Don't Trust KSN&C's Poll, even if it Accurately Reveals the Board's Future Choice

Beware those who espouse knowledge and truth, on little to no evidence.

I'm referring to KSN&C's highly unscientific little bitty poll asking readers to tell us their choice for Kentucky Education Commissioner. There are no real controls on the poll that allow it to approach accuracy. I'm pretty sure that if one choses to reboot, one may vote numerous times...kinda like American Idol voting but without the surcharge. And instead of getting 10 million votes, last time I looked it was a lot more like 20.

So don't believe it !

...even if it reveals Kentucky's next Education Commissioner. ...which I'm bettin' it does.

I'll tell you why. It's the same reason I'll spend extra for a good pair of ECCO loafers. They're sturdy, they're light to wear around, and they don't get too hot on my feet. But most of all, they're really comfortable. That's why the poll is correct.

Too arcane?

Well, think of it this way. Match each of the remaining candidates with these snarky little descriptions:

• hyper-geek wonk
• savvy good ol' boy
• perpetual deputy
• political cameleon

Remember, the board did not court Elaine Farris and already passed on Tom Shelton, and now we hear, Dale Brown. Which one will Kentucky choose?

All right, I can tell I'm still too far out there. Last try:

One candidate started off running campaigns and working for fairly liberal Democrats Gary Hart, Al Gore and Tip O'Neill before a segue toward fairly conservative republicans William Weld and Paul Cellucci - ending up in the Bush administration. ...with one major blow up along the way. He knows KERA very well, not because he was here, but because Massachusetts school reform was informed by KERA principles.

You wanna get pumped? Spend some time envisioning the future with this candiate. He loves school more than I do and that's saying something. Teaching, learning, reading, writing, connecting - you name it and he can outline how it will fit into the big picture twenty years from now. But can he connect with everyday Kentuckians enough to get us through next year? And is his science really pseudoscience?

She's got an impressive set of experiences that have taught her how to run a major educational organization. But she's hasn't run one on her own. Typically second bananna, unless you count the YWCA back in '94, and maybe you should, she speaks fluent charter school, assessment, strategic planning, innovation and oversight. But we already had Elaine.

Then there's the 2009 Baldridge Award winning Macy's Parade superintendent who knows what he wants and goes after it. Relentlessly. Planning. Schooling himself. Finding out how it works. Knowing how the score is kept. Communicating. Insinuating himself and getting paid off in the end. But most of all, he's what folks expect. A school man. But what will seal the deal is the fact that he speaks Kentuckian. Oh, I know it's really Carolinian, but it will sound just fine in Calloway County.

He's comfortable. Like my Eccos.