Ann Arbor Public Schools' new superintendent starts Tuesday
Tuesday marks the first day on the job for the new superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools, Jeanice Kerr Swift.
Hired on to a five-year contract in mid-August after a $16,279 nationwide search, Swift comes to Ann Arbor from her former position of assistant superintendent of instruction, curriculum and student services for Colorado Springs School District 11. Her base salary with AAPS is $200,000.
Jeanice Kerr Swift's first day as superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools is Tuesday.
Tuesday Swift will also have paperwork to file and will attend a staff professional development session, said Liz Margolis, spokeswoman for the district.
Swift will also be interviewing the finalists for the Lawton Elementary School principal's position Tuesday. The job has been open for about a month since former Principal Amy Conway resigned to be the assistant superintendent of school improvement for Gibraltar School District located near Detroit.
Margolis said Swift's next full day with AAPS will be Sept. 3—the first day of school.
AAPS initially offered the superintendent position to Brian Osborne—a superintendent of a school district in New Jersey—but he turned down the job and the school board voted 4-3 to offer the job to Swift.
Following former AAPS Superintendent Patricia Green's unexpected resignation at the end of the 2012-13 school year, this marks the fourth time in 11 years that the district has changed superintendents.
Amy Biolchini is the K-12 education reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
A2comments
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 7:47 p.m.
I just noticed our new super's email address, from the AAPS website, is xxx@aaps.k12.mi.us. Is there something we should know? :) http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/departments/superintendent_s_office
A2comments
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
The point is that someone put that on the website and it's still there at 11:05 on Thursday. You don't know what email address she wants, so they put XXX? Not ABC or 123, but XXX? It's too funny.
Amy Biolchini
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 8:37 p.m.
Nice try. Her new email address with AAPS is now up and running and is the following: swift@aaps.k12.mi.us
Honest Abe
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 8:15 p.m.
Sounds like Swift became the super only because of a rubber vote. Also, does $200K/yearly sound better that $1,000,000.00 over 5 years? She is overpaid, and she is a "Doctor" by mere title only. I personally do not recognize phd or doctorate holders as 'Doctors'. My 59 year old wife is a "Doctor." She had to do 4 years Pre Med, 4 Years Med, Residency and Fellowship, working 100 hours/week, along with 6 figure loans, to be called "Doctor". When Swift gains the experience and knowledge to use a scalpel and save a life - We will talk!
A2comments
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 7:49 p.m.
Just for fun, when I meet your wife sometime I'm going to call her "Mrs.". While $200k is a great annual salary, DR. Swift has pretty important responsibilities - i.e. ensuring that our children get a good education now and in the future. So stop complaining and let the DOCTOR do her job.
Bulldog
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
Choose the Lawton principal wisely! Someone with a vision and open eyes!
Honest Abe
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:15 p.m.
This lady is not a Doctor. When you go through years and years of Med school - You can be called Doctor. Anyways, lets get this lady to work! $200,000.00 DOLLARS!!?? I hope she works 20 hours per day. And don;t forget - Phd do not deserve to be called 'Doctor'.
Jeff Gaynor
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:33 p.m.
If you have a Ph.D., fine; if not, get one, and then we'll talk. And by the way, doctors - of any sort - are people just like the rest of us.
dexterreader
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
Nice to see LOTS of positive comments for a change!! Although I don't live in the district, I hope she is able to bring out the best in AAPS!! Welcome to Michigan Dr. Swift!!
donderop
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 1:02 p.m.
Welcome, Dr. Swift! May you enjoy beautiful Ann Arbor and all it has to offer. This is a friendly, active community -- aside from a few trolls who don't seem to like anything or anybody. Just ignore them. Wishing you strength!
treetowncartel
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 12:38 p.m.
Why do they waste valuable time with these "pep rallies"? Teachers should be at their respective schools getting their classrooms ready instead of attending this silly event.
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
My suggestion is not to listen to "advice" and instead gather information to form your own opinion.
Basic Bob
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 6:19 p.m.
thanks for the suggestion/advice/information/opinion
AMOC
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
Welcome Dr. Swift. Our family is glad you're here. We hope you'll continue the push for administrator and financial accountability begun by Dr. Green, help unify the AAPS community around excellence of academic achievement for all students, and do your best to dock the athletic tail that has been wagging the facilities and budget dog here in Ann Arbor. My advice is not to believe anything a Balas administrator tells you without data to back it up, and to solicit and use a community volunteer (there are a lot of us, with solid credentials in the work world) instead of a paid consultant whenever possible.
aaparent
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:58 a.m.
Good luck Dr. Swift. The community is hoping you can help move the district forward and maximize the many positives we have here, starting with our teachers and students.
kuriooo
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:49 a.m.
Welcome Dr. Swift. As a parent, I'm glad to have you here!
Basic Bob
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:41 a.m.
She got here fast. We would still be waiting for Osborne, as we did for Green.
A2comments
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:38 a.m.
The 4th time we've changed means the 5th superintendent in 11 years, not a statistic anyone should be proud of.
Amy Biolchini
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:45 p.m.
That comment from Swift was one that definitely stuck with me, Jeff. It was a great way for her to broach the topic of longevity in a positive and definitive way.
Jeff Gaynor
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:31 p.m.
This morning Dr. Swift said that entering Kindergarteners would be the class of 2026 and that she was looking forward to handing them their diplomas.
AMOC
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
Hey Comments - 2 of those were deliberately short-term interim superintendents. They were caretakers while we found people ready to lead in a direction the BoE wanted to go.
a2teacher
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 10:14 a.m.
Good luck Dr. Swift! Looking forward to meeting you this morning!
Goober
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 9:05 a.m.
You are correct, Amy.
The Infinite Jester
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
PhD = Doctor of Philosophy. Doctor.
Amy Biolchini
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.
It's perfectly acceptable to call individuals with doctorate degrees as "doctor," but for AP Style purposes we don't write "Dr." unless the individual is a medical doctor. The distinction is used in news writing for both brevity and clarity of an individual's professional qualifications.
Honest Abe
Tue, Aug 27, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.
Dr? In my opinion, Phd's do not count. MD, DO, DDS' are DOCTORS. Try Mrs or Ms Swift.