Takoma Voice: My Dream Superintendent

From the online Takoma Voice: School Scene, by Sue Katz Miller, September 9, 2010:

My Dream Superintendent: Top Ten Qualities

What should the search process look like? What kind of Superintendent are we seeking? These two questions are closely linked. The biggest frustration many parents have with MCPS is the lack of two-way communication. So we need to seek out a Superintendent who is going to restore parents to their role as full partners in education, dismantle the fortress that surrounds the inner-workings of the Rockville bureaucracy, release data to the public, and recognize that the Board of Education is elected to represent the taxpayers in a system of checks and balances.

Read more of Sue Katz Miller's column by clicking HERE.

Sue Katz Miller's ideal superintendent is one who will collaborate with the community, be responsive and transparent, and who will recognize that the "one size fits all" classroom doesn't really fit all. Let's work together to find this superintendent in an open, public process.

Our Next Superintendent

One of the most frequent questions I have been asked lately is about the Board of Education's role in selecting the next Superintendent. I have some definite ideas about the qualities I would like to see in our next Superintendent. He or she should:

(1) Have a local community focus, rather than concerning himself/herself with national image.
(2) Be a hands-on manager who visits schools on a regular basis for the purpose of serving the constituency.
(3) Be someone who works with the community, and doesn’t surprise them with the latest plan to eliminate a program or close a school.
(4) Be willing to be completely transparent about the day-to-day financial dealings of the school system.
(5) Be an educator who encourages his/her staff to value insight and input from parents on the education of their individual children.

The selection process for our next superintendent should be as open and public as possible. What qualities would YOU like to see in our next Superintendent? Please email me at LydaforBOE@hotmail.com with your thoughts.