Superintendent Search: Geraldine Moore – Rochester Assistant Superindent for Curriculum
I have sent each Rochester Community Schools superintendent candidate questions about Advanced & Gifted Education. Here is Geraldine Moore‘s statement.
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I received your request for input regarding advanced and gifted programs. In my role as Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for Rochester Community Schools, you and I have had several thoughtful discussions on this topic and you will see from my resume that I had oversight of gifted and talented programs both in Clarkston Community Schools in Michigan and Wheaton Community Schools in Illinois. I appreciate your interest in accelerated learning and in the superintendent search.
As a candidate for Superintendent of Rochester Community Schools, I believe it is important to honor the process recommended by School Exec Connect and approved by the Board of Education. I will be more than happy to answer these questions in public should they be presented on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. when I am interviewed by the Board or, should I be selected as a finalist, during the community interview portion of the interview schedule.
Sincerely,
Geraldine K. Roberts-Moore
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE!
Rochester Supports Advanced & Gifted Education!
Rochester SAGE - Supporting Advanced & Gifted Education 
Isn’t it a shame the Rochester Board of Education intimidates candidates in this manner? Why would they intentionally create a wall between the candidates and the public?
Joshua –
Based on Geraldine’s response, would you be willing to share some of the conversations you’ve had with her?
As we wrap up the interview process, what is your perception of Geraldine, despite her lack of a public response?
Geraldine Moore has been more responsive to gifted education than any one else in the district. My conversations with her have been brief to this point, but I understand they have resulted in communication to the principals requesting that more be done for gifted students. She recognizes that the opportunities for acceleration vary among the elementary schools and appears to be willing to at least provide that acceleration to all elementary schools. I believe she has discussed what can be done in gifted education with one of the elementary school principals who is a proponent.
I know that Clarkston, where Mrs. Moore spent significant time in curriculum leadership, including overseeing their gifted and talented programs, “strides that they had already made in the past was astonishing” according to Marie Brucker of MI Alliance for Gifted Education. In discussion with Mrs. Moore, it sounds like this happened during her time there and with her help and blessing. However, I am waiting for independent verification from the Academic Boosters of Clarkston.
I believe Mrs. Moore does understand the needs of G&T children and will help get it implemented in RCS if appointed, but my conversations to this point have not been extensive enough to provide the answers to the questions asked above.
Based on her responses last night, she definitely seems to have a better grasp on advanced education. She did spend a good deal of time talking about it as part of her overall plan.
She started with the “1 year of Education in a year”… but quickly adjusted to “at LEAST one year of education”. Good recovery, but she kept with it throughout the night.
The real tragedy is that Rochester continues to increase their own costs, which limits the options for implementing new programs. They could’ve hired 50 new teachers for the increase in their labor, wages, and benefits this year. They could’ve implemented the IB program, but instead chose to buy two new trucks for the same cost. And now we’re being told their facing $16 billion deficit, and that we should lobby Lansing for more money.
It’s going to be an uphill battle if she really believes in implementing some of her ideas.