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Getting to Know Superintendent-select Fred Clarke
To make it easier for Rochester SAGE members and other readers, I’m compiling all information I have regarding Rochester Community Schools Superintendent-select Fred Clarke into one post.
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New Superintendent: Fred Clarke
After extensive interviews and zero minutes of deliberation, the Rochester Community Schools has chosen to extend an offer to Mr. Fred Clarke to be the next Superintendent of Schools. The deliberations began with each member writing down their choice on a piece of paper. It was unanimous for Mr. Fred Clarke.
Mr. Clarke is currently the Superintendent of Albion Public Schools, where he has served since 2007. Prior to that he has bee involved in administration in Champaign, IL; Longview, TX; and Fort Bend, TX school districts. He began his career in education as a high school science teacher for four years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Houston. He is working on a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University, expected May 2013. His dissertation is on the impact of schools of choice on small urban districts.
The Board of Education cited Mr. Clarke’s strengths in consensus building, vision, articulation, preparedness, positivity, data-driven approach, technological knowledge, experience, and intellectualism in different size districts as the reasons for their decision.
Welcome to Mr. Fred Clarke as Rochester Community School’s new Superintendent!
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE!
Rochester Supports Advanced & Gifted Education!
Superintendent Search: Evaluating Fred Clarke
First, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank the RCS Board of Education for inviting me as to participate in the Parent/Community superintendent interviews this week. A small number of parents and community members were given the opportunity to ask the superintendent candidates questions as part of the interview process and the Board believed that an advocate of advanced and gifted education would provide valuable input. I had the opportunity to ask a couple questions of each candidate.
Mr. Fred Clarke of Albion Schools is the third of the three superintendent candidates. While my other posts have been after the nightly interviews, the Board will be voting immediately after tonight’s interview, so I cannot provide meaningful and timely input about Mr. Clarke. He is truly a candidate I would like to know more about. He is not a definite no nor a definite yes.
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Superintendent Search: Evaluating Geraldine Moore
Mrs. Geraldine Moore is the second in the three superintendent candidates to be interviewed in the finalist round. Mr. Fred Clarke will be interviewed tomorrow, but my review of him will be much more limited as the RCS Board of Education will be voting after his interview and I want to allow you to have time to contact the board via their web page.
Today I had the opportunity to ask Mrs. Moore the questions the other superintendent candidates had already answered. Mrs. Moore preferred to follow the process set out by the Board and I respect her decision on that.
The questions were:
1) What advanced and gifted programs are currently offered in your school district?
2) What do you believe the ideal advanced and gifted program would be?
3) For Rochester Community Schools, what advanced and gifted program should be implemented based on your understanding of the surrounding community, the current finances, and the needs of RCS students?
4) What would your timeline be for implementing these programs?
5) Are you a supporter of the International Baccalaureate program and would you work to convert one or more elementary, middle, and high schools in RCS to the IB program?
Superintendent Search: ACT Scores
Many in education believe that ACT scores are a better indicator of how well a district educates than MEAP scores. In the tables below, I have listed the ACT scores for each district for the past three years, the difference between 2010 and 2008, and how the trends in each district compare to the trend for the state. Higher numbers for ACT scores and positive numbers for differences and trend analysis are better.
Superintendent Search: Evaluating Gary Richards
We are in the final week of superintendent interviews. While the Board of Education has made the process very open to the public and gives us ample opportunity to comment, the decision by the Board to select a superintendent after the last interview on Friday instead of waiting until the public can view the candidates’ extended interviews on TV has led me to post evaluations of each immediately after their interviews. Unfortunately for Mr. Clarke, I will have significantly less information to provide to you about him.
The Board has provided feedback forms with the following questions:
- Please give your impressions of how this candidate matches the criteria that is desired in the next superintendent
- Describe how you think this candidate will lead and relate to the various constituencies of the school community
- Please describe particular strengths you see in this candidate or detail any areas of concern
I am evaluating each candidate on the information they have provided on advanced and gifted education. I have asked Dr. Richards a few questions about gifted education, have listened to other questions asked, and I believe I will have this opportunity with the other candidates. I will not be revealing questions others have asked.
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Superintendent Search: Quotes on Gifted Education
A big THANK YOU to Debbi Hartman and the Rochester Community Schools for quickly posting the Superintendent Semi-finalists Interviews online on their Internet Broadcast System.
The board deliberation follows the second interview on Thursday, March 17, beginning at 3:11:30 on the video.
Here are their quotes on gifted education and the timestamp on the videos:
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Superintendent Search: Finalists
The Rochester Community Schools has selected as their finalists Frederick Clarke of Albion, Geraldine Moore of Rochester, and Gary Richards of Imlay City. You can click to review their resumes, cover letters, and district scores.
Next week begins the finalist interviews. Rochester SAGE plans on asking about gifted education. What questions do you believe we should ask? Place them in the comments.
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE!
Rochester Supports Advanced & Gifted Education!
Superintendent Search: Fred Clarke – Albion Superintendent
I have sent each Rochester Community Schools superintendent candidate questions about Advanced & Gifted Education. Here are the questions and Fred Clarke‘s responses. All candidates’ responses have now been received and added.
1) What advanced and gifted programs are currently offered in your school district?
2) What do you believe the ideal advanced and gifted program would be?
3) For Rochester Community Schools, what advanced and gifted program should be implemented based on your understanding of the surrounding community, the current finances, and the needs of RCS students?
4) What would your timeline be for implementing these programs?
5) Are you a supporter of the International Baccalaureate program and would you work to convert one or more elementary, middle, and high schools in RCS to the IB program?
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 