APS Teachers Deserve Voice In Superintendent Selection
By Ellen Bernstein
President, Albuquerque Teachers Federation
Our community is engaged in an important public debate, and everyone is poised to weigh in. Who should be the next superintendent? Who should have a say in that choice? What should the process be?
Without a doubt, the responsibility for choosing the next leader of APS rests with the Board of Education. Who they involve in the discussion and the weight they place on the input from various groups and individuals is extremely important. I would be remiss if I did not add the importance of employee input to the public debate. The Board of Education would be remiss if they did not seriously consider the importance of teacher input and create a process that heavily weights the needs and opinions of those who work directly with the students and families of APS.
Everyone is weighing in— for various reasons and various degrees of self and public interest. Last to be mentioned in most accounts of the conversation so far are the employees of APS whose ability to do their job well is directly affected by the leader of this district. Our self-interest is simple— we need a leader who supports our work. We need a leader who creates a system focused more on ensuring that we can teach than on unnecessary bureaucratic mandates and paperwork. That means a leader who is deeply knowledgeable about teaching and learning and who is able to communicate their knowledge and vision well. We need a leader who guarantees that conditions in schools include basics like heating, cooling, textbooks and paper. We need a leader who hires knowledgeable, effective and respectful principals. Above all, it's critical to the success of our students to have a collaborative leader who respects the teaching profession and can galvanize the many talented teachers in our district to continue to move our educational system forward.
There are many perspectives to be considered. I assume the board wants a well-functioning system that takes its place among the best in excellent graduation rates, high test scores and strong community support. The business community wants a school system that ensures graduates are productive, responsible and educated employees. I assume the mayor wants the same as the above. Parents want their children to be happy, safe, intellectually challenged students who graduate and are ready to be productive citizens capable of engaging in civic life and a satisfying career. Teachers want a superintendent who is focused on leading and supporting us to do all of the above.
Inherent in change is opportunity. Embedded in all the opinions stated publicly so far is the hope that our board uses this opportunity to make a wise choice. There is a lot resting on the next leader. One-third of the teachers in APS are currently eligible for retirement. How well our district functions and the tone the next leader sets will determine who wants to stay here and who we can attract to work here as employees dedicated to educating our students. A casual mention of teacher involvement and causal involvement in the process is not enough. I look forward to hearing about a search process that seriously considers the perspectives of those who actually work with students.
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