Collaboration Tops List at Superintendent Search Meeting

Oklahoma City, OK (April 23, 2008) – Last night at John Marshall High School, parents, teachers, staff, students and school board members worked together to determine the qualities the next Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent should have to successfully lead the District.

Collaborative management topped the list of qualities, with patrons in attendance expressing the need for a “collaborator,” “unifier,” “team builder/player,” and someone who “believes in (the) Baldridge (management) Model.” Someone who sets high expectations for the District was the group’s next priority. Other qualities sought by the group included someone with integrity, a problem-solver, a visionary and someone not afraid to make tough decisions.

The community meeting featured a facilitated format that allowed everyone to participate and share their input. Said participants, “You took the time to ask the community what we want” and “There was an atmosphere that people truly wanted what was best for the District.”

Information collected from the John Marshall High School meeting as well as information received at the upcoming community meetings and online survey will be compiled in to a report and presented to the School Board. The report is expected to be available for download from the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation’s website, www.okckids.com, in early May.

Those who did not have a chance to participate in last night’s meeting are encouraged by the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation to attend one of three remaining meetings or to complete an online survey at www.okckids.com/super. The next meetings will be held on April 24 at Douglass High School, April 28 at Capitol Hill High School (this meeting will be conducted in Spanish) and April 29 at U.S. Grant High School. All meetings begin at 6 p.m.