One of the two remaining candidates for Windsor Southwest Supervisory Union superintendent lists on his resume a doctoral degree from a well-known diploma mill. [Bogus PhD's are popular among school administrators, since listing one on your resume can double your salary.]

Mychael Willon was named as one of two finalists for the job on Tuesday. On his resume, Willon lists a doctorate of philosophy from LaSalle University of Louisiana. In 1995, the FBI raided the unaccredited Louisiana school and its founder was convicted of fraud. [Of all the diploma mills I've researched, LaSalle is easily the sleaziest. Easily.]

When questioned about his doctoral degree on Wednesday, Willon declined comment. [Declined comment is step one. Step two will be "It's elitist to discriminate between non-traditional educational institutions and traditional ones." Step three: "I didn't know it was a diploma mill." Step four: Even if it was a diploma mill, I really worked for that degree.]

The Eagle Times received an e-mail raising questions about Willon's credentials on Wednesday. [These stories almost always break with an anonymous communication from someone who knows the truth -- an ex-wife, an ex-employer...]

When informed Wednesday night of the details of Willon's doctorate, Alison DesLauriers, superintendent search committee chairwoman, said she still considers him a viable candidate. She said Willon began his doctoral work in Maryland and elected to finish the degree online after moving out of state. [UD always finds this part -- and it's a totally reliable part -- of the story strange. People involved in the scandal will always begin by dismissing the bogus degree as of no importance. Here, the search committee chair seems to think it matters that he moved out of state...]

"He has significant experience in the field of education and has more than the base qualifications," DesLauriers said. [This is another absolutely time-honored move: The defenders will say that the job doesn't require an advanced degree, so the whole moral cesspool thing of this person having bought a bogus degree is irrelevant. And as to this man having "base" qualifications -- he certainly does, but not in the way this woman intends.]

The superintendent position has a budgeted annual salary of $95,000 plus benefits, she said. A doctoral degree doesn't have any influence on the salary, and DesLauriers said Willon's doctorate also was not a factor in picking him as a finalist. [See the move? Doesn't matter! And note that high salary -- a strong message to your local students that cheaters prosper.]

Willon has a masters of education in curriculum and instruction from the University of Maryland, which he received December 1984. In 1977, he received a bachelors of science in elementary education from the University of Maryland, according to his resume. [Many diploma mill people have legit other degrees. They just got impatient for higher ones.]