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Susan Marks Appointed New Superintendent
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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About Me
- Moina Noor
- I’m a freelance journalist and have written about education for the Connecticut section of the New York Times. I have also been a regular contributor to the Stamford Advocate. In addition to education, I’ve written about community affairs, food, health, and the arts. I went to school in Norwalk during the 1970s and 1980s -- Wolfpit, Nathan Hale, and Norwalk High (Class of ’88). I attended Smith College and studied Political Science. After many years away, I returned to Norwalk four years ago. I have three childen--two attend Columbus Magnet School. Contact me at norwalknet@gmail.com.
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GREAT DAY FOR NORWALK'S KIDS AND US TAXPAYERS.
ReplyDeleteIf the principal, parents and teacher on that visitation team and 7 members of the school board all agreed that Dr. Marks was the right choice, then let's support Norwalk's first female superintendent.
Well someone is making progress.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, excellent. Yes WE CAN!
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2010/04/rhee_wtu_agree_to_tentative_co.html
Go Rhee!! Go, GO, GO!!!!
Did anyone notice that the paper even got today's temperature high wrong?
ReplyDeleteRead carefully the words used by the team who visited Dr. Marks' colleagues...
“There was a consistent message from everyone that we spoke to that Dr. Marks is incredibly hard working, collaborative, highly visible, and centered around what is best for children,” said Ivette Ellis, the Principal of Silvermine Elementary who traveled to Maryland to vet Marks. Board member Susan Hamilton agreed. “It was great to see the energy down there and watch her colleagues celebrate this woman. Her sensitivity, strength, and courage.” Board Member Halsey said that Montgomery County is 38 percent white. "Marks welcomes diversity, she understands diversity," she said.
Where are the words VISION, LEADERSHIP, INTELLIGENCE, ABILITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS??????
I wish Dr. Marks all the luck in the world. She is going to need it.
Hey, 2:37 PM-- just so I get this right, praise that talks about "energy", "sensitivity" and "courage", aren't the adjectives you'd want.
ReplyDeleteListen, you're not playing MadLibs. The woman's got great skills-- if she's being "celebrated", then that's got to mean she's been a good leader.
I don't know about you, but I didn't see any parade or "celebration" being thrown for Corda or Papaload on their way out of Dodge.
^ lol! Thanks for bringing 2:37 down to reality!
ReplyDeleteWell, did anyone take the time to "experience" Corda's history or did he simply sell his wares on paper?
ReplyDeleteLook... not to burst your bubble, but let's be real here. If someone wants to get rid of a problem in a district, you would not expect them to talk trash. The goal is to get them OUT. Caution is a lesson we should have learned by now. I understand the need to snap up a leader, but this is a long term commitment. Courtship precedes marriage and we have had very little. Let's not jump on 2:37 for expressing a view that others most definitely share. Besides, why the defensive attitude?
Thanks 4:37! I didn't take the 4:13 comment seriously, though. some people just don't want to go beyond the surface of what is presented to them.
ReplyDeleteI just hope that what the team saw was not a 'celebration' of getting Dr. Marks out of her district.
My daughter-in-law's school district just got rid of their superintendent by praising him to the visiting team. Her comment to me was to be very aware if the praise was too good to be true.
The truth will out in the end....Let's hope the taxpayers won't be buying out still another retiree-from-another-district's contract.
My sister in law lives in the Maryland school district that is losing Marks and they are devastated to be losing her. According to my sister in law, who has 3 children in the school system (1 in hs, 2 in elementary) Marks is a wonderful leader, listener, rational decision maker and is well known and well liked throughout the community. I welcome her to Norwalk!
ReplyDeleteMontgomery County was named one of 5 finalists for the Broad Prize in Urban Education. Check out the fact sheet on why they were selected for this very prestigious prize, including academic achievement gains for minorities and low income students: http://www.broadprize.org/asset/prizecity/36.pdf.I am more than willing to give Dr. Marks a chance in Norwalk, given the feedback from the team visit, the Broad prize, and info like the previous poster provided. More than that, I'm looking forward to actively building a productive relationship with her.
ReplyDeleteEach time I read the posts here, my mood ring keeps flashing green-yellow, so I guess I must be confused.
ReplyDeleteHow have some of us devolved into a conspiracy mindset that suggests that all of Montgomery County desperate to rid themselves of the "retiree" will say anything. [Maybe someone can tell me when they learned that Marks had retired-- last I heard she was working]. You have to believe that if Marks can orchestrate that great a coordinated effort, she'd be a great leader. But, I will be re-reading the Warren Report because I suspect it's only a matter of time before 4:37 puts Marks on the grassy knoll in Dealey Plaza.
Can anyone tell me what kind of "courtship" we were supposed to have? Should she have sent every Norwalk resident flowers? Asked our parents for permission to lead our children's schools?
What's really selling me is that, from what I've read about the meeting she was appointed, none of the BoardWatchers came out to oppose her-- if they aren't objecting to her, that tells me alot.
Like Mrs. ONeill and the 8:36 poster, I'm excited that we'll have our first woman superintendent-- that sends a great message to our daughters. I like hearing that rank and file families in MD know Marks and will miss her and I think that the five women we sent to MD all have too much savy to have been bamboozled by smoke and mirrors.
How is Montgomery County, the wealthiest county in Maryland "urban"?
ReplyDeleteAre you all aware of the relationship between Montgomery County Public Schools and the Broad organization?
Montgomery County isn't urban enough? Well, as I recall, Ralph Sloane came to Norwalk from Simsbury, which isn't urban at all. Even now, it is a largely white and fairly affluent district. People I know are almost unanimous in saying that Dr. Sloane was one of the best superintendents Norwalk has ever had.
ReplyDeleteMake no assumption that Dr. Marks can't make the transition to Norwalk.
Big deal on the Broad Prize. Bridgeport was a finalist not too long ago. How eager are you to turn to Bridgeport as a model of how to lead our schools system?
ReplyDeleteRalph Sloan came to Norwalk many years ago. The poverty rate, based on free and reduced lunches, was quite different then.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ralph Sloan was one of the best superintendents Norwalk has ever had. He was a great orator and extremely intelligent. But, in the end, he couldn't handle the changes that were occurring in Norwalk, especially with the strength of the unions.
In the end, he couldn't handle the board of education, which pushed him under a bus when he tried to transfer some elementary principals.
ReplyDeleteNorwalk then was still a far cry from Simsbury, and yet Ralph did a great job.
There was only one Ralph Sloan. He was an exceptional superintendent. I don't think anyone like him exists anymore.
ReplyDeleteRalph Sloan was a great superintendent and a gentleman. But please everyone - times have changed! The decline in our curriculum, the abuse from some of our retired principals (male and female) and the nonsense from some of our former supervisors (science, math, social studies, music) all took place during his tenure. Let's not canonize him.
ReplyDeleteRalph Sloan was a good superintendent. He lived in town, was very visible, a good speaker, and showed up at lots of school, community, and church events.
ReplyDeleteBut he let some elementary principals get away with horribly abuse behavior. We remember.
He let the curriculum slide into a terrible state. We remember.
He let a couple of retired supervisors get away with not working when they should, and some other nonsense. Despite the editorials, we remember.
Things were very different then. The demographics have changed, the poverty rate has changed, and teaching has changed.
Let's not canonize him.
Everyone take a breath.
ReplyDeleteAll together now, in,in,in - hold it, now exhale.
Repeat.
Great everyone feel better?
Think everyone is feeling a bit skepticle and frightened and even angry.
Thats all okay.
No one should be shooting anyone down for expressing their feelings and/or concerns.
If we could get Glen to let Jack have the mic or let Steve communicate freely to all of us very concerned parents, it would go along way to alievate some of the anxiety that is very apparent.
Someone suggested having BOE doing inpromptu unanounced visits to see for themselves.
Think thats an excellent suggestion.
Would give them insight that could be very helpful and perhaps give them a reference point for Marks.
Wanna wager, none will.
Its the supers job, the building guys job, there are contractual considerations, my foot hurts, the sky is falling, the dog ate my oath of office, so, no one can force us.
and so it goes.....
Anyway,
What the immediate focus should be is some kind of built in stepped level of expected accomplishments for Dr. Marks contract. With solid parameters and a "get out fast' clause for the district if this doesnt work out. Took too much pain and suffering with Corda. Lesson learned, right everyone? We are paying big and we want big results fast, no finger pointing, no excuses, put the helemt on and rock and roll for the students.
We could be making a huge error here.
Cover our flanks, if we drop a half million on her and she realises its too much, what do we get but more lost oppotunities and time, not to mention the mula involved.
Lets all just take it slow and do it right.
In the interim, yall break out the megaphones and email, email, email, Cafreo and Duff to get moving up there on that legislation HB- 5421 and 5425. Have to move people. clocks running out for RTTT money and it IS really big money thats available.
3.4 billion, - thats with a "B" people, is in the pot.
Lets get moving, everyone remind Larry and Bob, we are watching.
Take the time its important.
copy and paste in your email and let them know you want them to get off their the butts and get this done immediately.
lawrence.cafero@housegop.ct.gov
Duff@senatedems.ct.gov
You have the power to make a difference.
Use your power.
Let them hear you loud and clear.
Now is the time.
Yes, Sloan allowed the abuse from some now retired principals...especially from one female principal with weight...
ReplyDeleteThe point is that this new appointee will show her true self to staff well before the public knows what is really happening. The truth is, if she comes in carrying a hatchet before she gets to know people and the system, then she is a mistake from the first moment she walks in. Watch out Norwalk! Look for the hatchet...I'll bet it's there from day one.
Okay, this is becoming truly nuts.
ReplyDelete3:09, you don't think that Marks has been told to go in and get rid of certain people? No she's not a 'hatchet man,' she's a 'hatchet woman.' I'll bet she is planning already on how to get rid of certain people before she even meets them.
ReplyDelete6:04 - I have absolutely no evidence that she has been told to get rid of anyone, and neither do you. If wild speculation suits you, then fine, but would you want to be judged that way?
ReplyDeleteI've read BOE member Erin Halsey's comment about Susan Marks after the site visit. Did anyone hear from Naramake Sue Daignault? How about the lone parent who went along on the trip?
ReplyDelete9:58, it isn't wild speculation. Watch and see, and if it's not true, after 6 months I'll be back to apologize for my error. I promise you that.
ReplyDelete3:11 - Then: (a) You've talked to her? (b) You've talked to a board member who told you that her purpose is to clean house? (c) You're a board member who told her that?
ReplyDeleteThe answer is: (d) none of the above, because you have no basis for your accusation.
Norwalk thrives on rumors, and they run wild through the third floor of city hall, as well as through the schools. People at city hall begin their rumors with a certain tone of authority, but there is as much nonsense coming from those offices as there is from anywhere else. With all of the serious issues facing the schools, I'd like to think that they would spend more of their time on serious pursuits.
"Cleaning house" as a major assignment for a superintendent usually ends up a failure. Look at Victor Herbert, who did get his job with that in mind. Moreover, he imported cronies from Arizona and elsewhere to help him do it. And what happened? Norwalk lost at least a couple of lawsuits by administrators who said they had been wronged. What else happened? It was one of the worst times of embarrassment in the already embarrassing history of the Norwalk BoE. Surely you recall the frequent headlines (in The Hour) about the ongoing battles between the Common Council and the BoE, as well as between Herbert and the BoE. Victor was bought out after only one year, and his colleagues left soon afterwards. I've been told that one of them, Greg Riccio, ended up losing a couple of subsequent jobs as well.
I don't give the board much credit, but I do give them credit enough to know better than to do what you have charged.
3:36
ReplyDeleteHow do you know it isn't true?
Let's let it play out and see what happens.
9:17 - How would I prove that something isn't true? Even when it doesn't happen, you can simply say that it was her intent, but that she didn't succeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's for you to tell us why you believe that it IS true.