Schools

Union Head: Ex-Superintendent 'Not Able, Willing to Do Job Right'

Moorestown Education Association president Lisa Trapani was candid in her critique of former superintendent Brian Betze, who said leading the district was a 'terrific opportunity.'

Former Moorestown superintendent Brian Betze will not be missed by many members of the district faculty, according to the union president. 

Moorestown Education Association (MEA) president Lisa Trapani said Betze—who resigned earlier this week—was ill-equipped for the job he was hired to do in May of last year.

"He was not able, nor was he willing, to take the time to do the job right," she said. "He was not willing to build relationships. He was not willing to learn about Moorestown."

Trapani said this feeling was shared by many district staff, including teachers and administrators, and their concerns were expressed to the board of education on a number of occasions, even dating back to December. 

During a public meeting in December, members of the MEA took Betze to task for what they viewed as multiple failures of leadership, ranging from mismanagement of the district's Facebook page to poor planning. That meeting was not the first time—nor was it the last—that district staff brought their concerns to Betze's attention, according to Trapani.

"He was made aware, many times and on many levels, of our concerns," said Trapani, who claimed the former superintendent never made an attempt to establish positive relationships with staff. 

Board President Don Mishler, bound by the district's settlement agreement with the former superintendent (the terms of which require the district to pay Betze his salary until he finds a new job), said he had no comment. 

Betze pointed to his more than 25 years experience in education—as a teacher, principal and administrator—as evidence to the contrary.

"You don't get to that position (Moorestown superintendent) by not communicating," he said. "I'll let my career speak for itself."

Betze faced scrutiny from the get-go, as he came to Moorestown from Berlin Township, a much smaller district. Berlin has fewer than 1,000 students between its two schools, while Moorestown has roughly 4,000 students between six schools.

Though he admitted moving from a smaller district to a much larger one is "a challenge," Betze said "size didn't matter."

Trapani didn't peg his lack of experience in large districts as the sole reason for Betze's perceived lack of leadership, but it didn't help, she said.

"There could be people who have only worked in a K-8 district who could do well (in a large district)," said Trapani. "His background did not prepare him to lead a district of this size and caliber. In addition, he did not put in the time to meet the needs of a high-performing district like Moorestown."

For his part, Betze didn't sound at all bitter about his experience in Moorestown.

"Working in Moorestown was a terrific opportunity," he said. "It was a learning experience, and I may come out of it a better person and a better educator."

Betze alluded to other job opportunities in education he's currently considering—which led to his decision to leave—but said he's unable to provide details at this time. 

"(The board) was terrific, and the parents and students and teachers were all wonderful," he said.


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