Another Superintendent Bites the Dust

In March, when I was appointed Interim Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, the District was in crisis. I was tasked with assembling the very best team of professionals to help lead this District, create transparency, improve communication and restore trust between families, the community and Seattle Public Schools. 
I am incredibly proud of the work our students, teachers, principals and staff have accomplished over the past 10 months. Seattle is fortunate to have such a team of dedicated educational professionals. The progress we have made is significant Seattle Public Schools students outperformed the state average in every tested subject in Grades 3-8; Our four-year graduation rate is up from 67 percent to 73 percent in the last year; Our overall school performance is increasing, with 27 schools increasing their overall performance level during 2010-11;  Enrollment is on the rise; an Our city passed yet another Families and Education levy that will provide essential supports to our students.While I am proud of what we have accomplished together, today I am announcing my decision to neither seek nor accept the permanent position of superintendent after my contract ends in June. This was not an easy decision for me to make given my commitment to Seattle and to our students. I wish the school board well in their search for a new superintendent, and will work with the new appointee to ensure a smooth transition for our staff, students and families. It is my sincere hope that the board will continue to build on our successes to date and continue the momentum we have built. I believe strongly that losing this momentum would be a disservice to our students and staff. 
Our work here is far from over. Continuing to improve outcomes for all students and attack our achievement gaps will require great principals, great teachers, connected families and community partners and a central office serving schools by supporting high quality teaching and learning in every classroom. Please know that I remain dedicated to Seattle Public Schools and will continue to partner with, and serve you all to the best of my ability in the months ahead. 
While we may hold different opinions on how to best serve our students, we must remember they are counting on us to fulfill our mission of ensuring that they are prepared for college, career and life. It is essential that we discipline ourselves to keep this mission—and our students—at the forefront of all we do, and not allow adult issues, egos and politics to stand in the way. 
I want to thank you for your support. I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the students and community of Seattle. 
Sincerely
Susan
Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools

This is the letter that Dr. Susan Enfield wrote and sent out to district employees.  Here is my response by Nick Esparza:
Well Dr. Enfield I am more than please you are resigning as the superintendent at the end of the year.  It seems like Christmas and New Years came early.  I find it really interesting that you say the district has done a better job with the graduation rate.  You said that graduation rate is up from 67 percent to 73 percent.  Yes that is an improvement but not by much.  You came from being the chief academic officer and pushed to not spend money on Summer School and drop it altogether.  So you have not increased the graduation rate but rather decreased it.
You of all people should know that when kids do not graduate and get into trouble and become incarcerated that we the people of Seattle pay for it later.  Due to the districts faulty budgeting and not finding money for alternative programs and making sure kids graduate, we now have a higher drop out rate.  I am now pleased to hear you are hitting the yellow brick road.
You spend a lot of time talking about closing the achievement gap in your interim as a superintendent. It does appear that you and your lack of leadership have widened the achievement gap.
Some places I think you have failed the taxpayers and students are:
1. Not funding summer school
2. Trying to make a terrible graduation rate seem like a great thing
3. Teach for America and 5 week trainees
4. Financial mismanagement and financial stewardship and your inability to run a district effectively
5. Lastly, you were never a superintendent in the past, had no experience and did a poor job
Basically you argue that our enrollment is on the rise.  But you have not found out how to effectively not over enroll students and help to create an effective learning environment.  You as an academic individual should know that when schools are over crowded it is hard for teacher to teach and students to learn. Your answer is to hire more administrators and make costs larger.  But admins the last time I checked do not instruct or teach classes.
You have also gotten rid of school counselors and instructional assistants.  Also, you have not provided students with text books.  I think that the other screw up was you were not effective in your hiring staff.  All the people you hired were new trainees.  Nobody is held accountable for mismanagement under your leadership.  There is always somebody else to blame it on.
However, there will be some people whom will miss you in the Seattle School District.  That would be the ineffective leadership of the Seattle Education Association.    I am sure Johnathan Knapp will miss you dearly because he will have to cozy up to another superintendent.  
Lastly, Stand for children and Teach for America will also miss you.  But I bid you a fond farewell.  Hopefully you have as much fun screwing up the next school.  Because you have an impressive resume.  

Best of luck in your future,
http://seattleschooldistrictexposed.com/3/previous/2.htmlNick Esparza