Denver – Public education newcomer Michael Bennet, the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools, is promising to boost student achievement.
“We will build what can be and must be and will be the best big-city school district in the United States,” he said at a news conference announcing his selection this afternoon.
Bennet is Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s 40-year-old chief of staff, and a trained lawyer who worked as a corporate turn-around expert for Denver mogul Phil Anschutz’s investment company.
The only of three superintendent finalists with no teaching or school administrating experience, Bennet won the $200,000-a-year appointment today on the strength of his management record and the promise of galvanizing all of Denver – not just parents and teachers – around the goal of improving city schools.
“Michael is the candidate who we felt could lift us to a level that has not been achieved before,” said school board president Lester Woodward.
“He had the best chance at fixing systems and implementation and strategic planning to move the district forward,” added board member Michelle Moss.
Bennet was chosen over two other finalists, Patricia Harvey, the current superintendent of St. Paul (Minn.) and Community College of Denver president Christine Johnson.
School board members said they expect to vote unanimously tonight to make Bennet’s selection official.
Bennet will take over for retiring superintendent Jerry Wartgow, who took the job in 2001.
