Short-lived Washburn High School Principal Patrick Exner misstated some of his background on the résumé submitted to the Minneapolis School District.
Exner listed his current job as "academic director (principal)" at Ubah Medical Academy, a Hopkins charter school. But the school website lists him as "associate director" under Director Musa Farah, who was listed as the school's principal in a mid-July report to the state. Exner also listed Ubah's size as 350 students, or 10 percent bigger than the enrollment it reported to the state.
Exner was removed as Washburn principal after the school district received an anonymous e-mail alleging that he'd changed answers on the tests of several students in June at Ubah. He was still on the district payroll Tuesday afternoon.
The episode has prompted a district review of hiring practices, said new district CEO, Michael Goar. "There are definitely areas we can improve."
The district has two key principal openings this year: a replacement for Exner at 1,200-student Washburn and a new leader for the 1,800-student South High.
Goar said one lesson from the Washburn experience is that hurrying to fill a vacancy can have consequences. The district wanted someone in place to open the school year. But it only got 23 applicants and interviewed only Exner. His appointment was announced Aug. 2.
"We're always in a better position when we have a bigger pool," Chief Human Resources Officer Rick Kreyer said.
Goar said another lesson is to look at insiders first. "We already know who they are. They have worked for us. They understand our culture."
