As I watched the Daily Show this week, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg made a fascinating point about the lack of female leadership in Fortune 500 companies. She said that when mothers sit around the sandbox with their young children, while the boys are allowed to get a little crazy, if the girls get the least bit aggressive, their moms reflexively tell them to “stop being bossy.”
Then Ms. Sandberg took it a step further. She asked her own daughter what she would do if her coworkers started to dislike her because she was doing her job too well. The daughter responded that she’d try not to do so well.
Yikes! 
And it’s this kind of archaic thinking that’s behind the insistent Beacon-News attacks on East Aurora School Board President Annette Johnson. To put it in simpler and more stereotypical Sinatra-esque terms, “No one likes a pushy broad” – least of all that insipid Denise Crosby.
The truth is, hiding behind her poison pen, Denise has never stood up to a soul in her sad life. If you confronted her face-to-face, she’d melt before your very eyes.
Of course disgruntled East Aurora staffers are going to run to the paper with their exaggerated “stories” whenever someone challenges their formerly unchallenged existence. That’s exactly what happens to strong female leaders because “no one like a pushy broad.”
But that’s what East Aurora needs – a pushy broad named Annette Johnson. Think about it! Considering the vast challenges facing the beleaguered, but generally improving school district, what would it mean if no one complained?
It would mean that nothing’s changing for the better!
So the fact that some staffers, who are used to having it their way at the expense of the children, are running to Crosby with every perceived slight is actually a good sign!
Can Annette Johnson be accused of micro-managing? You bet your sweet bippie! But that’s exactly what D131 needs right now – strong involved leadership. And the fact that Johnson is a strong woman should not be held against her.
God bless the ministers running against the board for their efforts. But the truth is, they want to run D131 from the pulpit – while East Aurora needs someone who’s willing to get in the trenches.
Dear readers! I’ve never lied to you and I’ve seen this before. A decade ago, facing similar challenges, the U-46 school district was on the ropes. But some strong and unpopular leadership came in, bucked the status quo, took the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and made a difference.
As a result, U-46 is coming back strong.
They say there are only two sure things in life – death and taxes – but I say there’s three. And the third one is voting for Annette Johnson for East Auroral School Board President on April 9.
You won’t be sorry.
Jeff, I’ve been a long time admirer of yours but have to say you’re wrong on this one… Remember when Karen McConahey was the messiah who followed Phil Elfstrom & Frank Miller? How’d that work out for everyone???