Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 | 10:07 a.m.
1. What do you see as the biggest issue facing this district?
Student achievement. Keep in mind that students are being judged on standards that are just minimums, the floor. We have to pull up kids from the bottom, yes, but we also have to look at the middle and upper levels so that we help all students.
2. Supporters of the break-up of the district say it's too large. What would you do to allay those concerns?
That's something that needs to be studied. We want schools that are sensitive to the community. It doesn't make a difference whether the district has 300,000 students or 50,000 students. As superintendent I have to focus on helping students by doing the right thing for them.
3. Is No Child Left Behind a good law? Why/why not?
It's a work in progress. Schools are working hard, teachers are working hard. Maybe they miss the targets in the law by one student. That doesn't mean they have failed. We need for the law to acknowledge those gains and achievements.
4. If you had $10 million of "found money" what would you spend it on?
I'd direct it to classrooms, after consultation with the staff and the (school) board.
5. What would your first order/edict be?
I would visit the schools and get to know the principals and get a feel for how we're doing and what we're doing well. I would do a lot of listening.
6. If this job were an elected one, what would your message to the parents -- the voters -- be?
Their children are the center of our district.
***** Bernard Taylor, 46, superintendent, Kansas City School District, Kansas City, Mo.
1. What do you see as the biggest issue facing this district?
Student achievement. The district has not met state achievement standards. What processes and procedures need to be put into place to ensure that happens?
2. Supporters of the break-up of the district say it's too large. What would you do to allay those concerns?
You have to look at the results of the school district, not just its size. Sometimes people think that smaller will mean better. That is not always the case.
3. Is No Child Left Behind a good law? Why/why not?
My concerns are that the only consideration is a preset bench mark of progress, not other evidence of growth and improvement. This is like being on a diet and the doctor says you need to lose 50 pounds and you lose 49. Did you fail on your diet? Absolutely not.
4. If you had $10 million of "found money" what would you spend it on?
School improvements, professional development and incentives to reward teachers and administrators and support staff for outstanding performance. I would be looking at ways to promote and support family literacy and parental involvement.
5. What would your first order/edict be?
To meet with employee groups, parents, students and other community leaders so I can get a better sense of what they expect from the superintendent and what the needs are of Southern Nevada's schools.
6. If this job were an elected one, what would your message to the parents -- the voters -- be?
We care about your children. We're going to work in partnership with you to provide the best for them.
*** Eric Nadelstern, 55, chief academic officer for new schools New York City Department of Education
1. What do you see as the biggest issue facing this district?
The challenge of growth. Enrollment has increased 50 percent in the last five years alone. That growth is also the district's greatest opportunity. It provides us a chance to create schools from scratch, making principals and teachers accountable and giving them the authority to hold students to high standards of performance.
2. Supporters of the break-up of the district say it's too large. What would you do to allay those concerns?
I come from a district of 1.1 million kids. Size in and of itself neither predicts that students will be more successful nor less successful. How do we best shift responsibility and authority to the school level? There may be opportunities to do that within the existing regions.
3. Is No Child Left Behind a good law? Why/why not?
It's a good law, an absolutely necessary law that's time has come. It's time for Washington to make it even better by listening to states and school districts across the country and listening to how it can become even more of a motivator for those of us who work in schools.
4. If you had $10 million of "found money" what would you spend it on?
I would use the money to help create new, smaller schools, restructure larger schools and create incentives around which principals would accept accountability and responsibility for student achievement.
5. What would your first order/edict be?
I've spent the last several weeks reaching out to the education and business communities. I would continue to do that to develop the most effective transition plan possible. I would also continue meeting with parents and the School Board to reassure them they made the right choice.
6. If this job were an elected one, what would your message to the parents -- the voters -- be?
My efforts will go toward creating 300-plus successful schools. I will not rest until every single school in this district is a school of excellence where I would be proud to send my own children.
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