After just seven months at the helm, Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti already is undergoing a performance evaluation test that begins with a self-assessment of how he's done so far.
As I've written before, I have been very impressed with Vitti's aggressive, passionate and innovative leadership since he arrived in Jacksonville.
The honesty of his self-evaluation, which was made public last week, only helps to validate my own assessment.
He not only can identify where he is doing a good job, but he also recognizes critical areas where he needs to improve, such as:
• Working harmoniously with the board. Keep in mind he's been here seven months and this is a new board. Learning how to communicate with each other is one issue — learning how to communicate with a board member in a form and language the person will understand takes time.
• Parent and community support for the district. Vitti started in a hole. He's a zealot about meeting with the community and as confidence in him grows, the support will come.
• Parents, staff and students don't feel as safe as they could. He has plans underway to address this critical issue and if he can cure this ill, a lot of other components will fall into place.
Regular board evaluation of leaders is a valuable tool for accountability.
I could name a couple of organizations that would greatly benefit if their boards would conduct an executive director evaluation.
Florida has been without its second-in-command for three months and likely very few people have noticed.
From all reports, it doesn't seem Gov. Rick Scott is any hurry to sign up a sidekick. It could be he is enjoying the absence of any more distraction that might come from the lieutenant governor's office.
The situation begs the question — why do we even have a lieutenant governor?
There have been 18 in modern Florida history. The sum of what people remember those individuals contributed probably wouldn't fill a briefcase.
There is no job description for the position.
The Florida Constitution just says there will be one and the governor decides what the lieutenant governor will do.
When candidate Scott selected state Rep. Jennifer Carroll to be his running mate in 2010, most political watchers in Northeast Florida were surprised.
Those in other parts of the state were probably dumbfounded.
During her abbreviated tenure in Tallahassee, Carroll fell into her share of controversy, including unsubstantiated accusations by a former staffer. That same accuser also taped Carroll conversations and leaked them to the press.
The lieutenant governor, of course, said it was all baloney.
Shortly afterward, she was caught in the Allied Veterans scandal, having been paid $6,000 a month by the organization while it was allegedly scamming $300 million from gambling winnings in the guise of charity.
Carroll was told by the governor's chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, that the governor wanted Carroll's resignation post-haste.
Not to worry about Carroll, though.
It didn't take her long to land on her feet, securing a job as an adviser to Global Digital Solutions, an engineering and technical consulting company.
The company is planning a merger with small arms manufacturing company Airtronic USA Inc. and there have been highly disputed rumors that Carroll reportedly will become president and CEO of the merged organization.
Airtronic, which calls itself the nation's "largest woman-owned small arms manufacturer," filed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The company filed for Chapter 7 protection in March 2012 before converting it to Chapter 11 reorganization in May 2012.
If Carroll does become CEO, running a company that produces grenade launchers, machine guns and rifles should be right up her alley as a former U.S. Navy officer. Plus, it gives her an instant calling card to conservative organizations, especially those that are gun advocates.
But, back to the purpose of having a lieutenant governor.
Unlike the vice president of the United States, the lieutenant governor does not cast a deciding vote if needed in the Senate.
The lieutenant governor has a staff and normally accumulates lots of travel expenses under the pretext of official business, when the travel generally is about touching political bases.
There's no question a lieutenant governor can play a role as an ambassador for the state by being a pitch person for tourism, job growth and economic development.
But, when you are Scott's No. 2, you definitely are in Scott's shadow because he's always looking to be the hand that's shook and the voice that's heard.
So, what's Scott, whose poll numbers remain low, looking for when he finally decides to replace Carroll?
Rumors have been circulating he has his eye on Barbara Jenkins, an African-American and a registered Democrat who is superintendent of Orange County Public Schools and lacks political experience, as strange as that may seem.
Most likely it will be someone who can politically help him in the 2014 election, a person with no baggage to create a distraction and someone who can bring confidence to Scott-wary Republicans.
Scott's next lieutenant governor also will have to be willing to recognize that survival may not be an option.
A note to Mayor Alvin Brown:
John Maxwell, the author of "Failing Forward," said that leadership is about influence, nothing more and nothing less.
Leaders who are successful know they must always be leading.
As the city's leader, the mayor should view every communication as an opportunity to lead by influencing and persuading others, whether it's a phone call, staff meeting or even a presentation to several hundred people.
That's especially true when it comes to dealing with the City Council.
A leader's job is to energize others.
As a leader, you're expected to think with clarity and persuasion day in and day out.
You're also expected to share your thoughts with others, and not in a self-promoting way.
Just remember that because you occasionally find yourself standing on third base, it does not mean you hit a triple.
Mayor Brown, I urge you to look at every conversation, whether on a stage or sitting next to someone on an airplane, as a chance to inform and, just as important, inspire.
It's pretty simple. As a leader you can use your influence in a negative fashion or you can influence in a positive way.
It's your choice.
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