Ashjian fails at civic leadership

Regarding your front page article on Brooke Ashjian, it would appear our Fresno Unified School District board chair himself is in need of better schooling. I have been an education administrator for 25 years, and my first lesson learned was that a good leader always needs to be the grown-up in the room.

And when there is contention among employees or the community, the second rule is listen and learn. Requisite leadership skills include first honesty, second caring and lastly the humility to accept you are never the smartest person in the room.

Ashjian has failed this simple test on all counts. A heartfelt effort to hear his community's concerns, even in the face of withering criticism, which every leader faces, would be a great start in creating a space for transparent dialogue. But equating LGBTQ valid concerns with tactics of genocide is so laughably absurd, he really should step down and examine his own inadequate and divisive leadership style.

Fresno State's fine business school has exceptional organizational leadership courses. Like the thousands of students he purports to care for, he would do well to open his heart and mind to being retaught the basics of being a civic leader.

This story was originally published August 29, 2017 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Ashjian fails at civic leadership."