There are few jobs in the community that can have a greater long-term impact that Superintendent. Anyone who can go to one of these forums should do so. If not, let the schools or your board member know what you think is important.

Somehow you put 11/29 on your post.

Small crowd tonight at the Central High Forum. I liked the format, which was just a general question and answer, raise your hand to speak type of thing, which may have been possible only because of the small number of folks who attended. The meeting leader threw out a few general questions about what we wanted in a superintendent to get us started. Questions like, "What is it about Knoxville that would motivate a candidate to come here?" And, "What are the challenges a new superintendent would face if they took the job?"

Then we took a written survey with a list of 32 desired qualities or criteria for choosing the new superintendent and we were asked to pick the 10 most important. One of my criteria, "superintendent should be technologically savvy" was not on the list, so I was invited to add it as one of my ten.

I asked whether, given that it was a cold, rainy night on the Monday after Thanksgiving and the turnout was not that great, if they could post the survey on the web for others, or at minimum, if a PDF file of the survey could be posted for internet users to print out and fax to them? The answer was no, because the school board had not authorized it. Baah. I wish a school board member would respond as I don't see why it would hurt - seems to me the more opinions the better.

As the meeting leader pointed out, the comments and sentiments expressed at the public forum would make it to their report, but there were no guarantees that the school board would take any of the input into consideration.

Nevertheless, I think it is worth doing to gather people's ideas and opinions in every way possible, including via the web. I think it is a reflection on the school board's lack of experience and/or general queasiness with public input and involvement that they didn't think of it themselves or allow it to happen.

One of the best comments I heard tonight was that the biggest challenge facing the new superintendent was dealing with a school board that was not unified and trying to please too many masters - the public plus a divided school board, and the political finesse to pull that off.

Also a good comment came from the facilitator who said any solutions or ideas the superintendent came with would take time to implement, and further that there were a number of constraints on what could be achieved in a given timeframe - like compliance with No Child Left Behind, working within the allotted budget, etc.

Here's the list of the survey criteria. I did at least get permission from them to reproduce it so that everyone could see what criteria was being considered.

Remember, they won't let you participate unless you show up at one of the meetings tomorrow night. But, hopefully posting the criteria will give someone food for thought and motivate them to attend.

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Qualities Desired:

1. Willing to listen to input, but can make a decision when necessary.

2. Remains current on educational issues

3. Has demonstrated strong leadership skills in previous positions.

4. Able to work with legislators.

5. Possession of an earned Ed.D or Ph.D. degree.

6. Inspires trust, has high levels of self-confidence and optimism, and models high standards of integrity and personal performance.

7. Effective communication skills to include speaking, listening and writing.

8. Commitment to community visibility with high interest in a broad range of community groups and organizations.

9. Ability to work cooperatively with the Board of Education.

10. Successful experience in sound management practices, including appropriate participation of others in planning and decision-making.

11. Ability to build consensus and commitment among individuals and groups with emphasis on parental involvement.

12. Ability to develop and direct an effective administrative team, with a commitment to the professional growth and development of team members.

13. Ability to delegate authority appropriately while maintaining accountability.

14. Experience in the management of district resources and knowledge of sound fiscal procedures.

15. Possesses excellent people skills.

16. Committed to keeping the Board informed.

17. Strongly committed to a "student first" philosophy in all decisions.

18. Ability to develop both short and long-range district goals.

19. Ability to develop and communicate a vision of quality education for the future to the board, staff and community.

20. Successful experience in the selection and implementation of educational priorities consistent with the interests and needs of students, staff, board and community.

21. Commitment to the importance of both the academic and activity programs.

22. Ability to secure and promote positive student behavior conducive to student achievement/learning climate.

23. Skilled leadership in the development of inservice training for administrators, support staff and teaching staff.

24. Possesses the leadership skills required to respond to the challenges presented by an ethnically and culturally diverse community.

25. Ability to identify and select building and central office administrators who are capable of advancing the district vision.

26. Work experience in a similar district.

27. Inspires and motivates others to achieve or exceed No Child Left Behind annual yearly progress requirements.

28. Ability to lead a large organization dedicated to goals of continuous improvement.

29. Ability to develop and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between the business community and the school district.

30. Demonstrated ability to enhance student performance, especially in identifying and closing or narrowing the gaps in student achievement.

31. Demonstrated ability to work with the media.

32. Recommendations and decisions are data driven.

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It was hard to pick just 10. For anyone who cares, my choices were:

33. Technologically savvy (I added)

32, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, 19, 29

What's your thoughts? Share them here if you want, but most importantly, participate tomorrow night at one of the forums.

When the deluge of rain started falling just prior to the forum at Central, I asked about doing a web survey for those unable to attend a public meeting. As long as a web survey supplements face to face meetings I don't see why we shouldn't do it. With things like surveymonkey.com it should be cheap and relatively easy. I believe we did mention this in our meeting with the search firm. It may not have been officially authorized, but it certainly wasn't prohibited or discouraged in anyway.

I welcome the input and agree - the more the better!

I just created a web survey in about 10 minutes at no cost. I pasted the questions from Lisa's post above...

(link...)

I tested it and the results were compiled automatically and immediately. Seems pretty straightforward. I'll share this with the Board and the search firm Tuesday to see if we can post it on the KCS website for any Knox County resident to use.

Seems like the surveymonkey website has some feature that prevents one person from responding more than once, which would be good. I'm sure there are other things that I haven't thought about. I can collect 1000 responses for free.

Your thoughts?

I attended the Central meeting yesterday and plan to attend the Bearden meeting tonight.

At Central were: 23 people -- 2 consultants, 4 reporters, 3 candidates who "showed up 'cause they should," 3 employees of KCS, 1 recently retired administrator (Bobby Gratz), and 10 disgruntled citizens.

The happy people were at home, watching TV, and there are lots more happy people than disgruntled ones.

This whole recruitment process is flawed; skewed toward "change" and "non-political."

I just wrote at the bottom of my form: "Don't hire an idiot."

Fat chance. -- s.

Thanks for doing that - Web 2.0 is not that hard, and I think people DO care, even the happy ones. Make it easier for them to participate, and they will.

Lisa

Good morning everybody,

I also attended the meeting last night at Austin East although few in numbers we brought what I believe to be the questions that so many parents would have asked had they been able to or choosen to attend the meeting. What I remember the biggest challenge being was more so that this individual has to be from a diverse up bringing, ready and willing to make immediate changes for ALL schools in order to develope equality of a learning opportunity for our children. Especially the schools that have the biggest academic challenges for their students, the schools that have the least amount of support from their community/parents and the schools that have proven to have the least amount of accountibility to the teachers and administration when they are wrong in their actions. It was also state this person would have to be strong enough to listener to everybody but make a decision for implementing diversity, regardless of the opposition they will face from those that don't want to see an equality of education for all school age children.

I should have proof read !

I believe we should hire Donna Wright as School Superintendent. She a proven leader and administrator. She understands our system and, just as importantly, she understand our politics and the current political climate.

The last thing we need is another Charles Lindsey. I'm cynical of these national searches, yielding slick candidates, who tell us what we want to hear and then walk away a few years later with a hefty payday.

Donna cares about this community. I don't know her personally, but I believe she'd do a fine job.

(Of course, if we had an ELECTED superintendent, I could volunteer for a Donna Wright campaign, donate money, and put up yard signs. Elections are the best form of public involvement. Instead, with an appointed superintendent, now folks are asked to attend "community forums," with a handful of concerned or upset citizens -- and more than a few hacks -- providing the illusion of public participation.)

They want public input (ie-public forums), but not too much public input (ie-elections).

Land of the free, home of the Braves!

We had another 20 folks -- 1 reporter (me); 1 consultant, Bill Newman; a couple of candidates (Elaine Davis (D) and William Daniels (R); some PTA folks and others still mad about rezoning. -- s.

that elections open the position to just any politician, I believe that Knox Co. voters would be mature and responsible enough to elect someone with educational knowledge and experience.

Besides, the appointment process is really just an election where nine people ( I think that's the number needed of school board members), as opposed to thousands, vote to elect the superintendent.

I would rather have a superintendent accountable to thousands of stakeholders, rather than just nine, in spite of the risks.

Unfortunately, elections don't guarantee the best candidate, e.g., Knox county commission, but neither does a national search.

Donna Wright was the new principal at West after Bearden was rezoned and she was fantastic! West became a very desirable school. We got many transfers from Webb! I think she would be in a unique position to effect immediate steps toward "great schools".

Donna Wright should be seriously considered and not dismissed because she is "local" - Kenny Chesney is local, too...

But, would this make parents happy?

It would at least give them a direct role in the process, whereas now, correct or not, a lot of parents and citizens concerned about education assume that the selection will be an inside deal. As it seems to be.

As the meeting leader pointed out, the comments and sentiments expressed at the public forum would make it to their report, but there were no guarantees that the school board would take any of the input into consideration.

Then why should citizens even bother with it?

Separately, after an extensive regional search, Maryville City Schools last night voted to promote from within to fill their superintendent opening........