Two leaders of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing step down

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Posted June 1st, 2011 by Charlotte Draper No Comments »

Top leaders of the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing are stepping down in the wake of a blistering state audit and fiery criticism by legislators over the panel’s handling of teacher misconduct cases.

Executive Director Dale Janssen will leave today and General Counsel Mary Armstrong, head of the division that oversees teacher sanctions, will depart as soon as a replacement can be found, said Ting Sun, commission chairwoman.

Sun announced their retirements Thursday during a meeting of the commission’s governing board in Sacramento.

“I don’t believe I can be an effective leader under the circumstances,” Janssen told The Bee.

Armstrong declined comment but apparently reached a similar conclusion in the wake of a highly critical audit that specifically targeted the division she oversees.

“She also believes she can no longer be an effective leader in the environment created after the release of the (audit),” Sun said.

Administrators Patty Wohl and Teri Clark will act as co-executive directors until a more permanent replacement for Janssen can be found, the commission decided.

The retirements of Janssen and Armstrong come one month after their ouster was requested by Assemblyman Ricardo Lara, a Bell Gardens Democrat who chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee but has no authority to fire commission personnel.

Janssen said that the decision to leave now was his own. Two months ago, before the political firestorm, he had announced plans to retire in December, giving the commission plenty of time to find a replacement.

Lara applauded the decision Thursday. “I think it’s a positive step in reforming this commission,” he said.

Former commission attorney Kathy Carroll, whose complaints prompted the state audit, said she is disappointed that the two leaders are leaving without conceding mismanagement on their part.

“I’m disappointed that they’re not taking any responsibility,” she said.

State Auditor Elaine Howle, after releasing her office’s findings in April, characterized the Commission on Teacher Credentialing as one of the “worst run” agencies she ever had investigated.

Auditors found flaws in nearly every aspect of the commission’s regulatory process, including lapses in launching investigations, updating files, gathering facts, tracking cases and revoking credentials.

Sun, the commission’s chairwoman, said she has no immediate plans to leave. Her term expires in November.

Sun said the commission takes its responsibilities seriously and is moving “expeditiously to address” the audit recommendations.

“As transitions will already be occurring on the management team, we have new opportunities to improve our operations at the commission. It is our goal to get back on track because the work we do is so important to the students of California,” she said.

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