BTB: What are your principals in these accomplished schools doing differently to achieve results?

They know the craft of schooling and care tremendously about the kids and staff. They are competitive, take pride in being number one, and work around-the-clock to be the best. These people are charismatic and have vision, as well as a sense of mission. Additionally, each school is in many ways an oasis to our community, and our principals recognize the value of reaching out to strengthen community ties to help their kids succeed. Students are required to engage in community projects twice a year.

BTB: We understand that your district just merged with a low-performing district, giving you only two weeks to place 2,400 students, sign principals, and hire teachers before school begins.

This is the most challenging assignment I have faced as an administrator, but we are all looking forward to welcoming these students because these are the kids that need to be educated the most. This process is bringing out the best in these principals. They are committed to making this happen and are working 24/7, creating schedules overnight. You can imagine the logistics—from ordering furniture to ordering textbooks. We need to be ready and I feel good that we will be, but it can keep you awake at night.

BTB: What are the most pressing issues that you are facing right now?

Well, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is certainly top on the list, and finding qualified teachers that can effectively teach math and science is another. Often, teachers have not majored in these subjects.

I think the greatest challenge, though, is the whole attitude that kids bring to school these days. The pride in learning is just not there like it used to be. The smartest kids are dumbing down their skills and choosing not to use their talents to their full potential. I’d say this trend has been happening over the last ten years and is more pronounced in the urban setting. When we look at the achievement of our kids around the nation, in terms of math and science, it doesn’t match the other indicators that say our country is number one in the world. We have a serious issue in public education when we need to import mathematicians and scientists to fill positions in our workforce.

BTB: We know that you are a chess enthusiast, which requires the ability to think and plan strategically. Do you have any tips or advice that you would you like to share with a new superintendent?

Chess teaches critical thinking skills. With so much focus on testing, we need to provide kids with opportunities to think critically. Students need to find strength within themselves to think problems through. Remember the game Battleship? You need to approach your responsibilities as superintendent in same way you would play Battleship. Be sure to think and move strategically so that our public schools won’t get sunk.

To do this job, you need to see it as a mission, and when you are on a mission, there are never enough hours in the day. I had to learn that the hard way, but you need to make time to refresh yourself. You must plan your work and work your plan. When kids come back to school in August, you can’t shoot from the hip and see what happens, you need to start planning in June.

Be sure to let data help with planning. We’ll look at things like teacher absences that may indicate why scores are down. Data can be your best friend or your worst enemy when test scores are printed in the paper. Do yourself a favor and use data in your pre-planning.

The other thing I’d say to someone in a leadership role is that you have to take care of your people. They need stroking and reinforcement. I hold drawings in meetings and everyone gets so excited that they turn into little kids. It could be Popsicle sticks that I’m giving away, but it gets people energized. They are all people, with all the drama that goes along with being a person. As a leader you are there to pick them up when they need it. You need to take care of your people so they can take care of the students.

BTB: Can you tell us more about the community partnerships that the district has put into place?

When I was a principal, I was shy but I knew that if I wanted to get more things for my kids, I needed to go outside the school for them. I found that people want to offer support to schools, but often don’t know how to. Sometimes it just happens through chance encounters, but you need to show first-hand how the money is making a difference. For example, one day I got a call from someone mentioning they would like to make a one-time donation of $10,000. As a follow up, I invited the contributors to the schools to see how far the money was stretched and they were shocked. Today, they now volunteer in our schools and donate $5,000 every year.

Before I was shy, now I’m always asking!

Today, we work with several foundations, including the After-School All-Stars organization. Todd Wagner of Yahoo.com fame, the Todd Wagner Foundation, and others, sponsor Dallas in this program which focuses on afterschool time when many youths get involved in nonproductive behavior while their parents are still at work. Through After-School All-Stars, kids can participate in golf, chess, computer, and other programs. Many local golf pros even take our kids out to courses around the Dallas area. There are several other foundations that we have been working with to offer computers to Dallas families, and SAT preparation for juniors and seniors.

BTB: If you had a magic wand that could instantly solve problems, which issues in education would you choose to wave it over?

There are three things. Competitive pay is one. Teacher pay has to be competitive with other professions so that we begin attracting and retaining great people. It’s easier to make a better living in another industry. For example, my friend’s daughter just graduated from school and is making $40,000 in private industry. This is significantly more than the salary that many new teachers are expected to survive on.

The second is a thirst for knowledge—the love of learning from the community. When I was growing up and report cards came out, there were ten folks asking how you did. I don’t see the same thing happening today, but more than ever, students need positive encouragement to do well in school. We need people to be cheerleaders for public education.

The third issue I’d like to wave my magic wand over is the role of leadership in our schools. School leaders need a burning desire for the well being of kids, and too often, we let too many kids just get by.

BTB: Any good books on your desk? What do you turn to for inspiration?

I’m a big John Maxwell fan—he was a former minister so he brings many qualities of humanism to his work. Someone just gave me The Art of War, probably thinking that I need it in this job [laughing]! As a Christian woman, I take refuge in literature such as the Bible—like the story about Joseph coming out of the pit. My membership with the American Society of Curriculum Directors (ASCD) has also been a helpful resource. I read anything I can get my hands on.

BTB: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Whether you’re at the top or bottom, you’ll always have another mountain to climb. Struggling schools need to meet AYP. Successful schools will want to win Blue Ribbon awards. It’s our commitment to the mission of education that will allow us to reach the top of each mountain.

Thomas Jefferson said we do not have democracy without educated people. The democracy we enjoy is precious, but fragile. The very survival of this thing called America depends on how we succeed in, and serve, public education.