Peter Cook
Part III: Determined Leadership: The third installment in a four-part series exploring the reform of the Jefferson Parish Public School System
In an exchange over his proposed reorganization plan at a board meeting last April, Dr. James Meza said what, in effect, has been his mantra since assuming the district’s top post: “We’ve got to be more successful. We need to focus all of our attention and energies on teaching our children. Everything else is secondary.”
While it’s exactly the kind of clear-cut statement that one might expect from a former colonel in the Army National Guard, Meza’s tenure in Jefferson Parish has shown that he is not easily pigeonholed. Over the past two years, Superintendent Meza has demonstrated an uncommon ability to build support on the board and in the community around his initiatives. As a result, he has been able to push through a series of far-reaching reforms in rapid succession.
Immediately following his appointment, Meza shifted nearly every senior district administrator to acting status, making clear that the decision to renew their contracts would hinge on their performance. He also initiated a high-level review of the district’s policies and academic performance to identify JPPSS’s strengths and areas-for-improvement.
When he presented his findings in a presentation to the board two months later, Meza put forth a strong case for a radical change in the structure of the central office from a top-heavy bureaucracy to a decentralized support system focused on the needs of schools. In addition, he outlined his plan to give schools greater autonomy over their use of time, money, and talent, while holding them to higher expectations for performance.
Although his proposals won the support of the school board, not everyone was enthusiastic about the changes outlined in Meza’s plan. For example, when it became clear that layoffs were necessary to offset a projected budget shortfall, Meza’s plan to base reduction-in-force decisions on performance rather than seniority was challenged by the local teachers’ union. Furthermore, his intention to close or consolidate a handful of chronically low-performing, under-enrolled campuses ran into opposition from members of those school communities.
Whereas other leaders might have wavered in the face of opposition, Superintendent Meza pressed ahead with his reforms, arguing that they were necessary to provide more resources and assistance to schools. Meza’s determination to see through his reform plan is a reflection of his belief that all children, regardless of race or socio-economic background, can thrive academically when given the right amount of encouragement and support. As a long-time friend noted, “Jim’s always had the conviction that where you’re born and the zip code where you were born … should not be the determining factor for the rest of your life. He believed urban schools could be successful.”
In the end, Meza’s relentless focus on students carried the day, and as a result, he has been able to accomplish nearly all of the goals he’s established over the past two years. It’s a record of success that has earned what in the “Who Dat Nation” is considered highest form of praise, when board member Mark Jacobs referred to Meza as a “Drew Brees-caliber superintendent.”
On Thursday, we conclude our four-part series on Jefferson Parish, with a look at Mass Insight’s role in developing the district’s reorganization plan.
A version of this post originally appeared on the blog, In The Zone.
