Walter M. Calinger
Encyclopedia
Walter M. Calinger is a former lawyer, former mayor of Omaha and education official.
on December 1, 1995. He was cited for violating various codes of professional responsibility, as charged by the Nebraska State Bar Association. According to the ruling, Walter Calinger repeatedly neglected his duties in a worker's compensation case, resulting in the client losing the case. In addition, Walter Calinger failed to show up for any of the court proceedings brought by the charges of the Nebraska Bar Association. The original client had won a default judgment in her malpractice suit against Calinger. However, she was not able to serve the claim in time because Walter Calinger had left the country and she could not locate him, despite securing the help of a search firm. Walter Calinger mentions his law career and stated that his law license is current on his own website and resume. Walter Calinger neglects to mention that his law license was one time suspended for these violations.
He has a Ph.D. in Education from The Ohio State University (1970) and a J.D. from Creighton University (1977).
He was employed by the Norton City School District in Summit County, Ohio, from 1998-2005, where he was superintendent from 2002-2005. While there, the district achieved an Excellent rating in 2003 from the Ohio Department of Education for the first time ever. It has retained that rating since.
Walter Calinger worked for the Richmond Heights (Ohio) School District from 2005-08.
In his first year, the district improved five points on the Ohio Achievement Test.
During that time, the RHEA registered a unanimous "no confidence" vote against him and entered into a teachers' strike about three months before his departure.
When Walter Calinger was hired by Woodland Hills School District
outside Pittsburgh, his claims of past accomplishment was questioned by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
reporter Brian Bowling. The article begins, "The new superintendent for Woodland Hills School District says he significantly raised test scores and closed the achievement gap between black and white students at a suburban Cleveland district, but Ohio Department of Education records show the district failed to meet federal education guidelines during the second year of his administration."
In his current position as superintendent (2008–2011) of the Woodland Hills School District, Walter Calinger battled against the successful public charter school Propel
, including making false public statements about how the School District's test results compared with the Propel charter school. His statement was disputed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
education reporter Eleanor Chute, who independently verified the data and stated in a Post-Gazette report:
Walter Calinger continued to make public statements about school data in an op-ed he published in the Post-Gazette in October, 2010. In a letter to editor titled, "Propel Performs", he was challenged by the leaders of the Propel Charter School for the veracity of his claims he stated:
Students at Propel Homestead, just as those at every Propel school, are outperforming students in Woodland Hills—in some areas quite significantly. For instance, 72 percent of Propel Homestead students met grade-level standards on state mathematics tests (compared to 57 percent at Woodland Hills). The school's population is significantly more impacted by poverty (92 percent free-lunch eligible) than that at Woodland Hills (72 percent).
who served as the 45th mayor of Omaha
, Nebraska from April 20, 1988 to June 5, 1989. He was appointed by the city council after the death of Mayor Bernie Simon.
Law Career & License Suspension
Walter Calinger was a practicing lawyer in Nebraska until his law license was suspended by the Nebraska Supreme CourtNebraska Supreme Court
The Nebraska Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. Each Justice is initially appointed by the Governor of Nebraska; using the Missouri Plan, each Justice is then subject to a retention vote for additional...
on December 1, 1995. He was cited for violating various codes of professional responsibility, as charged by the Nebraska State Bar Association. According to the ruling, Walter Calinger repeatedly neglected his duties in a worker's compensation case, resulting in the client losing the case. In addition, Walter Calinger failed to show up for any of the court proceedings brought by the charges of the Nebraska Bar Association. The original client had won a default judgment in her malpractice suit against Calinger. However, she was not able to serve the claim in time because Walter Calinger had left the country and she could not locate him, despite securing the help of a search firm. Walter Calinger mentions his law career and stated that his law license is current on his own website and resume. Walter Calinger neglects to mention that his law license was one time suspended for these violations.
Education Career and Controversy
Walter Calinger has worked the large majority of his career in the education sector beginning as a math teacher and guidance counselor.He has a Ph.D. in Education from The Ohio State University (1970) and a J.D. from Creighton University (1977).
He was employed by the Norton City School District in Summit County, Ohio, from 1998-2005, where he was superintendent from 2002-2005. While there, the district achieved an Excellent rating in 2003 from the Ohio Department of Education for the first time ever. It has retained that rating since.
Walter Calinger worked for the Richmond Heights (Ohio) School District from 2005-08.
In his first year, the district improved five points on the Ohio Achievement Test.
During that time, the RHEA registered a unanimous "no confidence" vote against him and entered into a teachers' strike about three months before his departure.
When Walter Calinger was hired by Woodland Hills School District
Woodland Hills School District
Woodland Hills School District is a public school district located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, serving twelve municipalities in the Pittsburgh area; Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and...
outside Pittsburgh, his claims of past accomplishment was questioned by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
reporter Brian Bowling. The article begins, "The new superintendent for Woodland Hills School District says he significantly raised test scores and closed the achievement gap between black and white students at a suburban Cleveland district, but Ohio Department of Education records show the district failed to meet federal education guidelines during the second year of his administration."
In his current position as superintendent (2008–2011) of the Woodland Hills School District, Walter Calinger battled against the successful public charter school Propel
Propel
Propel may refer to:*A way to move something, see propulsion *Propel mobile phone, the Samsung model SGH-A767*Propel Fitness Water, a product from the makers of Gatorade*Propel , an object-relational mapping solution for PHP...
, including making false public statements about how the School District's test results compared with the Propel charter school. His statement was disputed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
education reporter Eleanor Chute, who independently verified the data and stated in a Post-Gazette report:
Walter Calinger continued to make public statements about school data in an op-ed he published in the Post-Gazette in October, 2010. In a letter to editor titled, "Propel Performs", he was challenged by the leaders of the Propel Charter School for the veracity of his claims he stated:
Students at Propel Homestead, just as those at every Propel school, are outperforming students in Woodland Hills—in some areas quite significantly. For instance, 72 percent of Propel Homestead students met grade-level standards on state mathematics tests (compared to 57 percent at Woodland Hills). The school's population is significantly more impacted by poverty (92 percent free-lunch eligible) than that at Woodland Hills (72 percent).
Brief Political Career
Walter Calinger was also once a member of the Omaha City CouncilOmaha City Council
The City Council of Omaha, Nebraska is elected every four years on a nonpartisan basis. The next election will occur in 2009. Omaha has a strong mayor form of government. Members are elected by district...
who served as the 45th mayor of Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, Nebraska from April 20, 1988 to June 5, 1989. He was appointed by the city council after the death of Mayor Bernie Simon.