NAACP to Knox County Schools: Hire a superintendent who will eliminate disparities

Isabel Lohman, Knoxville News Sentinel
·4 min read

The Knoxville NAACP is urging the Knox County Board of Education to adopt specific qualifications for the next superintendent, including experience in public schools as a teacher and administrator, and a history leading a diverse public school system.

The organization announced its wishes in a press release and in a letter sent to school board members. The Knoxville NAACP said the role of the superintendent is "one of the most important jobs in the county" and the next leader should be able to put the needs of students and staff first "among all other considerations."

The district will host a series of meetings Thursday to discuss what employees and community members want in their next superintendent.

Evetty Satterfield, the Knox County school board member who is leading a superintendent search committee, told Knox News she will ensure the outside group leading the search receives the NAACP letter.

"I am grateful for the organizing NAACP Knoxville Branch put forth to ensure community voices are heard in this very important selection process," Satterfield said in a statement to Knox News.

"NAACP's recommendation will be considered, along with other organizations and community members, as part of the candidate selection criteria."

Here is the complete list of qualifications the Knoxville Branch NAACP believes the superintendent must have:

  • Demonstrate the ability to implement Knox County Schools vision for increasing student achievement, eliminating disparities and creating a positive school culture. (Those are the three goals of the district's strategic plan.)

  • Demonstrate significant experience as a public school classroom teacher.

  • Show significant experience as a public school principal and assistant principal.

  • Demonstrate significant experience as a successful public school superintendent.

  • Show that he/she has had success leading a diverse public school system.

  • Show that he or she has the commitment and courage to put the needs of our 60,000 children and 8,000 staff first among all other considerations. (The district's enrollment was 58,211 students as of Tuesday).

  • Demonstrate a track record of listening to and being responsive to parents and community groups.

"As we continue the superintendent search, community input is an integral part of the process," school board chair Kristi Kristy said in a statement to Knox News. "We are grateful for members of the community taking the time to provide input and feedback, and I know our board will ensure community input is reflected in the process."

On Thursday, the community meetings will be led by the Tennessee School Boards Association, an organization hired by the school board to lead the search. After the input is collected and a community survey results are released, the organization will analyze the information to summarize what the community thinks are vital characteristics of a new superintendent.

The Knox County Board of Education will discuss those suggestions Dec. 8. After that, the school boards association will begin advertising the superintendent job opening.

Student representative to the Board of Education Raymond Jin hosted three student meetings this week to hear the student perspective on the superintendent search.

Community members have until noon Friday to complete an online survey about the superintendent search.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas took the job in April 2017. He will retire at the end of June.

How to attend community meetings for Knox County Schools superintendent search

Most of these community input meetings will take place on the first floor of the Andrew Johnson Building at 912 S. Gay St. Parking is available at the Dwight Kessel Garage on 900 State St. Attendees can bring their parking ticket to the meetings to receive free parking.

"Please note that these are suggested times and interested individuals may go to any of the meetings," the district's website says. "The luncheon is for invited guests; however, the public is welcome to attend."

Here is the complete list:

  • 10 a.m.: Classified employees (this group includes people who do not have teaching licenses such as cafeteria workers and custodians)

  • 11:30 a.m.: City and county elected officials; community and business leaders selected by school board members; Knox Education Foundation leaders; school board members (Anyone can come to watch the meeting but lunch will only be provided to invited guests. This meeting will be at the Crowne Plaza, 401 W. Summit Hill Drive)

  • 1:30 p.m.: Classified employees

  • 3 p.m.: Central office staffers, supervisors and principals

  • 4:30 p.m.: Teachers

  • 6 p.m.: Parents and community stakeholders

Isabel Lohman reports on children's education, health, welfare and opportunities in East Tennessee
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: NAACP wants Knox County Schools superintendent who fights disparities