THE SUPERINTENDENT’S ROLE

The Superintendent serves as the professional advisor to the Board. She is responsible for implementing all decisions made by the Board of Education, and for demonstrating effective leadership in the following areas: District's day-to-day operations, fiscal responsibility and management, the achievement of the District’s vision, all other District matters, including working with the City, County, State, and Community.

VISION STATEMENT OF SUPERINTENDENT

Framework of Action to Achieve the Superintendent's Vision

Goals of the District

June, 2006

• Narrow and close the achievement gap in English Language Arts and Mathematics between our lowest performing students (African Americans, Latino and English learners, and Special Education students) and our highest performing students
• Align the spending plan with educational objectives while ensuring the highest and best use of limited resources and long-term solvency
• Ensure all students will be in educational environments that are safe and conducive to learning
• Recruit and retain highly qualified and diverse staff and provide systems of support for and recognition of all employees

CORE BELIEFS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

All people can learn and every person has value

It takes a whole community to raise a child

All students have the right to equal access to quality teaching and learning in order to have equitable outcomes

Individuals are accountable and responsible for their behavior

Respect for self and others is essential to our interactions and relationships

Diversity enriches and strengthens our lives

We must work collaboratively to create and maintain a learning community focused on equity and the continuous improvement of the teaching and learning process and environment

• The core purpose of our work is the academic achievement of all of our students in the classroom
• All employees must be involved in the continuous improvement of the teaching and learning process and environment
• All employees are role models for our students
• All employees work in concert to improve the academic achievement of all students
• All employees ensure the safety of all students
• All employees are essential and respected for their contribution to our core responsibility and mission – teaching and learning

STUDENTS

• All students must have equitable opportunities to learn
• All students must have support to reach their highest academic potential
• All students must be provided safe, engaging and challenging learning environments
• All discipline action will fit the offense and will be progressive – behavior is learned and we are in the business of teaching
• Students should be involved in setting goals and making decisions about their learning needs and their plans for involving their future

DECISIONS

• Decisions are aligned with our vision to have all students achieve at high levels while closing the achievement gap
• Effective decisions by a group include dialogue and/or discussion before a decision is made. Decisions are always made in the best interest of our students
• Decisions are made to maximize learning in a safe environment for all students
• Decisions will be made at the lowest level possible
• Decisions must be based on a sound rationale that is data based
• Decisions need to be implemented/evaluated and adjusted based on data
• All administrators will be held accountable for implementing district decisions
• Complaints/concerns will be addressed at the lowest level including complaints about books, supplies, and safety
• The Superintendent has the responsibility to make a decision when a consensus cannot be reached as well as the right to make a decision without consensus

SCHOOL DISTRICT, PARENTS/GUARDIANS, STUDENTS, & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

• The school district parents/guardians, students and community are partners in ensuring the safety and academic success of all students
• As partners, we respect and embrace the diversity within our community and will reach out to include all voices from our schools (parent/student groups, school site councils) and community partners to ensure all students are successful in reaching their highest academic potential
• Parents/guardians and their students should be involved in setting goals and making decisions about the learning needs and plans involving their student’s future
• As partners, we work together to ensure the safety and academic achievement of all our students
• As partners, we must continuously assess the perceptions of our parents, students and community in regards to the services AUSD delivers
• The ultimate evaluation of AUSD (individually and collectively) will be based on how well our students perform academically

FISCAL/FINANCIAL

• All expenditures of funds/resources must be aligned to our vision to have all students achieve at high levels while closing the achievement gap
• All resources must be expended to ensure/establish an equitable educational system
• Fiscal resources are to be expended to benefit the most students
• Funds need to be expended within a plan that has a long-term effect on students achievement and capital improvements to benefit students
• All programs must be evaluated using data to determine if they are moving toward our vision to have all students achieve at high levels while closing the achievement gap

EVALUATION

• All employees must be supported, coached and evaluated on a regular basis
• Evaluation for all employees will be respectfully based on improving performance
• All site administrators must demonstrate instructional leadership in the areas of assessing effective instructional practices, building collaborative relationships and learning communities as well as coaching staff to support improved academic achievement for all students
• All central office administrators will support site administrators in accomplishing the district vision to have all students achieve at high levels while closing the achievement gap

RECRUITMENT/RETAINMENT OF EMPLOYEES

• AUSD will develop and implement a plan to have the work force represent the diversity of our student body
• Our recruitment goal is to continue to obtain the most qualified staff at all levels
• Our commitment is to retain our high quality staff by providing respect, equitable support and opportunities for professional growth

In support of this vision, the Management Team adopted Meeting Norms.

The Superintendent is using this research paper to support her theory of action on implementing the vision. The research paper focuses on District Improvement practices.

During 2006/07 school year, the Superintendent conducted a series of "coffees" to allow employees and parents to express their opinions about improving Alameda Unified School District. At the end of the year, the Superintendent issued her impressions of the 2006-07 school year.

The Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services delivered a presentation on her Vision for English learners at February, 2007 District English Learner Advisory Committee meeting.

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Last modified: June, 2007

Disclaimer: This website is the sole responsibility of Mike McMahon. It does not represent any official opinions, statement of facts or positions of the Alameda Unified School District. Its sole purpose is to disseminate information to interested individuals in the Alameda community.