Last Updated on March 13, 2018, 10:09 PM | Published: March 13, 2018
Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education members met Monday in a work session with Oklahoma State School Boards Association staff to define what they want in the next superintendent.
Gloria Torres was the only member not in attendance due to being out of the country.
Process
Members processed what they thought a successful district would be.
Responses included concerns for greater student success by higher graduation rates with graduates ready to compete in the job marketplace.
Members expressed a long list of hopes that revolved around deep concerns expressed before, one of them to stop participating in the school-to-prison pipeline, and becoming a district where positive headlines outnumbered the negative ones.
They want a school district where employees – especially teachers – are eager to come to work and students are glad to come to school.
Definition
Board members studiously went to work on their brainstorming about what a successful superintendent would be for OKCPS.
When it came time to develop a model – an “archetype” – board members weighed in heavily that they wanted to see someone who is from Oklahoma.
The most discussion about archetypes was around the possibility of getting someone who has been a superintendent or deputy superintendent who has urban school experience.
In a sharp departure from previous board concepts over the last two decades, members clearly indicated that they want their next superintendent to be a traditionally trained, experienced educator who has deep experience in education and education leadership.
The session was coordinated by Dr. Ann Cain and Stephanie Hyder with OSSBA.
Sitting out
Rebecca Kaye, acting superintendent who is thought to be running for the permanent position, was not present.
The last work session February 26, Kaye was present and participated in the goals-defining process led by A.J. Crabill.
Kaye and several board members have said that any time the board is specifically working on their process to get the next superintendent she should not be present.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
