What I’d Like To See in a Superintendent:
1. Someone who has knowledge of public education and has a proven track record of successful high level school site administrative experience.
2. Someone with a vision that is inspirational, someone who encompasses and engages the totality of the District from pre-school through Adult Education, someone who will have the ability to use that knowledge to hold the District intact.
3. Someone who is politically independent, politically astute, firmly rooted and grounded with a business sense of running an enterprise, someone who will work collaboratively with the various labor organizations, while fostering and supporting parent groups and community organizations whose support and involvement are vital for the improvement of student achievement.
4. Someone who is a morale builder able to coalesce groups and validate the diversity, purpose and worth of every employee and stakeholder group, empowering them toward a common, productive and successful end.
5. Someone who is able to build a diverse management team that will reflect the demographics of the School District while supporting the District’s philosophy and vision from top to bottom.
6. Someone who is parent-, student- and community- oriented, who possesses adequate communication skills and is open and willing to accepting direct input.
7. Someone who possesses the cultural awareness and sensitivity to the unique elements that create the melting pot mosaic of the 21st century here in the School District. The superintendent must present specific and achievable ideas to decrease dropout rates (although we don’t have real numbers in this area, only speculation), and to decrease diversity issues and ideas on closure of the achievement gap from elementary school levels through high school.
8. Someone who possesses fundraising skills or at least has ideas in that area. This person possesses the ability to create partnerships and has a presence and a persona that foster relationships with corporations and businesses to help move the School District to another level.
9. Someone who leads through inclusion and collaboration, not fear.
Note: Send your opinions about Ms. Davis’ list and your own suggestions to thefrontpage@sbcglobal.net.
