The next Cincinnati Public Schools superintendent should be home-grown | Opinion
The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education must not rush to hire a new superintendent until members figure out how to hire a proficient, child-focused, relationship-building professional with union experience who can go the long haul.
When looking back on the history of past superintendents, it appears that the secret sauce might be found in the home-field advantage. Three of our more successful past superintendents − Michael Brandt, Rosa Blackwell and Mary Ronan − were home-grown within the CPS system, beginning as teachers, principals and then on to central office. These individuals hit the ground running when named superintendent, knowing the climate, the issues, what’s been tried over and over without success, and knowing the people they would need to work with to prompt change.
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In retrospect, the past hire may have been unfortunately a disaster waiting to happen, and we must do better next time. The school board must do their due diligence to be sure they hire someone who can bring all stakeholders together and empower all to assist in making changes for all children within the system. Together we are stronger, wiser and more able to make the changes our students are depending on us to make.
Gary Favors, Avondale
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-CPS superintendent Iranetta Wright was a disaster waiting to happen
