The Chesterfield County Citizen

Dr. John Tharp

John Tharp is a principal in the York County, South Carolina, district school system. Tharp’s resume shows the following:

High School Principal, York District No. 1, South Carolina, 2022 to present.

Executive Director & Title I Principal, Hamilton County Department of Education, Tennessee. 2018 to 2022.

Adjunct Professor, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia, 2028-2022.

School District Superintendent and Professor of Practice, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Greendale School District, Wisconsin, 2012 to 2018.

Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Williamson County Schools, Nashville area of Tennessee, 2010 to 2012.

High School Principal, Greenville County Schools, South Carolina, 2006 to 2010.

Assistant Principal and Social Studies Teacher, various counties in North Carolina, 1993 to 2006.

This resume is available on Indeed.com for verification by those who wish to do so, but I believe some questions about this work history must be asked.

Mr. Tharp started, like most educators, as a teacher in various school systems in North Carolina, finally advancing to the position of Assistant Principal. From there, it took a natural step in this career and became a principal in Greenville County, South Carolina.

He left South Carolina for an advancement to Assistant Superintendent in Nashville, Tennessee, followed quickly by a job as District Superintendent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Then he became an adjunct professor at a university in Georgia. Now comes the Red Flag, his career goes backwards.

After serving as a District Superintendent, he returned to Tennessee to become an Executive Director and Title 1 Principal. Four years later, he took another step backward to become a High School Principal in a small district of a South Carolina county. The question now becomes, why?

It is never normal for a professional to take steps backward, unless something negative has occurred in their employment history. I believe the answer to this question is simple: he has failed to achieve the desired results in those positions he held.

If this is the case, and I believe it is, how can we expect him to lead the Chesterfield County School System in its quest to improve the dismal academic results it currently suffers from?  I believe Mr. Tharp cannot be considered for the county school superintendent position, as his work history has too many questionable items to take a chance with him assuming this most critical position.  The Chesterfield County School Board should inform Mr. Tharp that he will not be considered for the superintendent position.