There are few more demanding jobs than superintendent of a big-city school system, and when such a post comes open, it is often a time of suspense. Where will we find a superhero to fit the bill? We’re glad to see that the Denver Public Schools are well positioned to replace retiring chief Jerry Wartgow with an innovative, top-notch candidate.
Three finalists were named Monday. They have little in common, but each has valuable skills and experience and each deserve strong consideration.
Michael Bennet, chief of staff for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, is a non-traditional candidate, but it would be a mistake to dismiss him because he hasn’t worked in K-12 education. His political and business expertise – he worked for Denver-based financier Philip Anschutz before answering the mayor’s call in 2003 – could help increase the business community’s support for education. Urban school districts are more successful when the business community is involved, providing scholarship money, job opportunities, mentoring and grants.
Bennet is routinely described as the “smartest person in the room” by people who have worked with the city on various issues, and he gets a fair share of credit for Hickenlooper’s remarkable success.
Patricia Harvey has the most applicable experience of the candidates, as superintendent of St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools for the past six years. She isn’t familiar with Denver and its students but has an impressive track record for raising achievement levels in an urban school district.
Harvey pulled her name from contention last week, but she said she knew it was a short-sighted decision, and felt like she was thinking of staying in St. Paul because the assignment was comfortable. DPS will need courage at its helm, and we’re glad Harvey put her name back into contention.
Christine Johnson, Colorado’s first Latina college president, has a rich career in academics. Before becoming president of the Community College of Denver, Johnson was both a teacher and principal in Denver Public Schools. She was Colorado’s Principal of the Year in 1989 for her work at Lincoln High School, and she also served on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
She understands the challenges facing urban families, and that background can be invaluable, given the huge number of Hispanics in DPS and their low graduation rate.
The finalists will be paraded through a very public process next week, including a series of meetings and community forums. Details will be posted later this week on the district’s website, www.dpsk12.org.
It’s exciting to see such top candidates emerge at DPS. Now is the time for those with a interest in the future of Denver schoolchildren to be heard.
