A dual life: he's an athletic star, a financial whiz and an architect of increased student performance--who is also supremely unpopular.

A dual life: he's an athletic star, a financial whiz and an architect of increased student performance--who is also supremely unpopular. Tim Jenney, the departing superintendent in Virginia Beach Virginia Beach,resort city (1990 pop. 393,069), independent and in no county, SE Va., on the Atlantic coast; inc. 1906. In 1963, Princess Anne co. and the former small town of Virginia Beach were merged, giving the present city an area of 302 sq mi (782 sq km). , Va., has dodged a number of bullets during his nine years there. The teacher's association came out swinging in their first meeting, threatening to banish him. The school board aimed to ax the pugnacious pug¡¤na¡¤cious?adj.Combative in nature; belligerent. See Synonyms at belligerent.[From Latin pugn leader on the eve On the Eve (Накануне in Russi an) is the third novel by famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, best known for his short stories and the novel Fathers and Sons. of the Columbine columbine, in botanycolumbine(kŏl`əmbīn), any plant of the genus Aquilegia, temperate-zone perennials of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family), popular both as wildflowers and as garden flowers. tragedy. All the while, city officials and some business leaders have tried to subdue and subjugate sub¡¤ju¡¤gate?tr.v. sub¡¤ju¡¤gat¡¤ed, sub¡¤ju¡¤gat¡¤ing, sub¡¤ju¡¤gates1. To bring under control; conquer. See Synonyms at defeat.2. To make subservient; enslave. the former high school wrestler. In Jenney's case, popularity and proven leadership are at odds. For Virginia's second largest district has been transformed from average to superior under his charge. His first task in 1996? Correcting a $12 million deficit. Jenney succeeded, creating a $400,000 surplus in months. Yet locals were out for blood, demanding someo ne reign him in. "It's fairly easy to fix financial problems," confides Jenney. "Changing culture and bad habits creates conflict." But the leader kept to his game plan. "He's very focused on achievement curriculum alignment and accountability," says Assistant Superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. Kathleen O'Hara Phipps. The fearless Jenney championed controversial causes like merit pay Noun 1. merit pay - extra pay awarded to an employee on the basis of merit (especially to school teachers)pay, remuneration, salary, wage, earnings - something that remunerates; "wages were paid by check"; "he wasted his pay on drink"; "they saved a quarter of all and year-round schools. Virginia Beach emerged an academic powerhouse. Jenney garnered national awards. Yet at home, notes Phipps, the superintendent "doesn't get the credit he deserves." Jenney traces his image problems to a grand jury report early on, which uncovered financial irregularities and forced the entire board to resign. In a few short months, 24 different faces rotated through the 11-member board. "The stage was set," he recalls. "There was no one in charge and no institutional memory. If I didn't do it, it didn't get done." Making of a Leader At 17, Jenney announced his goal--to be an elementary teacher and then a principal by age 28. He credits a demanding junior/senior high football coach with fueling his ambition. The wrestling arena A wrestling arena is a building utilized for professional wrestling events. Most arenas are located in major cities and utilized primarily for local sports teams, and are merely rented out by wrestling promotions when they are in town. provided extra conditioning for young Jenney. "It's one-on-one in the arena. The sport demands agili ty, inner strength and confidence," he says. The drive to succeed came in handy during student teaching when he received a particularly brutal critique. Instead of giving up, Jenney "buckled down and worked harder"--earning the teacher title as well as a principalship, a whole year earlier than planned. Defeat = Victory Somehow Jenney's playbook transforms defeat into victory. Take his Smart Start Initiative, which won approval from the Virginia board of education to bypass a law prohibiting a pre-labor Day start to the school year. With pressure from the hospitality industry, the local Virginia Beach board conceded, and the district school year still begins after the holiday. Jenney sees the positives--such as the added staff development days and instructional time that were also part of the initiative. "We really got three-quarters of what we wanted," he says. A Fan Club? Despite the rabid anti-Jenney gang, there are Jenney supporters. A core group of teachers, prima rily high performers, really likes him, says Phipps. The business community values his fiscal responsibility. And Tidewater Community College State Route 350 (Virginia) redirects here. For the former State Route 350, see Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway.Tidewater Community College is a two-year higher education institution in South Hampton Roads consisting of multiple campuses in the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and the city joined hands with the local pariah to build a cutting edge Advanced Technology Center. Post Game Show There's come a time when every athlete must ask whether his body can endure his sport. In his 40s, Jenney questioned his ability to tolerate the volatile nature of the profession for another 10 to 15 years. He answered no and found a new playing field, returning to graduate school and completing an MBA MBAabbr.Master of Business AdministrationNoun 1. MBA - a master's degree in businessMaster in Business, Master in Business Administration in July 20 04. This summer Jenney exchanged his K-12 uniform for the garb of a new position in the city--vice president for corporate and government relations at Regent University Notable facultyName Position Known ForJohn Ashcroft Distinguished Professor of Law and Government Former Attorney General of the United States and PoliticianAdmiral Vern Clark Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies Former Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. . Tim Jenney Superintendent, Virginia Beach City Public Schools Age: 52 Salary: $192,500 Lisa Fratt is a freelance writer based in Ashland, Wis.