THE SEARCH FOR NEW SCHOOLS CHIEF

OVER THE past six weeks, Philadelphia has engaged in a robust and meaningful conversation about the future of our public schools and our search for a new leader for our public schools. As members of the search team established by the School Reform Commission, we look forward to using the ideas and recommendations that we received in this process to help advance the education of all children in the city.

Organized by the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and led by the Penn Project of Civic Engagement, approximately 15 meetings were held around the city. As a result, we have already done several things.

First, we have greatly expanded our understanding of what our school leader must do to be successful. Stakeholders told us that they wanted the new superintendent/CEO to: 1) be sensitive to issues of equity within the school system; 2) manage the business aspects of the district with an unwavering focus on what is best for the educational enterprise; 3) understand and respect the diversity of the city of Philadelphia; 4) engage, listen to and be responsive to students, families and other stakeholders; 5) be committed to transparency and openness; and 6) understand that excellent schools should be determined by more than standardized test scores but a collection of school-based outcomes.

Second, we have revised the leadership criteria and job description to more closely represent the community's desires. Continued development of a strategic reform agenda and high-level execution of the best ideas and programs will require a leader who:

1. Is committed to a positive educational and learning experience for all children and staff.

2. Possesses the knowledge and capacity to run a large and complex educational enterprise while maintaining the focus on positive, equitable educational outcomes.

3. Is committed to listening to, understanding and responding to the needs of principals, teachers and other educational leaders, including strong professional development, to produce positive educational outcomes.

4. Is committed to respecting, actively engaging with, listening to and responding to the needs of students, families and other community stakeholders, and understands that helping economically disadvantaged students achieve is crucial to the schools' success.

5. Can build a team, and coordinate and motivate a diverse group of managers and educators of different types of schools in different types of settings.

6. Embraces the idea of a portfolio of schools, and advocates for high-quality schools that provide an equitable and excellent educational experience regardless of the provider (district or charter).

7. Can build creative partnerships with numerous and diverse external stakeholders to bring resources to individual schools and groups of schools.

8. Possesses the ability to promote creativity and accountability at the school level while maintaining high standards across all schools.

9. Has the ability to influence the public, business community, higher-education community and legislative leaders on the value of public education and the commitments necessary to achieve notable progress.

10. Has a proven track record of public integrity and has earned the trust of stakeholders associated with the organization's objectives.

11. Has a focus on creating safe schools based on proven preventive approaches that create climates of respect.

Third, we have expanded the search team to expand its knowledge base and capacity.

The challenges facing Philadelphia's schools are large, but so, too, are the opportunities. The students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, the SRC and a host of other members of the community are very serious about improving the performance of students and all who support their learning. City and state leaders are working together in an unprecedented way. Many new ideas and programs have been initiated; however, much remains to be done. The SRC is putting forth its best effort to select a new executive leader who firmly believes in the fundamental right that all children have a quality education and is prepared to act on behalf of children to deliver needed improvements.

The SRC aims to have the new superintendent/CEO take office before the 2012-13 school year. But only if we find the right person. We will not settle. Nominations are welcomed. Please send any suggestions via email to superintendentsearch@philasd.org. We would like to thank all of the members of the community who participated in this process, as well as the dozens of people who volunteered their time to manage these conversations. Finally, we owe a debt of gratitude to Harris Sokoloff of the Penn Project on Civic Engagement and Diane Castelbuono of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, for their thoughtful management.

The city of Philadelphia has been a leader in public education for more than two centuries. We are confident that we will continue to improve our schools and ensure that every citizen of this great city can succeed. However, we need everyone in our city, region and state to be a partner in this effort. The discussions over the last month are a good start.

Rev. Albert Campbell, Pastor, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church; Lorene Cary, Founder, Art Sanctuary, and SRC

member; Patricia DeCarlo, Executive Director, Norris Square Civic

Association; Joseph Dworetzky,

Partner, Hangley, Aronchick, Segal,

Pudlin and Schiller, and SRC member; Fred Ginyard, Organizer, Youth United for Change; Feather Houstoun, Senior Adviser, Wyncote Foundation, and SRC member; Kenneth Kring, Co-Managing Director, Korn /Ferry International; Wendell Pritchett, Chancellor,

Rutgers University-Camden, and SRC member; Pedro Ramos, Member,

Trujillo, Rodriguez & Richards, and Chair, SRC; Len Rieser, Executive

Director, Education Law Center-PA; Lori Shorr, Chief Education Officer for Mayor Michael Nutter, and SRC

Executive Adviser; Sylvia Simms,

Co-Founder, Parent Power; Edward

Williams, SRC Executive Adviser;

Robert Wonderling, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia