Superintendent evaluation: Ann Arbor school board congratulates Green on successful first year
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education conducted its first performance review of freshman Superintendent Patricia Green Wednesday.
Overall, the board commended Green’s efforts, recognized the trying conditions she faced and congratulating her on a successful first year.
Superintendent Patricia Green completes her first year at the helm of the Ann Arbor Public Schools district on July 1.
Following the five-hour executive session, Vice President Christine Stead read aloud a statement, on behalf of the board, summarizing what was discussed and agreed upon during the superintendent’s evaluation.
Green, who entered into a five-year contract with AAPS on July 1, 2011, was praised for her ability to bring “new talent and leadership” to the district, making recommendations to the board that upheld the district’s primary educational mission, breathing accountability into various policies and procedures, her commitment to the strategic plan and help in passing the May technology millage, the board’s statement said.
The board solicited help in evaluating Green from local community stakeholders, including teachers, principals, union heads, members of parent associations and a handful of people recommended by Green herself. Each school board trustee also selected a few individuals to send out evaluation forms to.
The board sent out forms to 90 people and received 57 back, Stead said, adding as a group, trustees will be talking about possible changes to the evaluation process come August.
She said there are some potential new policies at the state level that could cause the district to weigh its procedures and evaluation tools. AAPS will need to identify set measurements it would like to use when conducting a performance review and set guidelines for what to do if an individual is not showing progress, Stead said. She added AAPS will be drafting board goals and superintendent goals for evaluations during the summer months.
When the board discussed needing to look at amending its evaluation process back in May, the idea of opening up the process to greater input from the general populace, either via a survey or favorability rating, came up. This topic likely will be revisited at the end of August, which is when Stead anticipated the amendment discussion could take place.
At the close of Wednesday's meeting, Green thanked the Board of Education for the "tremendous support" felt throughout the school year.
"I look forward also to a close affiliation in the years to come," Green said.
Read the entire Ann Arbor school board’s statement summarizing its evaluation of Green below.
Previous coverage: Should the public have role in Ann Arbor school superintendent's evaluation?
Superintendent Evaluation Summary for the Academic Year 2011-12:
"Dr. Patricia Green joined the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) as superintendent at the start of the academic year 2011-12. Upon Dr. Green’s arrival, there were several open positions in the executive cabinet and direct reports thereof; creating both a challenge and an opportunity for Dr. Green to bring in new talent and leadership as part of her first year with the AAPS. Dr. Green has demonstrated excellent judgment in her ability to attract and retain a very capable leadership team for the AAPS. At the same time, Dr. Green was faced with the second year of the most drastic cuts in education funding that the AAPS has experienced. The funding crisis established by the state, exacerbated an already difficult decade of declining funds for the AAPS. Dr. Green demonstrated an ability to make recommendations to the board that allowed the AAPS to preserve our core educational mission while addressing significant funding issues. Dr. Green was also successful in breathing new life and accountability into our systems, policies and procedures; using our strategic plan as a guidepost. Dr. Green was personally and significantly involved in the successful passage of the technology millage from early due diligence, to providing advocacy to our community on the district’s behalf. Dr. Green reinvigorated efforts to address the AAPS achievement gap, including a substantive effort on the role that discipline and behavior play in addressing this issue. Dr. Green has engaged in significant change management activities throughout her first year; an area of great interest to the board. We appreciate Dr. Green’s extensive work with groups within the community in her first year and we support and endorse her continued commitment to visible leadership throughout the district in the future. These accomplishments are highlights, among many, from her first year of service. The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education looks forward to continuing to work with Dr. Green in advancing the success of the AAPS for all students in the years to come and congratulates her on a very successful first year in the AAPS in a very challenging environment."
Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
Sonoflela
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
I hear she only has four day work weeks and returns to Pennsylvania on the weekends. How is that for adding value to the AAPS.
Sonoflela
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 5:39 p.m.
I guess one can afford to live in two states with a salary like that, all while making our children walk down cold, icy, Dark roads in the name of saving a dollar. I wonder if she will even last five years. If not, I would bet on it that her contract will allow for her to collect a large amount of our hard earned tax dollars for leaving our district a mess. Great job BOE.
DNB
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.
Yes, that is common knowledge in the AAPS. That is what I meant in my reply to you earlier...no vested interest in our community.
Kate London
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
Seriously???? As a parent of several children in the school system, I have seen NO CHANGE AT ALL in any efforts to close the achievment gap. In fact, from my observation, the gap continues to widen. Let's be honest -our elementary and middle schools that cater to wealthy white families get the resources. She's wrong - focusing on discipline and behavior will not close the gap. Behavior improves as children succeed. Children succeed when they are given the tools they need and teachers with high expectations who neither provide nor accept excuses.
A2comments
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
The MME results are in for 2012. For all schools: ACT - 23.5 vs. 23.1 prior year MME Math - 59 vs. 76.4 prior year MME Reading - 73 vs. 79.7 prior year MME Science - 50 vs. 76.8 prior year MME Writing - 70 vs. 66.9 prior year MME Social Studies - 63 vs. 88.7 prior year I also looked at just Huron High. Results are flat on ACT, down on anything else. I believe that the level of proficiency required went up this year, so the percentage of proficient students is not comparable year to year now. Links: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120628/SPECIAL01/120627003/Database-Find-2012-Michigan-Merit-Exam-ACT-scores-any-school?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE&appSession=660919546437&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType=desc&CPIorderby=MM12&cbCurrentPageSize= http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20110628/SPECIAL01/110627001?appSession=247919715835
T
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Cost-Benifit? Did she add $250000 worth of value to the district? The review said she was able to fill administrative positions at the same time she was cutting student services because of funding reduction. She was responsible for the passage of the technology millage. No, the voters passed the millage. She and the over inflated administration will be responsible for making the money disappear. For $250000, I'd take more employees at the classroom level. Teachers, principles, janitors and bus drivers do more for my kids than she does.
J. A. Pieper
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
Thank you T, I believe that those at the building level do so much for our kids, certainly not those with high priced salaries at Balas.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Just to provide clarity, board members did not discuss the details or the specifics of their assessment of Patricia Green's performance in open session, nor did they address their goals for Green for the coming school year, aside from what was briefly mentioned in their statement. I was informed this is Ann Arbor's standard practice when evaluating a superintendent, and it aligns with what I personally have experienced in other districts across the state as well. AnnArbor.com has formally requested copies of the evaluation forms and will inform readers upon receiving them.
ChrisW
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
The only measure that matters is whether Ann Arbor schools have improved in the last year. Clearly the answer is "no". The math curriculum still stinks. Overcrowding is worse, although I don't think anyone could have avoided that. The good teachers teach but too many others just go through the motions.
Silly Sally
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:17 p.m.
"a handful of people recommended by Green herself." Wow, I wish I could select those who evaluate me. This would say it all, except then there is her salary.
Basic Bob
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
If I were her, I would select all those people who just got big raises and guaranteed contracts.
Lac Court Orilles
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
The amount of her salary makes it so difficult to concentrate on anything else when news of her comes up. How can she possibly work hard enough or long enough to earn this huge amount of money? Let's talk about value here for a minute. The highest paid person(s) in a school system should be a teacher. Teachers do the work, not the superintendent. Most students don't even know who the superintendent is nor would they even care. Ann Arbor at times has gone without a superintendent, and the school system didn't even miss a beat. If a teacher has to leave for inservice or a meeting, a subsitute is called. If a superintendent is gone for a meeting or inservice, no substitute is assigned. This fact tells you the relative importance of the position. No Superintendent should make more than the highest paid teacher in my opinion.
Blerg
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
Seriously?!? The only thing I can see that she has done has made midnight deals behind the board's back, give unauthorized raises, and thrown out the phrase "achievement gap" every couple of months to maker herself sound busy. Oh, and she built the extra wall outside her office to keep out the minions. Can't forget that move and her welcoming comments to those requesting basic info to get a FOIA. Classy.
Steve Norton, MIPFS
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
What wall? I've seen the office recently and it's the same as when Todd Roberts was here.
local
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.
Don't forget discipline gap. The idea that principals can't suspend or punish students for behavior that deserves a more severe punishment. She has tied the principals evaluation to the number of students who are suspended, and /or, handed down consequences for behavior issues.
local
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
The board would look like fools giving her anything but a good review, they hired her for heavens sake. The board would never do anything to make themselves look bad specially after hiring her at a huge prize tag and going along with higher up raises at 2:30 in the morning. (sarcasm) Anyone who works in the district could give you a better review, but it may cost them their job. In my eyes, this super has done nothing this year but take morale amongst employees to an all time low. And to anger community members with her closed door policies. And we have 4 more years of this?
DonBee
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.
...And it took the board 5 hours of executive session to agree to this statement? Transparent as usual, carry on. No administrator was harmed in the creation of this year's budget.
Momma G
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:43 a.m.
How about her "closed" door policy? At least past superintendents were willing to speak to staff & parents. I've heard nothing but complaints about her from both. Just amazes me.
Will
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
She also gets high marks for her mastery of obfuscating jargon!
Brad
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:33 a.m.
Indubitably!
A2comments
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:21 a.m.
Not a single thing she can improve on? Is that because this is a summary only?
Brad
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
It might have to do with this ... "The board solicited help in evaluating Green from local community stakeholders [...] and a handful of people recommended by Green herself." What? No 25% raise?
kulanova
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
Her top-down management style will be her downfall. I cannot support the board with this glowing review.
DNB
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
Yes, Sonoflela, she is an outsider, who resides in Pennsylvania. She has no vested interest in our community, or our students.
Sonoflela
Thu, Jun 28, 2012 : 11:43 a.m.
I agree with you, she is an outsider that has no vested interest in this community. The entire school board with the exception of trustee Basket should be ashamed of themselves for awardiing this superintendent a five year, $244,000 per year contract before proving her value to this community. Who does that? I have noticed that President Mexicott and trustee Patalen have there pom-poms held high in the air for this lady on every issue.