Acting Superintendent Kirk Kelly Named Interim Superintendent Of Hamilton County Schools

The County School Board voted Thursday afternoon to name acting Supt. Kirk Kelly as interim superintendent.

He received votes from David Testerman, George Ricks, Karitsa Mosley, Joe Galloway and Steve Highlander.

Col. Shaun Sadler was supported by Rhonda Thurman and Greg Martin.

Chairman Jonathan Welch and Donna Horn backed Jill Levine.

Dr. Highlander said he did not feel Col. Sadler "was ready to step in at crunch time." But he said Dr. Kelly should consider hiring him as a consultant on administration and finance if he was willing to serve.

Chairman Welch, prior to the vote, stated, "Right now, I don't think anyone would say that we are in a good place."

He said a "bold" new direction was needed for the schools, or he said they may continue to decline. "People want change. If we don't change, it's going to come apart."

Ms. Mosley said she found it disconcerting that the interviews with the candidates were so short. She said the process should not be rushed. She said, "It has always been this way and look at what we have gotten." She said she chose not to have private talks with the contenders.

Dr. Martin said, "I am ready to take action. I think this community is ready for action." He said he met with all three candidates privately. He said, "I think we are at a crossroads and we need to move forward."

Ms. Thurman said, "I'm just ready for the school system to take a totally different direction. I'm over personalities. I am ready to find out why our third graders can't read."

A motion to table and delay the decision failed 6-3 with Ms. Mosley, Dr. Highlander and Mr. Ricks supporting it.

Dr. Martin said he backed Col. Sadler because he "would not be afraid of anyone or owe anyone." He said they attended Hixson High together.

Mr. Galloway called Dr. Kelly "the best person to lead us."

Marine Col. Sadler drew the first interview, and Normal Park Principal Levine and acting Supt.  Kelly waited for their turns.

Col. Sadler handed out a statement to each board member and shook each of their hands.

Prior Supt. Rick Smith stepped down several weeks ago after board concerns on the handling of the Ooltewah High rape incident and low school test scores.

Col. Sadler said it is imperative that the schools have a strategic action plan.

He said his parents were lifelong educators, and he said his father, former UTC assistant football coach Frank Sadler, "was a very inspirational man."

The candidate said during his military career his leadership style was developed.

He said, "Everyone who work with deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

Col. Sadler said he is proud of his career, making it "to a very high level" with over 5,000 troops under his helm.

Questioned by Ms. Thurman about zero-base budget, he said it is imperative to examine every part of the school program and not just "roll over budgets from one year to another."

He cited the importance of "partnering with others in the community. We all are stakeholders in this."

Dr. Highlander told him, "Some people see it as a positive and others as a negative that you are coming in as an outsider."

He told Ms. Mosley that he will pay heed to diversity issues. "I have always been aware of the fact that my staff needs to reflect" the makeup of the work force.

Col. Sadler said he made an African-American his operational administrator.

At the close of the questions, he asked the board "what are the expectations for the interim? At this time it is undefined."

Chairman Welch said the interim would help in the process of choosing a permanent superintendent.

Ms. Thurman said, "I appreciate your vision, fresh voice and for stepping forward to apply for this position.

Ms. Levine said, "The more challenging the circumstances, the more the opportunity."

She said, "We have many challenges, but we are on the cusp for moving ahead."

Ms. Levine said there is a belief that a majority of local students do not have access to a good education.

Asked by Ms. Horn about the "good ole boy" system, she said the main focus should be hiring great teachers and supporting them. She said Hamilton County is 35th in the state in salaries, "and we need to look at that."

She said, "I was raised by teachers and I know the importance of supporting teachers, listening to their concerns and treating them with fairness."

Ms. Levine, asked by Ms. Mosley about low-performing schools, said she found early on that "the students needing the best education were getting the worst."

She said, "I feel like we are on the cusp of greatness here."

In terms of programs, she said, "There are no silver bullets. Get in there and roll up your sleeves. Help the teachers feel successful."

She said there may be a need for K-8 schools and for focusing on the transiency issue.

On outside groups who are offering to help the schools, she said, "I don't feel we need to turn down dollars." She said when fixing up an old school in North Chattanooga she found many from the private sector eager to help.

Ms. Levine said, "I'm very passionate about this work" and she said she has a focus on students who are in difficult situations."

She added, "I care about Chattanooga and making the community better."

On diversity, she said it is "a constant challenge to build the applicant pool." She said much stronger teacher prep might be carried out in concert with UTC and others.

Ms. Levine said it is very important for kids to see "people like them who are successful."

Her priorities include communication, building a strong team and "addressing the things that are not working."

She said, "We have to start sharing the good things that are going on in this county."

Ms. Levine said there is great potential for boosting vocational education in Hamilton County.

On testing, she said teachers "have stopped teaching the way they know best." She said, "They should be given the freedom to make choices on how to teach."

Noting the success of the school where she is principal, she said, "The arts is everything."

When Ms. Levine asked the board members their priority, Mr. Galloway said, "Whoever is chosen as our leader, we all need to get behind them."

Ms. Levine said, "I really believe that if we pull together the sky is the limit for the children of Hamilton County."

Dr. Kelly, who has long been over the testing and accountability area, said, "I feel I have a good feel for what needs to occur and doing the very best for all of our students."

Asked about the "good ole boy system," he said, "There has to be support from the central office." He said he has been out to each campus to inquire about school needs.

He said it is important to address the issue of reading to help improve student achievement.

Dr. Kelly said quality professional development needs to be brought to the schools.

He said he was born in Alton Park and moved to Brainerd when he was three. He graduated from Brainerd High. After higher education, he became a math teacher and "loved it." He said his daughters won state in tennis twice.

He said his mother told him, "No matter what you do you are going to college."

Asked about vocational education, he said, "I think it's great." He said there is a move to shift from a single track to a blended track that includes vocational.

Already, he said there are over 6,000 students in some type of career training.

He said about 80 students are getting vocational certification. "We can do a lot better than that - get it up to 400 or 500."

Dr. Kelly said, "We are going to have to shake up the box and do some innovative things."

He said school improvement "is going to take the entire community." He said that includes faith-based.

The candidate said one way to get more parent involvement may be to hold school meetings prior to basketball and football games when there will be crowds.

Ms. Mosley said, concerning the interim, "I want to see something new, radical, shaking up the box."

Dr. Kelly said he would have regular meetings with the news media "to say this is where we are."

Several board members said they have been kept well informed by Dr. Kelly said he became the acting superintendent.