Chiefs for Change (CFC) is an educational-leadership-training organization.
Controversy
In 2022, CFC selected Robert Runcie to serve as its interim “chief in residence.” Prior to this appointment, Runcie had served as Broward County county’s school superintendent in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 1 During this time he oversaw the PROMISE (Preventing Recidivism through Opportunities, Mentoring, Interventions, Support and Education) program, an alternative discipline program developed by the Broward County Public School System in 2013 to curb in-school arrests. 2 The program received massive criticism following the 2018 Parkland shooting, where former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 students and staff, when it was revealed that Cruz had been referred to the PROMISE program for a 2013 school vandalism but had not completed it. 3 In April 2021, after being charged and later indicted by a grand jury for perjury over accusations of alleged mismanagement of several millions in school district funds, he would resign from his position as Broward County superintendent. 4 As of 2023, Runcie has been selected to serve as CFC’s CEO. 1
References
- Eden, Max. “The Model of a Modern School Administrator.” Real Clear Education, August 22, 2023. https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2023/08/22/the_model_of_a_modern_school_administrator_974424.html
- Travis, Scott. “Robert Runcie, Superintendent During the Parkland Massacre, to Lead School Safety Initiative.” Education Week. June 13, 2022. Accessed January 11, 2023. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/robert-runcie-superintendent-during-the-parkland-massacre-to-lead-school-safety-initiative/2022/06
- Harris, Alex. “Broward Defends PROMISE Program Again. School Safety Board Remains Unconvinced.” Miami Herald. June 7, 2018. Accessed January 11, 2023. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article212687094.html
- Luscombe, Richard. “Head of Florida school district home to Parkland shooting resigns.” The Guardian, April 30, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/30/florida-school-district-superintendent-parkland-shooting-resigns-robert-runcie