Jordan clashes with charter director

Jordan School District may have overstepped its bounds in oversight of a local charter school, say some charter school supporters.

In late October Jordan sent a request of compliance letter to American Preparatory Academy, which could mean the director will be out of a job if she doesn't comply with administrative requirements by mid-December.

APA is a charter school in Draper authorized by the Jordan School District that started up last year.

Carolyn Sharette, the school's director, said her administrative qualifications have been proven in the success of her school and she will not seek certification.

The letter stated the school has 60 days to comply with administrative code, which says education supervisors must hold a basic or standard administrative/supervisory certificate if the individual supervises educators who hold basic or standard certificates.

As an alternative she can apply to the State Board of Education for a letter of authorization, which could substitute for the required certificate while she works to meet those requirements.

But Sharette said she'll do neither.

"We (charter school leaders) have so much accountability — we have accountability to the parents, the state and in many ways, so it is just not necessary to have that certification," Sharette said. "It's not one of the things that makes us good or not."

She said the point of charter schools is to find new and innovative ways to teach students by thinking outside the box. "It's hard to think outside the box when you've come up though the echelons of the educational establishment."

Though only in operation for one year, APA's test scores have shown marked improvement in end-of-year assessments, something charter supporters say speaks loudly about her abilities.

"If you have a competent administrator demonstrating remarkable success . . . it (certification) just doesn't seem to have an impact," said Sharette.

But Janene Bowen, Jordan's charter school specialist, said charter school leaders do more than just teach students.

"They are dealing with federal law, state law, special education requirements, legal issues and it's complicated," said Bowen. "(Charter) schools have a lot of rules and regulations and they are very sophisticated — it's a safety valve for the public and for children that the people running those schools have the expertise to do so."

What will happen if Sharette doesn't comply in the given time is up in the air. Bowen said the district "will cross that bridge when we come to it."

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the newly formed State Charter School Board as they decide what requirements, if any, charter school administrators should meet.