Ann Arbor Board of Education questions superintendent candidates on visibility, communication and budget acumen
Seeking: An education professional with the expertise to tackle a pressing budget crisis, the experience to navigate a school district through the emotionally-charged process of redistricting and the creative thinking to narrow achievement gaps. Must love children -about 17,000 of them - be able to manage and communicate with 3,000 employees and stomach public feedback from a deeply invested community.
No problem, right?
The tasks before the next superintendent of Ann Arbor are numerous and significant, but the potential for impact is large. Six top candidates for the position, which is open as of Patricia Green's resignation effective July 9, are in Ann Arbor interviewing with the Board of Education.
Three were interviewed Monday and the remaining three will be interviewed Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott in Ann Arbor. When the interviews finish Tuesday around 3 p.m. the board will deliberate about their top choices and have two or three finalists identified by evening.
Despite the long to-do list, all candidates interviewed Monday expressed a desire to tackle the challenge of leading Ann Arbor Public Schools, a district known for its excellence but undergoing a series of fiscal and leadership struggles.
During his interview process, Richard Faidley, who manages the school district in Hershey, Pa, said it is in part the challenge of leading a school district like Ann Arbor that appealed to him and prompted him to apply just two years after beginning in his current job. He also said he is unsatisfied with his current board, which he believes isn't employing a student-first approach to governance.
After his formal interview, Faidley said he felt like his values clicked with the Ann Arbor BOE's.
"They asked questions that were focused on students and how I would go about and process leadership in the organization," he said.
"That says a lot about the board... and their focus."
The board is looking for someone who would work cohesively with the elected governing body, members said. That sentiment was apparent in questioning when members asked about the candidates' communication styles and expectations of the board.
"There are lots of great leaders out there, but what's important about this phase of the process is that you get the right match," said candidate Jeanice Kerr Swift, who is an assistant superintendent of the Colorado Springs school district.
"It's a lot like getting married. There's a lot more to it than 'Oh there's a great educator,' there are real connections that will stand the test of problems and time. That to me is really important for them."
The board's questions centered around communication, visibility, leadership style, tackling budget issues and touched on union relations, redistricting and achievement gaps.
Candidate Brian Osborne, the superintendent of South Orange-Maplewood School District in New Jersey, told the board that the school system is operating in a leadership vacuum. He noted the high turnover the superintendent position has experienced in recent years and posed the question: How long can a superintendent last in Ann Arbor?
If he was chosen, he says, he'd be looking to stay a long time. Other candidates said the same.
"I've been interested in communities like Ann Arbor for a long time because I think that places where there is a high level of embracing of diversity and a serious support for public education are the kind of places that can be models for the nation of what equity and excellence really looks like."
Swift said the being the superintendent of a school district in transition requires "a grittiness." She said the dynamism of Ann Arbor appealed to her. She came to the town two days before her interview to get a sense of it and liked what she saw.
"Strong communities have quality schools," she said.
The BOE carefully crafted interview questions after receiving feedback from constituents. In-person forums took place and the board administered online surveys seeking feedback on what qualities parents want from the next AAPS superintendent. The result, board president Deb Mexicotte said, was 57 pages of comments on what people are looking for. That, coupled with board expertise, led to the interview questions.
"We listened to the community," Mexicotte said.
"When you look at things like budget, communication, redistricting- those are all reflected there," she added. "All superintendents have their strengths and weaknesses. We've had several superintendents over the last few years, and if you looked at their strengths and weakness, their candidacy, the time that they spent with us— they all brought different things to the table and we can only assume that the new superintendent for the Ann Arbor Public Schools will bring new things to the table."
On Tuesday three more candidates will interview for the position, including two from Ann Arbor. Those interviewing are: Henry Hastings, instructor at Eastern Michigan University College of Business; Sandra Harris, retired superintendent of Oak Park School District in Oak Park; Benjamin Edmondson, principal of Roberto Clemente High School in Ann Arbor.
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Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
15crown00
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 8 p.m.
I don't think these people have a clue about what they might be getting into.
An Arborigine
Wed, Jul 10, 2013 : 11:16 p.m.
Good reporting, but as far as the interviewee "quotes"...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
PenguinPride
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
They definitely ALL have the buzz words down. So far, I am not impressed.
Goober
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
What is also scary is that the AA BOE is clueless and will not be able to see the right candidate. I fully expect them to fumble the ball again and pick the candidate that will be their clone. So sad!
J. A. Pieper
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.
So we wait and see what today's group shares! So scary when there is no trust in the BOE!
Goober
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
Quite scary, eh?! And these candidates are some of the 'best of the best'.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.
"He also said he is unsatisfied with his current board, which he believes isn't employing a student-first approach to governance." Oh, oh. Better hope his bosses don't find out about this....
cibachrome
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.
You realize that the Board President is a major part of this whole school leadership problem, eh ? Its LEADERSHIP folks, not consensus management. The orchestra plays by the conductor, not the feelings of the average player. That's why the BOE music is so melancholy and out of touch.
LXIX
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:18 a.m.
"We listened to the community," Mexicotte said. What a novel concept in Ann Arbor - home to one of the brainiest bunch of parents in the world of lists. So what is the super salary going to be this time Barb or is that really unimportant now? Will this new hire "reflect" the many new faces of the next-gen kids Barb or is that really unimportant now? Who is more important for the new super to interact and bond with Barb, the Board as was the case in the Green top-down command and control model, or under the Board, directly communicating with Parents and Teachers? Do any of the candidates know how to fix windless windmills?
LXIX
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
I don't know who Barb is. Sarcasm using real names ( except for acronyms like 'DDA' ) are construed as a personal attacks which are strickly verboten at A2com. Got that Mike?
Susie Q
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.
Who's Barb?
Goober
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:11 a.m.
In order to turn our school system in a much more positive direction, the new superintendent will need to be at odds with the AA BOE. In fact, the AA BOE should take a silent role is turning our school system around once the right candidate is hired. The right superintendent hired can then lead the teachers, involved community leaders and involved parents/voters to move our school system forward. The AA BOE can then watch. They are not capable, based on our experience, of doing anything other than this - just watch. Go figure!
15crown00
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 8:02 p.m.
that's not the way it works though and you know it.
aaparent
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
@ maria huffman: We have a board president who cannot run a meeting in any orderly way and she cannot find a way to section off accolades and rewards for PR effect from a working meeting. The board sets a new deadline for ending meetings and then doesn't stick to it due to approving a budget, but they dug their heels in for awhile defending a snack budget for themselves when parents in Ann Arbor would have organized it through donations if the BOE had asked. Goober is right on the money. It will take a superintendent who is competent working with the most experienced educators in the district to help the BOE stay within bounds of being an elected offiial. The BOE can tell a superintendent to get rid of dead weight administrators in Balas. Our board president defends the top heavy administration 100/100 times. After Mexicotte defends, Nelson leads the board in rambling rants about his strong feelings about education. Stead and Thomas seem most consistently able to stay on point, with Lightfoot next in line. Mexicotte and Nelson need to step out of officer roles on the BOE. A millage will be on the ballot soon no matter who is the next superintendent. Voters will approve it. The BOE knows this and is counting on it. The superintendent candidates know this. We need a superintendent who has some integrity and honesty. I thought Todd Roberts did well and would have loved to hear an unedited exit interview. In the 1980s Dick Benjamin was the superintendent when the district closed elementary schools. As redistricting is likely again, I wonder if a reporter could contact him and former board president Eunice Royster who is at the UM. They would likely say history repeats itself since many problems from past decades have gone unsolved due to BOE failures in leadership.
aaparent
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.
@maria: I think the board absolutely played a role in Green's problems. For one thing, they hired her without proper vetting. Then they overpaid her. Then the BOE gave her poor guidance on how to be successful in Ann Arbor. Her reported habits of hiding in her office and not really getting to know anyone other than the new overpaid executives she hired was something a competent board could have stopped. If you go back in history in AAPS, it has been the BOE more times than not that has stopped viable plans from reaching completion. Go back all the way to Bruce McPherson's era when Community High was conceived and then shortly thereafter more than a few problems were discovered within Balas that were evident long before they were discovered. Then Harry Howard was brought in to swing the district back to a more conservative stance, if my memory is correct. The BOE blew it by building Skyline and while that ship has sailed and the state plays a major role in cutting funding, poor leadership by elected BOE members, past and present are a key part of why this district is in trouble.
Goober
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 1:41 p.m.
From what I saw and experienced, Ms. Green did not work with community leaders, teachers and involved parents. I do not know who she worked with other than a few BOE members. All while morale sunk, finances ran wild and no positive steps were taken to head us in the right direction. Not a stellar performance or track record.
Maria Huffman
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
You think the board didn't allow Dr. Green to lead involved community leaders, parents and teachers to improve finances, improve or reduce the achievement gap and improve team moral? How did they stop her from doing that?
Itchy
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:51 a.m.
To Maria.... As Goob said, the new superintendent will partner with involved team members to move the school system in a positive direction. The BOE has proven that they are inept, lost and arrogant. If the right candidate is hired, they need to move to a support role. Allow this individual to lead involved community leaders, parents and teachers to improve finances, improve or reduce the achievement gap and improve team morale. If the BOE has any value, they would be more than welcome to participate in the improvement. This is a big 'if' based on their track record to date. One thinks that school revenue is rocket science that normal people cannot understand. Another thinks that $5,000 is pennies and has proven that they cannot lead an effective budget process or effective meetings. Another has some clothes parody that is quite interesting, to say the least. Hire the right talent to lead the team and then provide support.
Maria Huffman
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:42 a.m.
Any superintendent that wants a silent board, (silent bosses) wants silent workers even more. Careful what you wish for.
Maria Huffman
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.
So, Itchy, you hope the board becomes silent, and one person can do everything alone, because that's a realistic plan?
Itchy
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.
Well said, Goob. We can only hope that this actually happens.
Maria Huffman
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 11:27 a.m.
Speak only for yourself, Mr. Goober.
aaparent
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 10:45 a.m.
Of the 3 video clips, on presentation and communication only: it looks like Osborne has the best ability to speak about content and be positive, but not as flakey as the others. A commenter on yesterday's stories posted S. Maple NJ news articles. Is anything more known about his leadership and effectiveness in that district? That district seems in worse shape than AAPS and a lot smaller. The online commenters are more outraged with their school board than in AA. I have a hard time seeing how Swift's presentation would command the credibility a leader in AAPS needs, especially speaking to teachers -- many of whom seem light years more credible than Swift. At this point, in my opinion, Dr. Green presents better than Swift, which is concerning given her low popularity scores. Maybe Swift would head out to the buildings for meet and greets, but would our teachers come out of their classrooms to say hello or roll their eyes? To echo @A2comments - Faidley has a lot of red flags. His presentation is poor, in my opinion. He comes across as the guy who would be the disaster first-date type of superintendent for the district and be gone quicker than people would want him to leave. He seems least competent, so maybe given the BOE's history, they will hire him.
A2comments
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 10:23 a.m.
At odds with the board two years into the job is a big warning flag.