Another Snippet from My Book, >Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools: Current Condition, Future Prospect< >>>>> Chapter Three: Associate Superintendendents

A Note to My Readers:

 

Below is another snippet from my nearly complete book, Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect.

 

In this article, I present the information given at the Leadership portal of the Minneapolis Pubic Schools website for the people and their roles in the position of associate superintendents.  These staff members employed at the central offices of the Davis Center (1250 West Broadway) are responsible for the academic performance of students at certain schools, with prime responsibility for training principals to oversee programs conducive to better student performance.

 

The comments above and those presented in Chapter Three below are strictly objective.  In the book, I give giving my analysis and commentary on these objective facts.

 

For now, I will offer in this paragraph a spare version of my analysis to come.  The comments conveying that spare version of the analysis are these:

 

1)  The existence of the positions of the associate superintendents is a tacit admission that most principals are inadequately trained for their positions that they occupy in the vital role of

school site leaders.

2)  The associate superintendents each earn $141,500---  a total of $849,000 in a school district that

is operating in the red.  That is a lot of money to pay for staff members attempting to put a

bandage on wounds inflicted in training programs conducted by incompetent and philosophically

vacuous education professors.     

Please now read the strictly objective presentation extracted from the MPS website:

Chapter Three:  Associate Superintendents

Associate Superintendents:

The associate superintendents are responsible for creating and modeling a culture of high expectations and providing ongoing support to building leaders to facilitate school environments that address diversity of needs and allow for the inclusion of all students. Associate superintendents are change agents who work with school communities to create the necessary conditions that result in dramatic and accelerated student achievement, closing the achievement gap and improving overall school performance.

Celia Saddler   (High Schools)

After four years as principal at South High School, Saddler became the associate superintendent for Area C before becoming the associate superintendent for high schools. She has 18 years of urban educational experience in both classroom and administrator roles in MPS. Associate superintendents work with school communities to accelerate student achievement, close the achievement gap and improve overall school performance. While at South High, Saddler created and supported academic coaching models to increase teacher and student achievement. She also facilitated parent involvement opportunities such as the site council, Connecting Parents to Educational Opportunities  (CPEO) and Parents United for South High (PUSH). CPEO helps parents and teachers work together to transform children’s educational environment, both at home and at school, so that they can achieve their greatest academic potential. The purpose of PUSH is to create ways for every family and student to have a social connection to the school community and feel like a valued member and participant within it.

Schools Assigned: Broadway, Edison, FAIR Downtown, Henry, North, Roosevelt, South, Southwest, Washburn, Wellstone

Jackie Hanson  (Middle Schools)

Jackie Hanson started her MPS career at Patrick Henry High School in 1986. Hanson was a teacher, dean of students and assistant principal at the school before taking on the role of principal at Anthony in 2000. Hanson earned a Master of Arts in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota and holds a principal and superintendent license with coursework from St. Mary’s University.


Schools Assigned: Anthony, Anwatin, Field, Franklin, Olson, Northeast, Ramsey, Sanford

Paul Marietta  (K-8  Schools West)

Paul Marietta is the associate superintendent for K-8 schools on the east side of Minneapolis. He is the former principal of Ramsey Middle School and Bancroft Elementary in Minneapolis. He has been an assistant principal, high school dean of students, 4th grade teacher, special education teacher, and high school basketball coach. Marietta has also served as an educational consultant for the Minnesota State Department of Education and McREL (Mid Continental Research on Education and Learning) supporting schools and districts on systemic improvement.  He brings these broad array of experiences to support sites and help enact change. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at Minnesota State-Mankato, a Masters of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado, and his superintendent’s license from the University of St. Thomas. 

Schools Assigned: Andersen, Hiawatha, Howe, Keewaydin, Northrop, Pillsbury, Pratt, Sullivan,Waite Park, Webster, Wenonah

Ron Wagner  (K-8 Schools West)

Ron Wagner is the former principal of Anne Sullivan Communication Center. He has served students for over 25 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. He has a strong focus on data-driven planning, instruction and strategies to support all learners. He also has a strong background in technology integration. Wagner taught elementary and middle school grades in Indiana before joining MPS as a math teacher at Olson Middle School in 2000. He later became assistant principal at Olson and took on the principal role at Anne Sullivan in 2009. He earned his Bachelor of Science in education from Ball State University and a Master of Education degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. Wagner also holds an Education Specialist degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Schools Assigned: Bryn Mawr, Burroughs, Hale, Jefferson, Kenny, Kenwood, Lake Harriet, Loring, Lyndale, Nellie Stone

Laura Cavender (High Priority Schools)

Laura Cavender is the associate superintendent for high priority schools. She is responsible for creating and modeling a culture of high expectations and providing ongoing support and oversight to school building leaders.  She works with school communities to create the necessary conditions that result in dramatic and accelerated student achievement, closing the achievement gap and improving overall school performance.

Schools Assigned: Anishinabe, Bethune, Green, Hall, Hmong International Academy(HIA), Jenny Lind, Lucy Laney

Lucilla Davila  (Magnet Schools)

Lucilla Davila is the first Latina in MPS to be named as an associate superintendent. She has been in education for over 20 years and is a strong advocate for language immersion, English learners and garnering partnerships that accelerate student learning. Davila has taught in Puerto Rico and St. Paul. Prior to her principalship at Windom, Davila served as assistant principal at Achieve Language Academy in St. Paul. She holds a superintendent’s license with coursework from Mankato State University.

Schools Assigned: Armatage, Bancroft, Barton, Cityview, Dowling, Emerson, Folwell, Marcy, Seward, Sheridan, Whittier, Windom