What do you want to know about Ann Arbor schools' next superintendent?
Patricia Green, shown here speaking at a community forum Friday, was selected as the next superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools by the school board Saturday. What questions would you like her to answer?
When doing an interview, the most important question to think about beforehand is, “What would readers want to know?” And who better to answer that than you, the readers?
What would you like to know about Green? Is there any aspect of her career or life that you’re particularly interested in? Anything you want to know about her preparations for life in Ann Arbor? Do you have questions about her views on curriculum or school finances or student achievement?
Leave a comment or write me an e-mail and let me know what you would like to hear from the next superintendent.
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.
Comments
Nick Danger
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
Ms. Green is making considerably more money than Todd Roberts. Since the the district is facing a 7 million dollar deficit,is Ms.Green willing to take a salary reduction
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
Thanks for the questions and suggestions, everyone! Just got off the phone with Patricia. The Q&A will be in Thursday's print and online editions.
Angela Smith
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.
It seems like a lot of district wide decisions have been put on hold until the new superintendent comes in. I am interested in finding out what big decisions she will make first, and her rationale for making them.
Carole
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 2:54 p.m.
Instead of just focusing on just the teachers, how about concerns with principals or other staff? Shouldn't we be looking at all of the employees instead of just picking on the teachers who, for the most part, do a tremendous job working with a wide range of student capabilities--academically and socially.
Tony Livingston
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
Good comment. I agree. Most of my interactions with teachers are positive. Most of my interactions with administrators are negative -- that is if I can even get a hold of them to interact. The culture starts at the top and moves down.
magnumpi
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
definitely agree. all staff, especially principals as they set the tone for the school.
A2anon
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
Yes, agreed. All staff.
JenM
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
Dr. Green noted in Friday's Q and A session how different the six schools were that she had visited around the district earlier that day. It may be lovely that our schools reflect their communities so distinctly, but what I see is constant "re-inventing of the wheel" in our schools. I cannot believe how much time is wasted on inefficient systems, because everyone seems to want to do everything their own way, or just find a way to not do things at all. This is just the nuts and bolts of workplace management. I hope these things can be handled so that time can actually be spent educating our kids.
magnumpi
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
i can see individuality to a point but as an example (and this is not a cosmetic example), one elementary school uses a reading program where all the kids in one GRADE (not class) are grouped according to their reading level. through the course of the year, a child can move on (or fall back) into other groups. this allows all kids at different reading levels to be getting the most out of their reading lessons (advanced can be reading advanced material, below level can get the extra help they need, etc). not all schools do this, although to me it seems like it would be beneficial at all schools.
A2anon
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Interesting, JenM -- do you have some examples? I tend to support the individuality and autonomy of the various schools in the district... I think it lends itself to pride of place, and staff/teacher buy-in, and increased satisfaction and performance.
dotdash
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 2:02 a.m.
I'm very interested in her comments on the WISD and the laws tying AAPS funding to the county as a whole. How can we fund a better school district if we have to drag the rest of the county along, kicking and screaming (like what happened with the "it takes a millage" vote)? On a related matter, does she see an increased reliance on educational foundation funding for the AAPS schools?
A2anon
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 1:42 a.m.
What a great way to solicit community input! Thanks for the opportunity. 1. Green is coming to a district that is bigger, more diverse, less conservative / more progressive. Does she think these variables will present a particular challenge for her, and has she given thought to how these differences might impact her work here? 2. There is a big difference in state funding for kids in Allegany and here. Does she see herself as having a role in advocacy for school funding at the state level? To what extent? 3. When it is clear to everyone in a school that a teacher is not doing well.... what are the steps to take at that ponit? How does she solicit the information that tells her a teacher is not up to par, and what does she do with that information? How has she handled this in her current job? Again -- thanks for this!
Hillbillydeluxe
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
Chicken or the egg, Teacher or the Parent?
InsideTheHall
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 : 10:16 p.m.
I know one thing, NA is a great school district. Ask her if she thinks Western PA values will mesh with Ann Arbor values. The NA District is not very diverse and most of the district is high income. Further, it is way way more conservative than Ann Arbor. This will be an interesting transition to watch.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
I'm interested in knowing if she believes there needs to be a complete culture overhaul in the AAPS. Does she believe teachers should be responsive to parents? Does she believe in gifted education, rather than dumbing everyone down to the lowest common denominator? Does she have a plan for removing incompetent teachers? Is she as obsessed with the parent gap as many of the city's principals?
Tony Livingston
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Dumbing down? Anyone can take accelerated or AP courses in AAPS high schools. So many students take them that are not advanced, that it has skewed the whole system. There are plenty of opportunities to accelerate in Ann Arbor. The problem is that every parent thinks their child is a genius and pushes them into advanced classes when they are not equipped for them. The teachers are frustrated because they cannot really teach at the advanced level.
Alan Goldsmith
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
Call me old fashioned but shouldn't a reporter be able to come up with a some questions here? Otherwise why don't I just pick up the phone and call Ms. Green and cut out the midlle man?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 : 10:11 p.m.
How awful for a "newspaper" to ask its readers what it is they want to know about the new superintendant. Much better for A2.com to decide on its own what is important for its readers to know and what is not. And certainly there are no readers who might question A2.com's judgment in what they choose to report. Nope--everyone will just be pleased as punch with anything that A2.cm reports about the new superintendent. Indeed, it was wildly inappropriate for A2.com to have the temerity to ask that question in the first place. The nerve of these guys!!! [Please note the oozing sarcasm in all of this]. Good Night and Good Luck
Tony Dearing
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
Alan, I'm sorry, but yes, in this case you're being a little old fashioned. We're on the Internet now. Kyle is a solid education reporter who has plenty of his own questions to ask the new superintendent. But as he prepares for this interview, what possible down side would there be in him asking our readers what they'd like to know as well?