I just participated in a discussion with the consultants conducting the search for the next Little Rock School District superintendent and am planning to do it all again tonight. Here is my list of the desired qualities for the next chief executive of the Little Rock Public School District:
- Put students first in all actions
- Immediately implement strategic plan
- Ensure that all students read at or above grade level (if can’t, summer school; if still can’t, repeat)
- Reform central administration to make most effective and efficient use of taxpayers' investment.
- Empower team of all-star principals, then hold them accountable for performance
- Reward, retain and recruit exceptional teachers and immediately remove ineffective ones
- Have zero tolerance of unsafe schools
- Maintain high expectations of all students
- Accept no excuses for not learning, such as blaming lack of parental involvement
- Offer, support and celebrate competitive extra-curricular activities and achievement in the arts, athletics, communications, governance, professional development and public service.
- Commit to longer school days, expanded school year
- Compete for students within and without the district without litigating
- Communicate clearly, consistently and completely with the public regarding the district's successes, opportunities and deficiencies
- Pursue inter-local agreements and county-wide services to make most efficient and effective use of taxpayers' investment
- Tell the whole truth, no matter who it may offend
- Be a strong negotiator on behalf of the district’s resources
- Insist on complete day-to-day management responsibility of district
- Be courageous
- Make Little Rock the model district in the state and competitive with other major markets across the country and around the globe
- Commit five years to the job
- Make Little Rock's present and future as positively significant as its historic past
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