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News
D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Public Engagement · District of Columbia Public Schools 202-442-5635 · fax:
202-442-5418 · www.k12.dc.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2000 |
Contact: Devonya Smith
(202) 442-5010
Pager: 1-888-769-1407 |
ACKERMAN ANNOUNCES DECISION
"No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us
to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which any one can lead us is to restore to us
the belief in our own guidance. " By Henry Miller
After careful thought and heartfelt deliberation, D.C. Public
School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has announced her resignation effective July 17,
2000 in a letter to Financial Authority Chairman, Dr. Alice M. Rivlin. In her letter of
resignation, Mrs. Ackerman expressed regret in her decision to leave what she describes as
the most difficult job of her professional career, but also the most rewarding.
During Ackerman's three-year tenure as Chief Academic Officer
and Superintendent, tremendous strides have been made to move the D.C. Public Schools from
crisis to promise. Mrs. Ackerman arrived as Chief Academic Officer in 1997 not long after
the Control Board had released its monumental 1996 report: Children In Crisis: A
Report on the Failure of D.C.'s Public Schools. Ackerman became Superintendent in May
1998. Since then, there have been significant accomplishments that have contributed to the
national attention now focused on the District's public schools:
- Improved academic achievement
- Ended social promotion
- Year-round (Saturday and Summer) learning opportunities for
more than 40,000 students
- Highly-regarded content standards for all subjects
- Performance targets for schools with incentive awards
- Social studies textbook adoption for grades K-12 and science
secondary subjects
- A Weighted Student Formula that promotes fiscal equity among
all schools
- Negotiated pay increases for teachers and principals, and
developed evaluation instruments that include pay-for-performance incentive clauses
- Collaboration with the Washington Teachers' Union on multiple
education initiatives
- Restructuring of the Special Education department for improved
programs and services and the elimination of longstanding backlog for initial assessments
- Improved school facilities with major capital improvements and
repairs
- Reduced central administration costs from 15% to less than 6%
of school district budget
- Two additional hours of operation for central administrative
offices to better serve school staff and citizens (new hours of 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
replaced 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.)
Mrs. Ackerman is especially pleased with the aggressive reform
agenda that puts children first. "I believe that we are on the right track,"
Ackerman states, "and have laid the foundation for continuous progress." The
core beliefs that have guided the reforms are manifested in many, many ways. Parents and
teachers eagerly report victories in the classrooms that come in the form of support for
new teachers, resources, books, content standards and professional development
opportunities. Children are succeeding in a variety of ways beyond the improved test
scores. Educational opportunities have been greatly expanded with the support of the
corporate community and a host of community volunteers. These range from the tutorial
activities of DC Reads and increased instructional technology to the DC College Access
Program that is sending more college-bound students to post secondary colleges and
universities across the nation.
In leaving, Mrs. Ackerman expresses her confidence that under
the leadership of Mayor Anthony Williams, the Authority, the Council and Congresswoman
Holmes Norton that the city will take the necessary actions to ensure that the
infrastructure needed to support school operations are implemented in a timely and
efficient manner.
Mrs. Ackerman is delighted to have been part of the new
renaissance of Washington, D.C., and leaves with great respect and admiration for the
scores of dedicated educators and staff members who work tirelessly on behalf of students.
She also expresses her thanks to the many parents, community and business members who have
offered their unwavering encouragement and support. A special thanks is also owed to the
business community for their generous and unselfish commitment of time, resources, dollars
and technical expertise on behalf of our schools. "The outpouring of support and kind
expressions of encouragement have been overwhelming," says Ackerman, "and made
it absolutely heartwrenching to reach my decision."
Mrs. Ackerman also used her letter of resignation to thank the
current and past members of the Control Board, the Mayor, Congresswoman Holmes Norton, the
elected School Board and, specifically, the Emergency Transitional Board of Trustees for
their work and support that made the progress over the past three years possible. She
closed her letter with a remembrance of the "wonderful, beautiful children of this
city" who she has seen as an inspiration because of their many talents and
demonstrated will to succeed.
A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at 11:15
a.m. until 11:45 a.m. at the D.C.P.S. Administration Building, 825 North Capitol St.,
N.E., in the 5th floor board room.
Back to top of page
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002-4232 202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us
May 17, 2000
The Honorable Alice M. Rivlin
Chairman
D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority
One Thomas Circle, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
Re: Letter of Resignation
Dear Dr. Rivlin:
After careful thought and heartfelt deliberation, it is with
regret that I tender this letter of resignation as Superintendent of the District of
Columbia Public Schools, effective July 17, 2000. When I became Superintendent two years
ago, I knew that I had accepted one of the most difficult jobs of my professional career.
It has been that, but I want you and everyone in this city to know that it has also been
the most rewarding.
In my tenure as Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent,
tremendous strides have been made to move this school district from crisis to promise.
These are accomplishments that would make any school district proud:
- Improved academic achievement
- Ended social promotion
- Year-round (Saturday and Summer) learning opportunities for
more than 40,000 students
- Highly regarded content standards for all subjects
- Performance targets for schools with incentive awards
- Textbook adoptions for grades K-12 and bilingual education
- A Weighted Student Formula that promotes equity
- Negotiated pay increases for teachers and principals, and
evaluation instruments that include pay-for-performance incentive clauses
- Collaboration with the Washington Teachers' Union on multiple
education initiatives
- Restructuring of the Special Education department for improved
programs and services and the elimination of longstanding backlog for initial assessments
- Improved school facilities with major capital improvements and
repairs
- Reduced central administration costs from 15% to less than 6%
of school district budget
- Expanded central office hours (two hours) to better serve
school staff and citizens
The D.C. Public Schools are now attracting national attention
because of our aggressive reform agenda that puts children first I believe that we are on
the right track and have laid the foundation for continuous progress. The important work
that lies ahead for sustained progress will require every aspect of local government and
the community to support the total reform of the D.C. Public Schools. I am confident that
under your leadership, and that of Mayor Anthony Williams, this city will take the
necessary actions to ensure that the infrastructure needed to support school operations
will be implemented in a timely manner.
It has been my pleasure to be a part of the new renaissance of
Washington, D.C. I salute, with great respect and admiration, the scores of dedicated
educators and staff members who work tirelessly on behalf of our students. I thank the
many parents, community and business members who have offered their unwavering
encouragement, resources and technical expertise. I also want to thank the Control Board
members (past and present), Mayor Williams, Congresswoman Norton, members of the Council,
the Board of Education and, specifically, the Emergency Transitional Board of Trustees
whose work and focused support have made this progress possible. Finally, I will never
forget the wonderful, beautiful children of this city. They, as an inspiration to all of
us, have exhibited a multitude of talents and have demonstrated the will to succeed.
I wish for this school district much continued success. Those who have worked so hard will
continue to do so, because they do it for children. I will be leaving for San Francisco,
but a part of my heart will always be here.
Respectfully,
Arlene Ackerman
Superintendent
AA: bd
cc: Ms. Constance B. Newman
Mayor Anthony Williams
Councilman Kevin P. Chavous
Rev. Robert G. Childs
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Back to top of page
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002-4232
202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us
Arlene Ackerman
Superintendent
District of Columbia Public Schools
Arlene Ackerman has served in public education for 31 years
and is currently Superintendent of the Washington, D.C. Public Schools. Her work
experiences include classroom teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels;
principal at the middle school level;. Director, Upward Bound Program for first generation
college-bound students; Director, Basic Skills Academy for at-risk high school youth;
Assistant Superintendent, Special Services, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Instruction and Academic Achievement and Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer. Ms.
Ackerman possesses a strong leadership background with an unparalleled blend of academic
credentials and professional accomplishments.
Superintendent Ackerman is affiliated with such organizations
as Phi Delta Kappa (Harvard University Chapter), the Council of the Great City Schools,
College Access Board, D.C. Agenda, Reading is Fundamental, Inc.--National Advisory Council
Board Member, Haberman Educational Foundation, Inc.Advisory Board Member, Junior
Achievement of the National Capital Area, National Urban Alliance--Board Member, Network
for Instructional Television, Inc.--Board of Directors, National Alliance of Black School
Educators, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the American
Association of School Administrators, the Washington Performing Arts Society, the Wesley
Theological Seminary Board of Governors and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater
Washington.
Also, Ms. Ackerman has received numerous honors and awards,
including Uniquely University City Award for Outstanding Service, Apple for the Teacher
Award (Iota Lambda Sorority), Distinguished Alumni Award (Harris Stowe Teachers College),
and the McDonnell Douglas Fellow (Harvard Urban Superintendents Program). She also has
been honored in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Ms. Ackerman is currently pursuing her doctorate in
Administration, Planning and Social Policy through the Harvard Graduate School of
Education, Urban Superintendents Program. She holds a Master of Arts in Education from
Harvard University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Policy from
Washington University (St. Louis, MO) and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from
Harris Stowe Teachers College (St. Louis, MO). |