Following your Creed, McCollough

Let's apply Shawn McCollough's creed of “High Expectations, Accountability and No Excuses” to his own image, behavior, personality, performance and the community's perception of him. Let's keep in mind that Shawn McCollough is the type of leader who loves to toot his own horn.

See his self-authored 'biography' at: http://www.nusd.k12.az.us/districtN/leadership_super.asp

Mr. McCollough, Nogales as a community of parents, students, educators, business owners, families, workers, tax payers, homemakers, retired citizens, etc. have 'high expectations' of a superintendent to whom we pay a salary of $120,000 plus benefits and also of his 'Leadership Team'. We EXPECT you to perform to your fullest capacity, not as Dr. Hunter Nash stated, not finding a better choice of words: “people are scared to death of how hard you work", but to be the best you can be leaving aside your usual political smoke curtain.

We EXPECT you to be, not Mr. Personality, not an arrogant macho, but a tactful person who can be talked to, agreed upon with, compromised with, and who will have an open door, an open mind and an open heart.

Yes, our students showed improvement on the AIMS tests and yes, you gave credit to every single staff member of NUSD, but as written by Manuel Coppola, Editor of Nogales International: You are the general sent out to lead the troops. Nogales as a community has 'high expectations' of the general, the captains, sergeants and every single soldier in the battle field.

We EXPECT 'accountability' from our School Board and community towards your behavior and performance. You too will be held accountable for your actions and the overall outcome of your tenure as our school district's leader, just as you hold your staff members accountable. Our school board might have forgotten about the grievance filed by the Professional Educators of Nogales 'PEN' against you, but WE haven't. We EXPECT the school board to hold you ACCOUNTABLE for that and future behavior against the groups that represent ALL EDUCATORS and ALL STAFF of Nogales. The Nogales community will hold our Governing School Board accountable, also, - but that's the topic of another letter to the editor - .

An old adage states: “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again”. - For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Fortunately, you are at a position where scrutiny and criticism are inevitable and expected. You have set the bar at a high level – Nogales EXPECTS YOU to be measured by your own bar.

There are 'no excuses', Shawn. The community of Nogales will be watching you in the next 3 years. We EXPECT good results, we EXPECT awesome results. We will hold you accountable... and will accept NO EXCUSES.