County by allowing the superintendent and his assistant to reverse the progress of our system. The irony is that Joe Hairston has beaten down the very best in the county system that worked together to support students in their achievements; while touting their success as his own. Meanwhile, for the last two years, he and his assistant have done their best to reverse progress while promoting their own interests. Their personal success will mean reversal for the system. Unfortunately, we will not reap the results of this unacceptable behavior for a few years. The legacy of this superintendent is that he did what was best for himself and his friends. Unfortunately, my children will be part of the collateral damage. Shame on the adults who allowed this to go on. This article is a distraction and a disgrace!

It was a disgusting experience to open yesterday's paper to the undeserved love fest article about Joe Hairston. What has been achieved in the past ten years has been in spite of him, not because of him. He continues to demonstrate the distance between himself and teachers when he refers to the recent AIM debacle as a "crumb." Yes, teachers know that we are just pawns in his way of thinking, but who really deserves the credit for improvement in student achievement? Mr. Photo Opportunity Hairston, or the educators who work with students day after day? Shame on you, Baltimore Sun...and oh, by the way, have you followed up the story on the ethics violations involved in AIM?

Hopefully a change will be made soon. Hairston's tenure has hurt kids in this County, despite what the "data" shows. Everything that kids enjoy, all the wonderful experiences our kids used to get through school, have been discontinued due to Hairston's reign. We need a change.

Why on earth would the Sun put this deceitful ad over several pages in the paper, complete with photo ops and even...fun facts! Are you serious? Our families, teachers, and concerned citizens are trying with all that they have to expose the lack of leadership in our school system in order to ensure excellence in our schools and the Sun writes this? Unbelievable! The AIM debacle was not a crumb nor a manufactured crisis...it was an effort of one individual to distract BCPS teachers from their primary responsibility to educate children in order to satifsy their own personal agenda. Hairston's insistence that it was a few union members shows that he just doesn't get it! Ten years has been long enough! I think the hint of jealousy and distain regarding his competition with Alonzo was quite telling. This man is all about the spotlight! This has led to a modern "Emperor's New Clothes." I had thought the great investigative work of Liz Bowie would be the small voice that dared to speak truth to power. What happened? Why this article? Please complete and extend the investigation into the way in which business is conducted in Baltimore County. This is the story that will serve the public. What a long ten years....and, God Help Us ALL...two more?

My dear wife taught in Baltimore County and worked at Greenwood for the Hairston administration for a total of 35 years. Since she retired, her blood pressure is down and I see her smile a whole lot more. She was sick of Hairston promoting the inept and rewarding his friends with questionable contracts that did nothing but waist valuable resources that could have actually been used to educate the children of Baltimore County. As long as there is a non-elected school board, you will always have a Hairston or someone of his ilk because the school board is well insulated from the taxpayers and parents.

To all who have not yet been convinced about Hairston's unswerving self-serving agenda: His blatantly disrespectful and delusional comment about Alonzo is enough to convince all observers. I have worked in both school systems in different roles. Trust me, Joe, being at the top of the ladder in BCounty is absolutely NOTHING at all like taking the helm in Bmore City. Your mandate was to continue the ongoing progress in the largely successful county schools. Anyone who has the courage to grapple with the myriad dysfunctions in schools, families, 'hoods, etc. in the city has multitudes of challenges way beyond what you have ever felt in the county. The fact that you would dismiss any fellow superintendent's work is beyond comprehension. All you did was to publicly and in print make a blatant confirmation of your arrogance. Your comment would be a good laugh if it weren't so tragically ludicrous.

For several years I have been joking that my Sun subscription is a gift to a nonprofit...Since I don't support groups that I suspect lack integrity, this article may serve to sever my "contribution"..... I was sad and sickened at what I read. Hairston already spends soooo much time each week seeking photo ops. The Sun just encouraged him to spend another day out of the office and in front of the camera. This spread did not seek out "the rest of the story" in any meaningful depth despite public comments that have offered leads for investigation.

The Sun's articles had been liberating, like the sun shining in a murky swamp pit. Now I feel discouraged again.

I keep seeing that headline..."on an even keel." Obviously, the reporter did not see the real Hairston. Ask any of the number of employees that he has treated with great disrespect, in anger, if this is so...This article did not uncover truth, it merely covered for a self-centered individual. When are we going to make the children of Baltimore County a priority rather than props to promote the self-interest of Hairston/Dezmon?

Izvestia would have been proud. The article did not have comments from teachers who have had ineffective policy changes shoved down their throats. Or a policy of staff development where a person from the school is given a cursory training and then is to go back to school to train the other teachers. Where was the photo of the lunch at the Crown Plaza? Where was the discussion on Assesstrax? This program has so much potential but the powers that be have no listening capacity for the teachers to improve it. Where was the paragraph on the raise Dr. Hairston accepted when employees were told the coffers were empty? Where was the paragraph on the instances of contractual dispute the administration has lost and the foot dragging that has gone on to bring these to completion. The best thing that has come out of the last years is the malfeasance of the school board has come to light and the need for more accountability of our school leaders is quite apparent.

I've got no impression of Mr. Hairston beyond what has been written on this blog and what was presented in the linked article, so maybe I shouldn't chime in, but it's hard to hold back sometimes.

Judging from these comments maybe he does have a harder time than Dr. Alonso. There's not a single commentor speaking up for him. And to be put down for "data" as if data were a dirty word makes it seem like there's no way he could make people happy.

All the friends who said "I can't believe you're not moving to the county" when my first entered school, seem less compelling at this moment.

bring back Dr. Berger, please