The Washington-area media is abuzz about the news that the University of Louisville is investigating the PhD awarded to Prince George’s County superintendent John Deasy. The Washington Post reports:

Deasy, leader of the 130,000-student system since 2006, was awarded a doctorate of philosophy in education in May 2004 after completing nine credit hours of work at the university — equivalent to one semester — in addition to 77 credit hours he earned from other schools. Deasy also wrote a 184-page dissertation.  

This is an outgrowth of a federal investigation of Deasy’s doctoral advisor Robert Felner, who is being questioned about “alleged misappropriation” of a large federal grant.

Deasy’s response was pitch perfect:

If the university made errors in the awarding of the degree, I do hope they rescind it. My responsibility is to do everything I was advised and told to do. If I was advised wrong and given wrong information, the university needs to take responsibility for that. I certainly would not want anything unearned.

I’ve only met Superintendent Deasy once, but have been impressed with his tenacious work reforming Prince George’s County schools. By all appearances he seems to be a dedicated public servant-a true boy scout. But I’ve seen close-up how the news media can treat public officials once they whiff a scent of scandal. Let’s all try to remember a few things. First: in this country, everyone deserves the presumption of innocence. And second, PhDs in education aren’t worth the paper they’re written on anyway. Who cares about the Superintendent’s credentials? I care about his results.