Category Archives: Superintendent Search

•  DeKalb Schools Superintendent Search
•  Timeline for 2014-2015
•  Letter From PCU – Community Leaders
•  Letter From PCU – Best Practices
•  Message From State Rep Scott Holcomb
•  Message From DeKalb CEO Lee May

PROACT was hired as the superintendent search firm at the 12/17/2014 board meeting.  PROACT gave an update at the 01/12/2015 board meeting. Since December, they have been working with DeKalb Schools Chief of Staff, Ramona Tyson, and her staff to identify key members of the community as well as identify locales, times and schedules for public engagement sessions.
Dozens of community meetings are being scheduled for the first two weeks in February. PROACT is also working with the central office to put together an online survey.

Various members of the community have asked that the administration step away from the process and follow best practices by letting a community search committee drive the search.  Atlanta Public Schools had a successful superintendent search using a committee composed of stakeholders that included parents, board members, community representatives and business leaders.  DeKalb’s Parent Councils United (PCU) has called for DCSD to use a similar method and cited the APS Superintendent Search Committee Framework saying,

“I just wanted to pass along the attached APS document regarding their superintendent search. One important note: they asked their selection committee to assist the BOE in managing the search firm rather than asking the search firm to manage the selection committee. This is also the model that has been successful for other systems across the country. “

THE ATLANTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH COMMITTEE
PURPOSE AND FRAMEWORK
Purpose
1. To manage the Superintendent Search Firm
2. To create a timeline for the search process
3. Identify 3 – 5 candidates for the Board’s screening
4. Create an atmosphere for community input
5. Assist/guide the Board in introducing the final candidates to the community
Composition
The Board agreed on a 13 member committee that represents an inclusive and broad population of stakeholders.
1. THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE (1)
2. PARENT ORGANIZATIONS ( ONE PERSON TO REPRESENT ALL OF THE PARENT ORGANIZATIONS) (1)
a. THE ORGANIZATIONS WILL SUBMIT ONE RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL REPRESENT THEIR COLLECTIVE INTEREST AND STAKEHOLDERS.

• Council of Intown Neighborhoods and Schools (CINS)
  – (Grady Cluster)
• Southeast Atlanta Communities for Schools (SEACS)
  – (Jackson Cluster)
• SW and NW Atlanta Parents and Partners for Schools (SNAPPS)
  – (Mays, Washington, Therrell and Douglass Clusters)
• North Atlanta Parents for Public Schools (NAPPS)
  – (North Atlanta Clusters)
• Embracing Mays Community and Cluster Schools (ECM2)
  – (Mays Cluster)

3. TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTATIVE (1)
4. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE (1)
5. ATLANTA COUNCIL OF PTAS (1)
6 THROUGH 9 – MEMBERS CHOSEN THROUGH BOARD VOTE (4)
a. MEMBERS WILL SUBMIT 3 NAMES W/QUALIFICATIONS FOR RANKING AND CONSIDERATION REPRESENTING
i. DR. CYNTHIA KUHLMAN
ii. MR. ERNEST GREER
iii. DR. BEVERLY TATUM
iv. MS. ANN CRAMER
10 THROUGH 13 BOARD CHAIR’S CHOICE (4)
a. THE BOARD CHAIR WILL APPOINT 3 BOARD MEMBERS AND 1 AD HOC MEMBER
i. EMMETT JOHNSON, AT-LARGER SEAT 9
ii. CECILY HARSCH-JOHNSON, DISTRICT 3
iii. COURTNEY ENGLISH. AT-LARGE SEAT 7
iv. WILLIAM ‘BILL’ ROGERS, CEO SUNTRUST BANK

• Letter from PCU
• Message from Scott Holcomb

At the 12/17/2014 School Board meeting, the board hired PROACT to provide superintendent search services.  The question now up for debate is exactly what services PROACT will provide and what part the community will play in the superintendent selection.
DeKalb’s Parent Councils United (PCU) released a statement recommending a Candidate Selection Committee saying, “Please consider inviting [these community leaders] to your work session and including them in your deliberations.”
State Representative Scott Holcomb echoed PCU’s sentiments saying, “[PCU] is recommending that the BOE appoint a Candidate Selection Committee, comprised of recognized community leaders. Doing so would indicate that DeKalb County is ready to move ahead using best search practices by partnering with key stakeholders. ”

Lee May, Interim Chief Executive Officer DeKalb County, spoke to the board at public comments and yesterday sent this letter to the DeKalb Schools Board and administration.
Interim Chief Executive Officer DeKalb County
Lee May
January 13, 2015
To: Dr. Melvin Johnson, Chairman
CC: James McMahan, Stan Jester, Marshall Orson, Dr. Michael Erwin, Vickie Turner, Dr. Joyce Morley; Board Members and Michael Thurmond, Superintendent
RE: Superintendent Search
Dear DeKalb Board of Education,
I pray all is well as you receive this message. I want to applaud and thank you for your leadership and commitment to our DeKalb County scholars as you embark on the selection process for the new DeKalb County School Superintendent. This decision will help determine the future and quality of education in DeKalb for decades to come. As CEO and a member of the Governing Authority, I am equally as concerned about education in our County. The quality of our school system has everything to do with the quality of life in our dear county.
I believe the process of this selection is also critical in the ultimate decision you will make. I believe broad public input into the process will help with community support of your ultimate candidate.
With that being said, I am offering my recommendation concerning the process and external participation in this process.
I recommend the creation of a selection committee that would interview the list of candidates offered by PROACT. The selection committee would then forward to the Board of Education a short list of 3 candidates to consider for a final selection.
The selection committee would consist of 14 members and be comprised of the following:
2 Board of Education members
1 Superintendent Michael Thurmond
1 DeKalb County CEO
1 DeKalb County Board of Commissioner
1 DeKalb Chamber of Commerce member
1 DeKalb Development Authority member
1 DeKalb State Representative
1 DeKalb State Senator
1 DeKalb PTSA member
1 ODE member
1 NAACP member
1 Leadership DeKalb member
1 Georgia Association of Educators member
This is a watershed moment in our county’s history and the decision we make today will have an impact for years to come. I thank you for your consideration of this proposal. This proposal allows for a broader base of input and support in the selection of this critical position.
Yours in service,
Lee May
Interim CEO, DeKalb County Government