Changing of the Guard: What To Look For In The Next Superintendent of Minneapolis Schools
By Rashad Turner
The search for a new superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools has been extended to July 2024.
I applaud District 2 Minneapolis Board Chair Sharon El-Amin for playing a major role in this. She has helped extend the timeline because she understands the need for adequate parent involvement and will ensure the process of selecting a new superintendent is carried out with the utmost integrity and diligence.
I also give props to Rochelle Cox, who has done a great job as interim superintendent. She has taken community engagement seriously and has focused on boosting academic achievement in the Minneapolis school system. She is well-respected by parents because she understands the importance of including their voices in the academic conversation. Rochelle will continue to serve Minneapolis schools well until we are able to find the right person to fill her role.
Traits We Should Be Looking For In The New Superintendent
Fair and Equitable
We need a leader who will be fair and equitable, ensuring that Black, Brown, Indigenous and children from low-income households receive the same quality of education as white students and students from high-income families. The next superintendent should be someone who understands the significant racial disparities in the Minneapolis school system that continue to exacerbate the achievement gap between white students and students of color. Not only do they need to recognize this challenge, but they need to advocate for funding and resources to be properly allocated to the students who need it most.
Transparent
We need a transparent superintendent who will keep parents and caregivers informed about how their child’s school is performing. This means not shying away from being honest about where schools are falling short and where inequities exist. One such area is test scores. Statistics from the Minnesota Department of Education show that, on average, students of color score 30+ points lower on achievement tests compared to white students. Yikes.
In order to improve academic outcomes, we need more awareness of school performance. That’s why MNPU is still pushing for Minneapolis Public Schools to show Minnesota Report Card data on school websites. We’re hoping for a superintendent who will help get this done.
Inclusive
One of the reasons why our state’s education has slipped through the cracks is because parents of color and low-income parents have not had a strong voice in K-12 decision making. We need a superintendent who views parents as partners in education and understands that our education system is not going to improve without their involvement. Our next superintendent needs to be inclusive of parents by not only just allowing them to have seats at decision-making tables but listening to and considering their feedback on key issues that impact their children.
Improving Academic Outcomes
Minneapolis public school enrollment has dropped for the third consecutive year. Why? Because schools are failing our students of color, and they are not performing well as a result. 80% of Black students are not reading at grade level, and 90% are not performing math at grade level. This is unacceptable. We can do better than this. Our superintendent needs to advocate for providing more resources to students of color so we can start seeing improvements in their academic performance.
Getting More Teachers of Color in Classrooms and Ending LIFO
Our state has one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation because we don’t have enough teachers of color in classrooms. The House Education Policy Committee recently passed the Increase Teachers of Color Act, but according to the bill’s metrics, it’s going to take almost 20 years before we start to see a teaching workforce that more adequately reflects the student population.
The next superintendent needs to actively seek ways to push the agenda of diversifying our teaching staff. This means eliminating policies such as LIFO, “Last one In, First one Out,” that remove teachers of color from their jobs. A conscious and compassionate superintendent will understand that policies like this have no place in our state’s education system and be willing to fight an uphill battle to get rid of it.
Accountability
Our school districts are currently not required to provide feedback to teachers after their evaluations which means Minnesota is missing critical opportunities to use evaluation data to drive system-wide improvement and effectiveness of teachers. A superintendent who cares about providing a quality education for our students will work to keep the lines of communication open among teachers and school administrators. Teachers should never be in the dark. They should be provided the tools and opportunities to grow as educators to better serve and positively impact their students.
How To Make Sure We Select the Right Superintendent
Deciding who should be at the helm of our kids’ education is nothing to take lightly. As the search for the next superintendent continues, we need to find someone who is going to set our students up for success, both in and out of the classroom. Parents need a superintendent who will reassure them their kids are in good hands when they enter any academic institution in our city. Students need a leader who will prioritize the quality of their education so they are prepared for life after graduation.
MNPU is committed to holding educational leaders accountable and elevating the voices of parents of color and low-income parents so their kids can receive a rewarding education. If you want to make your voice heard and help make sure we select a new superintendent who has your kids’ best interests at heart, reach out to us, and we’ll show you where to begin. We have resources and advocates who are available to help you on your journey of fighting for a brighter future for your (our) children.