Mark, a few years back when I worked for a school dist, I encountered the same as to what you are saying. At first it really bothered me, like you, I was considered a brown nose. It got to the point that I also started looking for another job.
Then one day it hit me. Why in the heck should I give up a good job because of a few deadbeats. After that epiphany I went about my job they way I was brought up. "Do it right, or don't do it at all." While it didn't happen overnight, many of those deadbeats left, or were dismissed. I by the way moved up the ranks, and was highly sought after for many a building in that district.