Goodloe-Johnson Not Wasting TIme Filling Posts
This article appeared in a recent issue of the Charleston Post-Courier. The principal at one of the top magnet schools in Charleston has applied and been okayed as the new Director of Instruction at SPS. From the article:
"Tolley's job in Seattle will be similar to that of an associate superintendent's position here. He will oversee the district's high schools and lead their reform efforts. Taking the job had nothing to do with any dissatisfaction in Charleston, he said, but rather the job appealed to him because it was an opportunity to influence the education of a larger number of students. It's also an opportunity to advance his career, he said."
Also:
"He became the principal of Academic Magnet about three years ago and has worked to strengthen its curriculum and preparation of students for Advanced Placement courses.
"Goodloe-Johnson also has contacted the district's chief of finance and administrative services, Don Kennedy, and asked him to consider a similar position in Seattle. Kennedy said he's asked for more information about the job, but their preliminary discussions aren't near the point of negotiating a contract."
Boy, grass doesn't grow under her feet. Mr. Tolley sounds good. My initial reaction is a mixture of "is she trying to surround herself with only people she knows (and who will follow her without reservation)?" or " is she trying to shake up the culture at the Stanford Center (long overdue in my mind)? Time will tell.
"Tolley's job in Seattle will be similar to that of an associate superintendent's position here. He will oversee the district's high schools and lead their reform efforts. Taking the job had nothing to do with any dissatisfaction in Charleston, he said, but rather the job appealed to him because it was an opportunity to influence the education of a larger number of students. It's also an opportunity to advance his career, he said."
Also:
"He became the principal of Academic Magnet about three years ago and has worked to strengthen its curriculum and preparation of students for Advanced Placement courses.
In his time there, the school's enrollment has grown, and students often take more than the required four Advanced Placement classes. The school has been ranked No. 10 nationally for two consecutive years by Newsweek magazine, which uses a formula that measures how many students tackle and complete challenging curriculums."
Also from the article:"Goodloe-Johnson also has contacted the district's chief of finance and administrative services, Don Kennedy, and asked him to consider a similar position in Seattle. Kennedy said he's asked for more information about the job, but their preliminary discussions aren't near the point of negotiating a contract."
Boy, grass doesn't grow under her feet. Mr. Tolley sounds good. My initial reaction is a mixture of "is she trying to surround herself with only people she knows (and who will follow her without reservation)?" or " is she trying to shake up the culture at the Stanford Center (long overdue in my mind)? Time will tell.
Comments
Am guessing (and hoping) it's that she has proven performers and she knows who she needs with her in the foxhole (or on the bus, or whatever the latest euphemism is)
I hope she's as action-oriented as the move on Marshall principal Drake seems to indicate. Can we dare to hope?
The CACIEE report suggested making wider searches for senior staff people.
We have seen what some of the thorough searches have produced, and it's not all good.
Go Goodloe!!!!
It is rather ignorant of you to think that hiring someone who led one of the top ten high schools in the nation is "raiding" rather than taking advantage of the talent pool that Dr. G-J may have influence over because of her past job. More power to her!!!
"Establishing an executive search process aimed at recruiting outstanding talent to the District (including principals), which, among other activities, would consider retaining executive search firms for senior level
positions;"
I guess recruiting talent from a pool that Gooloe has already worked with could be considered "among other activities"
Also of note the work CONSIDER retainint exectutive search firm. Doesn't say it must happen, just a consideration.
I think Goodloe-J is right on target, and if I were in her shoes, I would do the exact same thing. She is moving quickly, which is opposite of the tiring "Seattle Process" that we are all used to. It is going to ruffle some feathers but hopefully she doesn't get sucked into Seattle's whining. She seems like the type that will hold tight and stand strong.
She rocks!
Just what the doctor ordered!
"She probably saved the district some $$$$ too in conducting a search, interviewing, and wasting a lot of peoples time.
We have seen what some of the thorough searches have produced, and it's not all good.
Go Goodloe!!!!"
"I think Goodloe-J is right on target, and if I were in her shoes, I would do the exact same thing. She is moving quickly, which is opposite of the tiring "Seattle Process" that we are all used to. It is going to ruffle some feathers but hopefully she doesn't get sucked into Seattle's whining. She seems like the type that will hold tight and stand strong.
She rocks!"
"I am so thankful to bid farewell to "The Seattle Process". It is about time someone rolls up their sleeves, and digs in. She is acting with lightning speed, and I am behind her 100%."
I hope the warm feelings about her leadership persist when she makes a decision that upsets y'all and then she doesn't back down from it because your complaints are just "Seattle whining" and her plan is the right thing to do.
She doesn't rock for me until she actually makes a decision on a controversial subject. Then we'll see.
I think that how Dr. GJ handles the new student assignment plan will give us a really good idea on how good a leader she is. No matter how that plays out, there will be folks who are unhappy with the results. How she makes decisions in a polarized environment and how she deals with the people left unhappy will tell us a lot.
And, if you read the PI, there was a factor of people unhappy with the removal of Mr. Drake.
The Superintendent should provide (hopefully substantive) input and recommendations into the plan. Yes, it is ultimately the school board who has to approve it, but Dr. G-J's leadership skills should be on full display when the details of the plan are being worked out.
Every decision is going to upset somebody or some group. I'm sure that I will not like all of the decisions that she makes, however, I understand that for progress to happen, tough decisions have to be made, and not everyone will be pleased.
I am just so happy that we finally have a leader with a back bone. It's about time!! Hopefully she doesn't cave to the negativity, board room scenes, and pouting that Seattle is sure to fling at her.