A parent forum about the superintendent search was held yesterday evening (Thursday) at City Hall. Approximately 30 people met with two search consultants from CABE Search Services, Eliza Holcomb and Jakie Jacoby, a former superintendent for Glastonbury and Hartford.
In addition to parents, several administrators and board members were present, including Rosa Murray, Glenn Iannaccone, Shirley Mosby, Sue Haynie (elect), and prinicipals Lynn Moore of West Rocks and Bob McCain of Nathan Hale. While the forum was billed as a "Parent Forum", several of the board members and administrators added their input.
The search consultants explained the process of finding a superintendent, the certification requirements and the need for confidentiality. They said they will advertise for the position nationally as well as go out and recruit candidates. "We will reach out in as many ways possible to get a rich candidate pool," said Ms. Holcomb.
The consultants said they viewed Norwalk to be a desirable placement because of its diversity, location, size, and strong faculty. "It's great for an candidate that is looking for a challenge. There is great potential in Norwalk," said Ms. Jacoby.
They asked the parents about other strengths of Norwalk schools which should be shared with a prospective superintendent. One parent commented that Norwalk is a mid-size city but "feels like a small town" and that the schools have a lot of spirit. Another parent said that we have some interesting programs like the magnet schools and the Center for Global Studies.
The consultants then asked about Norwalk's challenges. Lynn Moore, prinicipal of West Rocks, spoke at length about the negativity that exists in Norwalk and how anonymous comments on blogs are partly to blame.
Gloria Falcone, president of the Norwalk High School PTO, said that communication and transparency are a problem in Norwalk and a lot of what you get is "smoke and mirrors." She also described Norwalk as "a house with good bones that needs renovation."
Jennifer Covello, a member of the PTO Council said that Norwalk schools needs to stop the "band-aid approach" and go more for the "open-heart" surgery approach to resolve the issues that face the district. She also said that she is looking for someone with a "spark in their eye who loves what they do."
Several parents spoke about the need for a superintendent who is visible and trustworthy.
Ms. Mosby spoke several times about her concern about children from all backgrounds and the achievement gap. She also said that she wanted someone with Central Office experience.
One parent said he wants a superintendent who has a good working relationship with the BOE and that two parties should share the same goals and objectives.
When asked about what strategies they would employ to make sure the candidate didn't just "talk a good talk", the consultants responded that they would run background checks, tap into national networks, ask probing questions, check state data and perform site visits. The consultants also said they are reaching out to women and minority educator groups.
Ms. Holcomb and Ms. Jacoby said they typically present 5-6 candidates from which a board chooses, but it could be more or less. "We think quality is more important than quantity, " said Ms. Holcomb.
They expect that they will have candidates by mid December or January. There is a possibility of bringing two finalists before the community if the candidates agree.
Ms. Murray asked specifically about site visits and how they would be handled. She stressed that we need to speak with a variety of parties within a community to learn about the candidate.
Bob McCain, prinicipal of Nathan Hale, was a silent observer at the forum. At the end of the event, this reporter asked if he was applying for the job. "I'm still thinking about it. I haven't decided yet," he said.
CABE Search Services will synthesize all of the data collected from the Leadership Assessment Profiles and Community Forums and present their findings at a BOE Meeting on Dec 1.
See related stories:
More on CABE Search Services
Search Firm Selected: CABE Search Services
Friday, November 6, 2009
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It is interesting that Sue Haynie and Glen Iannacone were with Bob McCain, principal of Nathan Hale. Are they supporting him? Will the requirements now change for the position of Superintendent of Norwalk Schools? Right now the candidate needs central office experience. Mr. McCain does not have that. How can Mr. McCain consider the position if he doesn't have the qualifications as advertised?
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that Mr. McCain was a pick of Dr. Corda...who mentored him and favored him. Do we want another Sal Corda?
My goodness. The NPS political game continues, but I can make it easy for the uninitiated. The people who keep harping on the need for central office experience are the supporters of the current assistant superintendent. That would place Ms Mosby in that camp because of her recent comment. The above individual is also there.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the job posting for superintendent really makes central office experience a requirement, but I urge those interested in this search for the superintendent to shift from any discussion of where a person worked (although I do believe that urban experience is important), and move to a discussion of exactly what the person accomplished in his/her positions.
Tell me what Bob McCain has accomplished. Tell me what Tony Daddona has accomplished. Do not tell me how long someone has been here because that isn't an accomplishment that has any bearing on someone's effectivensss.
As someone who was at the forum, I would like to clarify a misconception. Sue Haynie and Glen Iannacone were not with Bob McCain. They were sitting with him or talking to him- there did not appear to be an alliance of any kind.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as a former PTO President of NHMS, I heartily support Bob should I choose to go for the position. He is passionate about education and student achievement, he's a straight shooter and he's data driven in his decision making. He turned around the culture of NHMS when a previous principal could not. He was not chosen by Sal Corda- he was chosen by a committee which saw his talent and pushed his candidacy forward with no 2nd or 3rd choice. He's the real thing.
correction: should HE choose.
ReplyDeleteCentral Office experience is very important to the position of Superintendent. Don't be mislead. A school administrator does not see the global picture and has no experience with district level decisions. I am not backing a particular candidate, but obviously you are.
ReplyDeleteThe NPS politics was a part of the 'Parents not Politicians' campaign. It continues with the backing of McCain, the Dr. Corda mentee and the Dr. Corda clone.
The new BOE members appear to have a 'favorite' who appears to have been picked by them even before they were elected. Interesting, isn't it?
For the record: I was the only BOE member who voted for Bob McCain to become Assistant Superintendent. I did not do it because he was Corda's choice.
ReplyDeleteBased on an extensive interview with the Board, I could see that McCain was an excellent candidate in terms of modern curriculum development, the use of technology in the classroom, and using data to drive student instruction. I was also impressed by his confidence and leadership qualities.
To "accuse" McCain of being Corda choice is not fair; in this case, the former superintendent made the right decision. He selected a highly competent and knowledgeable educator. Unfortunately, my eight colleagues on the board thought otherwise.
To the "anonymous" who lectured me about the central office experience:
ReplyDeleteI am not backing a candidate because I don't know who the candidates are going to be. I happen to think that Bob McCain has done great work at NHMS, but there may eventually be one or more candidates whom I will like even better.
Central office experience isn't a qualifier, nor is it a disqualifier. What does matter is what a person has accomplished. What has the candidate done where he/she has worked that led to significant academic, cultural and climate improvements there? Tell me about the candidates' ability to articulate their vision for the district. Tell me about how they intend to approach turning that vision into reality. Tell me all that and we can have a conversation. Tell me about the other educators and parents who hold this individual in very high regard. Why is this important? It's because the superintendent has to be an inspirational leader.
My hope is that after hiring a consulting firm to find candidates for the superintendency, this doesn't come down to be a competition between Bob McCain and Tony Daddona because the board could have produced these two candidates on its own.
Does the 1st poster know for sure that the superintendent is supposed to have central office experience and who decided that be a qualification? And,if so, who else would know this but someone very close to the process? Does the Assistant Super even have a superintendents certification, last I heard he didn't.
ReplyDeleteIf the board uses central office experience as qualifying experience, it is very foolish. If they want to say that central office experience is desirable in a candidate, that is fine. I do think that at least five years of building administrative experience is essential because the person needs to understand the real work of a school district. Even five years isn't much experience at the school level, but I'll accept that as a minimum.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much input the search committee (a/k/a current board) really wanted? By scheduling the forum on the same night as elementary parent teacher conference night, they made sure that elementary parents, teachers, and administrators couldn't make it. That takes care of twelve schools out of nineteen.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this even worse is that the central office sets the schedule for report card conferences, and so they can't say they didn't know. In my life, I keep a calendar so that I don't schedule conflicting meetings. We should be able to assume that the central office (since the board doesn't really schedule things itself) maintains a calendar. Maybe things are so broken that it will be better to get entirely new leadership.
ReplyDeleteTo the 'anonymous' who stated that central office experience is not important, you clearly don't understand the difference between district level experience and school level experience. While a person can have a vision at the school level, it is quite different at the district level. Perhaps school level experience is acceptable in a small town, but Norwalk requires so much more. Don't settle for someone who does not have that level of expertise. Let the person who does not have central office experience get it before accepting him/her in Norwalk.
ReplyDeleteTo the "Anonymous" who posted at 8:48 a.m. today:
ReplyDeletePlease read my earlier posting carefully because what I said is that central office experience shouldn't be a qualifier for the superintendency; I never said that it has no importance. You seem to be saying that central office experience is a requirement, and I don't accept that belief.
Let me explain that I have many years of successful experience in public education, at the central office (as an administrator), and building (several administrative positions)levels. I have also done work for the CT State Department of Education and for one of the state RESCs. I understand very well what the difference is between district level and school level experience. I know fully well the management skills, the vision, and the leadership skills required for each.
I stand by my earlier statement that I would emphasize the record of accomplishment at whatever level the person has served administratively. By the way, I am not going to be applying for the job.
To the 10:50 AM poster....
ReplyDeleteI also have many years at many administrative levels, and I believe that we should agree to disagree.
My final statement: Norwalk, in my opinion, requires...yes, requires, central office experience.
Just to clarify,I am not applying for the position either.
I have to make a couple of comments. First, to require Central Office experience is quite convenient for certain people in town. People who were quite effective at keeping Mr. McCain out of Central Office. First, he did not get the AS job as he was recommended for. Next, the interim superintendent position was never advertised so he could apply and gain experience.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the poster from Nov. 7th who called Mr. McCain a Corda clone, I am not sure what you mean. Most people thought Corda did nothing and was absent in the schools. I think that description would best fit the person the board hired to join him at central office, not Mr. McCain. Mr. McCain is very well respected and very present.
To the 1:13 PM poster -
ReplyDeleteYou are right about Mr. McCain not getting the assistant superintendent job he was recommended for. Who recommended him? Sal Corda! Enough said.
The right person got the job. He works well with administrators and is always on the job! Most of the people at central office know that.
The 1:40 poster knows that the screening committees, with the exception of the administrators' committee (which included someone who has a definite prejudice against Mr. McCain) also recommended Mr. McCain.
ReplyDeleteThe fallacy at that 1:40 is trying to use to her advantage is that because Sal Corda was a lousy superintendent, he must be incapable of ever making the right personnel decisions. Sal was my boss and I didn't especially like him, but I did give him credit for doing at least some things right. His recommendation of Mr. McCain was the right thing.
I agree that the AS is always on the job. Poster 1:40 said he works well with administrators? Is keeping administrators happy important? I thought it was about providing intelligent and inspirational leadership for the school system, including parents, teachers and students. The administrators make up a very small percentage of the people in the schools, and some of them should be pounding the pavement, looking for other employment.
it seems like we are already putting lines in the sand about the superintendent. many feel the former board had certain agendas and maybe they did. Let's move on, and hope that this new BOE will be cohesive and work following the righ set of rules, respect for one another and for the candidate who becomes superintendent. Let the process take its course and trust the work to the search form, Dr. Papallo and the BOE.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if any external candidate who might read this blog would shy away from even coming here!Let's not forget there are more than just two certified folks in the district who might be interested.
Many people are saying the superintendent must have central office experience, and some say that is not necessary. Norwalk is a large urban district and with 11,000 students, there is a lot to managing the achievement and managing and leading the district. There are very few districts even with a superintendent shortage that would consider a candidate without central office experience in a district of our size. Some superintendents have made the leap but not in Fairfield County and not in a district of 19 schools, and in Fairfield County superintendents not only have had central office experience, but they have been superintdents already. The exception being Stamford.
ReplyDeleteI am very dismayed at Mr. Kimmel's remarks about voting on the board. I would have thought that the voting of candidates was of a confidential matter and not shared on the blog. I realize the Mr. Kimmel is not a BOE member now, but at the time he was. if I am wrong about the confidentiality I stand corrected.
ReplyDeleteas an educator i cannot understand how folks would even entertain a school administrator as a candidate for a superintendent. First of all a school administrator has experience within the domain of a building--that is very different than running an entire district. if the critics have read the cambridge report, the spectrum case, the issues surrounding special education, technology in a mess, just to mention a few...and of yes a budget that will once again be slashed...we would put a school principal in great jeopardy on a job like that of supt. This district needs experienced leadership and experience in a district of like demographics!!
ReplyDeletewishing the new boe lots of luck in its endeavor to move Norwalk forward...
ReplyDeletelet's get back to the Norwalk of yesteryear when it was a privilege to be a part of the system that had a reputation of being the forerunner in education, the beacon for education. let's not make a hasty decision, but the right decision for the right reason not because of politics or affiliations...we are counting on you to make the decision for superintendent!
i have been a educator for several years and have worked in norwalk for almost as many...
ReplyDeletei have seen superintendents come and go, and ideas come and go, and very little done. now is the time to correct that...let's hope the new board can get the right person in the right place and move us forward...we need a strong leader, and a leader with experience in a district such as Norwalk. good luck BOE. we are counting on you.
After doing some homework, I discovered that Mr. McCain runs a building of approx. 600 students. Are the people here serious that he should now be prepared to run a school system of approx. 10,000 students? Even the assistant superintendent, who has had special education administrative experience, high school principalship experience and central office experience is not experienced enough to be a superintendent in Norwalk. Folks, we have a new Board of Education. Do we need a Board who is just learning coupled with a superintendent with no real experience? NO! We need someone with the experience of a superintendent to become a superintendent here.
ReplyDeleteIt is rumored in the district that there are three Nathan Hale teachers who are constantly on this blog writing why their principal should be the next superintendent. My question to the three of you is simple...Are you trying to get rid of him? If he is so terrific, you should be trying to keep him for your school! Or are you so generous that you want to 'share him' with us all.....
Experience isn't enough for Norwalk. We need to see a record of accomplishment, not merely a resume of positions held. Promoting the candidacy of internal individual "A" by pointing to the alleged inadequacies of internal candidate "B" is not a reason to hire individual "A." If "A" is good, speak about the gains that have accrued to the district becausse of his work.
ReplyDeleteMr. Kimmel had every right to discuss his vote, it was in the Board of Ed minutes and is a public record. Thank goodness this isn't South Korea, where a vote of such importance is privy to only 9 people.
ReplyDeleteI thought voting took place in a closed session of the Board of Education meetings. I did not think it was available to the public.
ReplyDeleteSince this vote was brought up again, who would want to admit that the vote was 8 to 1, and he/she was the 1? Everyone else is wrong, but I'm right? Is Mr. Kimmel saying that everyone else is stupid and he is the only one that is right?
The board deliberated about the AS position in executive session, but the vote was in public session, as it had to be. Mr. Kimmel was entirely appropriate in discussing how he voted and why he voted that way.
ReplyDeleteMr. Kimmel sided with the recommendation of the superintendent and the committees. He was not alone. He stood alone on a board that had the final say.
ReplyDeleteI personally think anyone would have to be crazy to want the job and have to deal with this crap daily.
Certain people in this district do not know how to use data to move a school/district forward. We already know that and they should not be hired for the lead position. Period. Regardless of type of experience.
Certain people communicate but there is an over/under tone of negativity in their communication. They should not be hired as superintendent. Period. Regardless of experience. They will not move the district forward.
Norwalk needs someone who uses data and communicates in a positive manner. Someone with a strong educational vision for the district. I don't care if they are from here or Alaska. I don't care if they ran a district or a school, as long as what they did, they did GREAT. Some people with central office experience haven't done much in terms of using data or creating a vision. I understand it is a fairly large district but if someone is a proven leader and has willingness, energy and drive to tackle Norwalk's issues, I don't think they should automatically be discounted from applying.
Superintendent Rhee, who runs the 55,000 student Washington DC school district had 3 years of teaching experience, no superintendency experience before she was hired for the job by the Washington DC Mayor. She was hired because she was just really good at what she did. That's what this district needs, someone really good at what they do and who can prove it.
ReplyDeleteWow, no one except Mr Kimmel wants to leave his or her name, very brave people. Should Mr McCain decide to apply for the job of Superintendent, we would be wise and fortunate to have him, he has the "evidence" of success he has transformed Nathan Hale. While Dr Corda was not a transformer or an informer Bob McCain seems to be, that is what Norwalk Schools need. I just hope he actually wants the job and that the Board is smart enough to make that happen.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the 7:00 AM post, we can look at unexperienced people even at the school level.
ReplyDeleteThis person uses Michelle Rhee as an example. Well, let's look at an October, 2009 quote from the Washington Post:
'The D.C. schools chancellor has made it especially difficult this month with her layoffs of 229 teachers and 159 other staff workers. She picked a spectacularly bad time, just as the school year was shifting into high gear. She also mishandled the theatrics in such a way that she enraged the unions and D.C. Council even more than she usually does.'
Experiencee is not necessary? True if you want complete chaos...
I don't know anything about Michelle Rhee or about D.C. schools but I do know that if that article is truly from this past October, Michelle Rhee was in good company. Apparently, Seattle was threatening to lay off 2,00-3,000; LA was threatening to layoff 2,300 so it was probably a sign of the times more than an indication of her skills. And no one at the top is liked in those times!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget, Central Office experience can be gained without holding a position and getting paid for it. We all know people who take on more tasks than they are actually responsible for. Those are things a committee, in this case the Board of Education, should look at.
when you speak a bout transforming a school in norwalk take a closer look at the data...take a closer look at the population, take a closer look at subgroups, and numbers of students that "supposedly" moved forward. when a plan speaks of 50% of students will achieve in a particular group, are you aware that 50% really was only 6 students...and we say no child will be left behind!
ReplyDeleteyes,i do believe someone can learn on the job, and that administrators can become supts, without central office experience, but at what price...the remainder of 11,000+students, a very difficult budget year, new boe, and so on...
we need experience in leadership, and vision, and commitment to all students...if it means going outside of the district for talent then so be it--but let's stop putting people on pedestals that they should not be on!
I agree that someone outside the district can be hired. What I believe is that CO experience should not exclude a person. We have people in Norwalk with CO experience who have not proven themselves to be effective, data-driven leaders at any level. It would be a mistake to hand the job over to one of them based merely on the fact that they have the CO "experience" factor.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that we need leadership, vision and commitment to all students.
Whether or not you choose to put an individual on a pedestal is your right but everyone has the right to choose who they admire. If people choose to admire someone who brings a positive vision of change to a school and then proceeds to make it happen, then so be it. It is not your place to tell someone who they can or cannot admire. That's not your call.
i think we are agreeing a lot on the same things and yet having a difference of opinion is ok as well. it is definitely my intention to not tell people who should or should not be put to high esteem. my point is that many comments here relate to an individual that seems to be identified as a tranformer,and all I am saying is check out the real data...if we constantly are looking at data then read deeper...data is manipulative. leadership should not be.
ReplyDeletenorwalk may have others in the district who are not only certified but and may be qualified and go unnoticed. The Hour recently printed a story about some of them. Let's not limit our search to just 1 or 2. Maybe those certified and qualified will put themselves forward for consideration. As long as the search committee completes a credible journey in its selection, we can only hope that the right individual is chosen, and the BOE will put their support behind the right candidate.
ReplyDeletelet's hope for the right choice for the right position and at the right time.
ABC- Anyone but(a) Corda clone.
ReplyDeletethere are no corda clones that i can think of except those mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThere is one potential candidate who used to wear a path to the superintendent's office, going there to see him more often than any other person. And then there were the times this person would telephone Sal repeatedly. These two were very close -- until this person realized that it was no longer expedient to be perceived as a member of Sal's team.
ReplyDeleteThis person was also very close to Opdahl and Lang, although anyone suggesting that now would hear a strong denial. It's difficult to deny the truth.
Is it unfair to say that this person was so close to the source of the problem that he might have also been part of the problem?
Just thinking....
7:11 am - How would you know this unless you were sitting in Sal Corda's office or answering his phone?
ReplyDeleteThe search for a superintendent needs to stay with the reqirement that the individual has central office experience and a strong track and diverse leadership record. It is clearly wrong for Ms. haynie to recommend that the central office experienc e be removed from the experience and qualifications. Doesn't that pont to someone in particular in the district???
ReplyDeleteWe need a perrson with experience, who understand and knows urban education, who has a track record of a diverse leadership background, and who has the interests of all children in Norwalk?
The community has spoken, the parent forum has verbalized their desires, and we still want to change the superintdendent requirements...let's move on.
ReplyDeleteit is clearly recognized that a superintendent candidate must have central office experience. this has been spoken, written, published...with that in mind let's get the right one on board...
let's get one with the experience that matches the requirements, that fits the district, that understands the needs of the students,and communicate well with the community leaders, FBO's, parents, and civic leaders as well. we need a superintendent not afriad of saying no, a superintendent who is comfortable in their position, and can work with a Board that will support the superintendent's decisions, and will carry out their role as defined and also support the policies that govern our district.
It seems that some of the new BOE members would like to choose a candidate and want the requirements changed to reflect central office experience not necessary. If we do that it will compromise all the work that has been done,will ignore parent and community and staff and interim supt. recommendations. If this individual is the middle school principal--let's move on. Look closely at the stats...look closely at the percents...look closely at the wording used in speaking about students who are considered academic threats. also, with regard to NCLB--this middle school is in its fourth year of improvement.
ReplyDeleteIt is not my position to support any one candidate over another--just the right one with the right qualifications.