Ex-Montgomery superintendent speaks out about revoked certificates
Former Montgomery County Superintendent Joshua Powell said Friday he is appealing the revocation of his superintendent and principal certificates by the Education Professional Standards Board. The revocation is in effect until July 1, 2020.
“I have worked very hard and have committed a large portion of my life to improving public education in Kentucky,” Powell said in an email to the Herald-Leader. “As difficult and taxing as that has been, it was magnified by the countless attacks and investigations from state agencies. Still, I was able to lead three districts to state leading improvements, yet the governmental agencies spent hundreds of thousands to thwart my efforts for purely retaliatory and political purposes — money that I sincerely wish … would have (been) spent on holding people accountable for hurting children.”
The certificates were revoked amid accusations of unlawful and unethical practices.
Powell, 41, said in an interview he didn’t think his certificates should be eligible for revocation until after his appeal, which under Kentucky law is heard by a circuit court.
The Education Professional Standards Board’s final order on April 14 upheld findings from a February recommended order that said, in part:
“It is concluded that in his search for celebrity as a turnaround superintendent, Joshua Powell inspired faculty and administrators to care, to innovate, and to raise the test scores of the district.
“However in the process Powell drove many good educators out of the district and crushed the careers of others. He ignored good process and policy and school law.
The order said Powell's cabinet “whether from admiration or fear … aided his plans and failed to check his transgressions.”
The order said his superintendent certificate should be suspended “as a reminder that ethics and the law must be obeyed.”
It said his principal license should be suspended “because a principal also has a great deal of unchecked power.”
The February order said the Education Professional Standards Board found that Powell's wife, hired as director of special projects, was ineligible for that position because Powell was her supervisor.
The order also said that Powell did not provide just and equitable treatment in his handling of some employees.
It said he could keep any other certificates he had. Powell said his other certificates included director of pupil personnel, supervisor of instruction and counselor.
The Herald-Leader previously reported that the Montgomery County school board suspended Powell with pay in January 2015. The school board also decided not to renew Powell's contract, which began July 1, 2011, and ended June 30, 2015.
Powell had been hired to turn around academic performance in Montgomery County as he had in the Cloverport Independent District and in Union County. The order said in the 3 1/2 years he was in Montgomery County, students went from performing better than 24 percent of students in the state to performing better than 91 percent of students in the state. Powell said it was 98 percent.
Powell said he did not violate any laws.
“It is important to note that I adhered to every law and regulation and did so in an obsessive manner,” Powell said in his statement to the Herald-Leader. “I often had multiple attorneys preview and approve actions, just as in every allegation against me. The findings were based entirely on hearsay from disgruntled employees. The 2,000 pages of exhibits, including corrective action plans and supportive documentation, far exceeded the norm, yet (were) deemed irrelevant. Likewise, the countless witnesses who supported my actions were ignored. And, the supportive witnesses were harassed, sanctioned and demoted or fired from the district for their support.”
Powell said the agencies that took action against him “have performed a variety of unethical and illegal activities in the attempt to retaliate against me. Their actions have harmed numerous, fine educators in the process as well as placed a death sentence on public education in the Commonwealth. Believe me when I say that this is something that I will not forgive,” the statement said.
“ … I will maintain my ethics and hold them accountable in an appropriate manner,” the statement said. “Those people are the antithesis of leadership and are the very last people who should be governing the Commonwealth education system.
“For now, I am trying to improve my health and, more importantly, take care of my family that I have neglected during my pursuit to improve Kentucky's public education system for the last nine years,” he said. “I expect to never be employed in public education again and very much look forward to the future, especially in regards to never again dealing with governmental rejects. I sincerely hope that the Commonwealth will improve and I always wanted it to be among the elite in the nation,” his statement said.
Valarie Honeycutt Spears: 859-231-3409, @vhspears
Joshua Powell’s statement
Here, in large part, is the statement that Joshua Powell emailed to the Herald-Leader on Friday. The Herald-Leader deleted individual names from the statement:
I have worked very hard and have committed a large portion of my life to improving public education in Kentucky. As difficult and taxing as that has been, it was magnified by the countless attacks and investigations from state agencies. Still, I was able to lead three districts to state leading improvements, yet the governmental agencies spent hundreds of thousands to thwart my efforts for purely retaliatory and political purposes — money that I sincerely wish the EPSB and OEA would have spent on holding people accountable for hurting children.
The offices have performed a variety of unethical and illegal activities in the attempt to retaliate against me. Their actions have harmed numerous, fine educators in the process as well as placed a death sentence on public education in the Commonwealth. Believe me when I say that this is something that I will not forgive.
I will appeal the ridiculous findings of the hearing officer... and EPSB Board and expect to have my first competent and impartial proceeding so as to demonstrate the pitiful and outright incompetence and cowardice of those involved in the actions against me and my colleagues. I remain puzzled by the findings and conclusions ...some of which were not relevant and based solely on the information provided by a former employee, without exhibit ...
Their actions have ruined the future for a lot of children and have established a mediocre expectation, which is adult centered and caters to the incompetent and negligent.
However, their actions have done nothing more than to liberate me and in the very near future, I expect something will be released which will clearly demonstrate the great irony of the EPSB governing the “integrity of the profession.” Furthermore, the atrocities were committed with the knowledge and consent of EPSB board members, who represent public school districts, colleges and universities — all supposed to regulate the dignity if the profession as well as represent their respective institution favorably.
Although I feel strongly that those in governmental positions (EPSB, OEA, etc.) should suffer the same tactics that they have used against me and my colleagues and accordingly receive consequences that I deem appropriate, I will maintain my ethics and hold them accountable in an appropriate manner. Those people are the antithesis of leadership and are the very last people who should be governing the Commonwealth education system.
The individuals and agencies epitomize the stereotypical view of ineffective, wasteful, and incompetent government and provides good reason to both eliminate their jobs and offices as well as provide charter schools. The Commonwealth will remain near the bottom in public education — still — despite having the best educators and children in the US. There are many bright spots among the 173 public school districts and it is most unfortunate that the governmental agencies have condemned the others as well as have promoted ineffective and stagnant leadership.
It is important to note that I adhered to every law and regulation and did so in an obsessive manner. I often had multiple attorneys preview and approve actions, just as in every allegation against me. The findings were based entirely on hearsay from disgruntled employees. The 2,000 pages of exhibits, including corrective action plans and supportive documentation, far exceeded the norm, yet deemed irrelevant. Likewise, the countless witnesses who supported my actions were ignored. And, the supportive witnesses were harassed, sanctioned and demoted or fired from the district for their support.
For now, I am trying to improve my health and, more importantly, take care of my family that I have neglected during my pursuit to improve Kentucky's public education system for the last nine years. I expect to never be employed in public education again and very much look forward to the future, especially in regards to never again dealing with governmental rejects.
I sincerely hope that the Commonwealth will improve and I always wanted it to be among the elite in the nation.
Joshua E. Powell, Ph.D.
This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Ex-Montgomery superintendent speaks out about revoked certificates."