School survey highlights teacher and staff concerns

By Gene Galin
Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008

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Pittsboro, NC - The Chatham County Board of Education is in the process of searching for a new superintendent. At the beginning of this candidate search, Board members sought input by releasing two surveys, one for teachers and staff and one for the community. Results of these surveys are not traceable to individual respondents.

Survey takers were asked to rank a list of abilities, experiences and expectations as either "Most Important," "Very Important," "Important," "Less Important," or "Least Important."

Below is the ranking of 390 responses using the "Most Important" category:

1. Knows how to get staff, students, parents and community to work together to help children learn.

MI – 200, VI – 157, I – 28, LI – 2, LT - 1

2. Has strong human relations or "people" skills.

MI – 199, VI – 167, I – 19, LI – 2, LT - 0

3. Understands current school programs. MI – 187, VI – 164, I – 34, LI – 4, LT - 0

4. Supports discipline in schools.

MI - 183, VI – 142, I – 56, LI – 5, LT - 0

5. Has been an effective classroom teacher.

MI – 170, VI – 135, I – 60, LI – 19, LT - 1

6. Understands how to provide safe environments for students and staff.

MI – 168, VI – 168, I – 46, LI – 2, LT - 0

7. Should be accessible and respond to concerns in a timely fashion.

MI – 163, VI – 180, I – 42, LI – 0, LT - 0

8. Has been a successful principal.

MI – 133, VI – 152, I – 80, LI – 21, LT - 0

9. Communicates well with all groups in the community.

MI – 132, VI – 214, I – 42, LI – 1, LT - 0

10. Understands school finance, budgets and business management.

MI – 126, VI – 201, I – 56, LI – 4, LT - 1

11. Has worked in North Carolina public education.

MI - 117, VI - 135, I - 79, LI - 44, LT - 12

12. Should have high visibility in our schools.

MI - 111, VI – 159, I – 86, LI – 34, LT - 3

13. Has experience with building and managing schools.

MI – 98, VI – 180, I – 96, LI – 13, LT - 0

14. Has been a successful assistant or associate superintendent.

MI – 96, VI – 132, I – 108, LI – 41, LT - 6

15. Is willing to take new approaches to teaching and learning.

MI – 93, VI – 193, I – 88, LI – 13, LT - 1

16. Has been a successful superintendent. MI – 90, VI – 113, I – 98, LI – 77, LT - 14

17. Is from or has worked in Chatham County.

MI – 71, VI – 71, I – 70, LI – 115, LT - 65

18. Should spend time in individual classrooms.

MI – 34, VI – 89, I – 157, LI – 84, LT - 21

19. Should continue the current direction of the school system.

MI - 22, VI - 69, I - 120, LI - 102, LT - 64

The survey was completed by 24 administrators, 243 teachers and 91 support staff.

Below are some of the additional comments.

Find complete survey results here

· A good superintendent has a vision for the importance of teaching and learning, not just a focus on testing and scores. We need a leader who will inspire us to reach for the best in every student by reaching for the best in every staff member in Chatham County. This applies specifically to teachers. We will go to the extreme for our students when we are valued as professionals.

· The new superintendent should do away with the cabinet. The whole idea rubs employees the wrong way. I think she/he should get more information from classroom teachers.

· There needs to be more understanding of what each department is contributing to the education system and what obstacles are hindering them from doing their jobs.

· It seems as if the number of people employed at the County Office Level has increased, along with their salaries, however as a teacher I have not felt the benefit of those people in supervisory positions. I think the new Superintendent should understand how his/her decisions appear to others that work in the schools.

· I believe that building the community is an important emphasis for a Chatham Co. superintendent. Also, I feel that supporting teachers if of utmost importance. Teachers should know that they have a voice, their opinions are welcome, and when teachers are supported there is less turnover in the county, less teachers leaving the field, and students are benefited from all of this.

· We seem to have increased the amount of people (and their salaries) the county office to an extreme while our schools are asking parents and the community for more contributions for supplies needed for daily activities.

· I think it is important to have a leader who is consistent in policy and conveys that to his/her staff. It has been very frustrating to ask a question of someone at the county office and get a different answer depending on who you ask. I think it is important that everyone is on the same page.

· Needs to treat one side of the county just like the other side of the county.

· We need to have a person who can get new school construction going very soon to relieve overcrowding in the northern part of the county schools.

· The next superintendent should be open minded and willing to treat all schools equally although all are very unique and different. The support for administrators and faculty needs to be consistent, and in a timely manner.

· I think teachers need more support and consideration, as well as being treated with respect to their time. If we can put someone in place that places some of these needs first, I know Chatham would recruit only the finest of employees.

· It needs to be someone who has worked on building new schools and managed the type of growth we are having here in Chatham County

· Someone who has some experience and can get the job done effectively on all fronts, but who also has good people skills.

· We need someone to address and help the issues that most affect our county and an advocate for teachers, not against them. No micro-managing or busywork. To not be above taking advice from people who work directly in schools.

· We need a superintendent who knows how to take schools with languishing test scores, with challenging populations (such as high ESUELL populations, high poverty levels) and make them successful.

· We need someone who is willing and able to look at the full K-12 curriculum, practices and policies and have the wisdom and understanding to wisely align them so that kids do not enter the 9th grade, as they are now, with a 5th grade level education (or worse).

· We need someone who is not afraid to make someone mad in order to get the job done. We need someone who is willing to set firm policies in a timely manner and follow through with them. We need someone who is willing to honestly evaluate the effectiveness of schools' administrations and make changes where necessary. We need someone with the wherewithal to recognize red flags such as high teacher turnover or mid year "retirements" of vice principles and ask "what is going wrong here?" We need someone who can look at the dilapidated facilities at many of our schools and come up with REAL and FAST solutions to improve them.

· We need someone who does understand the challenges of a classroom teacher and who will be able to recognize when someone is doing their best. We need someone who understands that education happens in the CLASSROOM not the boardroom and operates accordingly. We need someone with good strategies for helping struggling teachers become more effective, and I am referring to truly effective strategies, not time wasting staff developments (truly informative staff developments are WONDERFUL).

· We need someone that will try and help the students raise their scores by teaching, rather than spending more and more money trying to teach teachers that should already know how to teach.

· Someone who will not be ran by an outside organization and has a mind of his own.

· NHS has been achieving ABC standards over the last 10 years in spite of the constant administrative turnover. Therefore, I'd say continue what the teachers are doing and do a better job of training administrators to understand the complexities of change.

· I feel that the previous administration spent too much effort, time and most of all money on making management heavy at the top. Accessibility is important. "The Cabinet" is not accessible! The superintendent is not the president!

· The new superintendent needs to be an experienced school leader with vision and the ability to build community consensus. S/he should be well versed in school reform research and be a proved leader.

· We need someone that loves Chatham county and the students of Chatham county

· Our new superintendent needs to make a true commitment to our schools. He/she needs to be well informed that they are filling a tough position, due to all the "catching up” that our school system is facing. The new superintendent needs to be prepared to immediately address the problems of growth that we are experiencing and push forward with the building of new schools in our county.

· I think it would be best if this person was familiar with Chatham County Schools and its past. We desperately need someone with lots of past experience who is not afraid to immediately make necessary changes for our schools.

· Should make teacher assistants feel that they are an important part of the education of our students, also work to make assistants pay level equal or close to other counties. We are the backbone of the classroom, yet we are not truly made to feel that way.

· Employee moral has hit 'rock bottom' and if things don't change, I can see more skilled and seasoned professionals leaving due to the excessive and unnecessary demands. As a professional, I have never been treated with such disregard as I have in the past two years from the so call "Cabinet.". The County Office has become a cold and dismal place. Everyone is afraid to speak! As for support, no one knows who does what anymore. Needless positions have been created and we are still trying to determine what they are supposed to do? An outrageous schedule has been demanded of teachers with an excessive amount of meetings requiring us to travel throughout the county with no regard to our personal lives and responsibilities or compensation for time or personal cost. Very few of these meetings have been beneficial or seemed necessary. I assume it was just to justify someone's paycheck because that's the ONLY time I hear or see anything of the employee that said our attendance at these meetings was MANDANTORY in their job description!

· The County Office seems to be 'out of reach.' A total disregard to voice messages and emails seems to be the norm now. The TAC committee answers are whitewashed; no questions are ever truly answered. Overall, there is not much that Chatham County Schools offers its employees anymore except distrust, disrespect and endless hours of work. I can only hope that things will start to go before we get our system back to being the great system it was.

· As a classroom teacher I would like to see someone from Chatham County have the opportunity to lead our schools. As a mother of two children I would want this person to be available to anyone that has a concern and I would like for them to been seen in the schools and get to know what is happening. I feel that there has been so much change in staff that there is not enough support being given to classroom teachers. Please consider someone local that may not necessarily has had a position of Superintendent but has the desire for our children and students to succeed. I feel that we forget the children and put the money first in remodeling offices and higher ups' bonus money.

· I think Chatham County is on the cusp of being a great school system, but we need someone who is willing to take some guided risk and push us to the next level.

· Get rid of the "cabinet" and stop the layers of people you have to go through to get an answer. I want to be able to talk directly with the superintendent if I need to without having to go through anyone to get permission. I know he/she cannot handle or address all problems. However, staff should feel like they are worthy of communication with the superintendent.

· I think it is important to hire someone with a heart. Also, I would like to see someone who cares about children first not someone who puts themselves first for personal gain.

· It would be nice to have a positive thinking, whole picture seeing, problem solving person who does get to know and remember at least some of the teaching staff throughout the district.

· Having a good relationship with our community and school families is also very important and he/she would be the representative of our whole school district.

· Important to have someone who will not come in and ignore the good things that are in place in the county. But will keep the good and add to it. Starting completely over with a "new" vision will be counterproductive to what has been taking place and will undermine progress that has occurred as well as having wasted tons of money, time, and resources. We don't need new programs, we need to work within the ones we have and continue to improve upon them and give them time to work ...

· Please get someone really great for this county... not someone that we have to pay off to be pleased to get rid of.

· I would like to see someone that is willing to take a look at where we are now and carefully guide us to a place that will support the faculty and students. I would also like to see less turn over at the county office. It has seemed like every time you call, someone new is each position. Organization in the main office is needed

· I think it is important for team work to keep all of the staff totally informed.

· Please do not consider anyone from Wake county schools. We have incorporated enough of their policies and procedures at this time. In addition, they are not a good example to follow in handling overcrowded schools.

· Chatham County is a unique place. Someone who understands this dynamic would be best received by all parties. Let's get someone who understands the people of our county. The next superintendent's interest in our county should be based more on their desire give back to our home than our desire to add to their resume and pocketbook. (Sidebar: Our next superintendent should also show strengths in cultivating the next wave of leadership in our school system. Let's invest in our employees so that we don't need to have nation wide searches for principalships, and county office personnel. Grooming young leadership is far more effective than trying to steal the best and brightest from other places (which usually means more money). When current employees see hiring tendencies that seem to favor outsiders, they tend to look elsewhere for places to work. This is sad considering our school system spends thousands every year in staff development. Homegrown leadership is the best!

· The new superintendent should be interested in Chatham County and desire to educate their own children within the school system. The individual should be committed to the system and its growth ....not their own personal career movements ....The person should respect the values of each of the communities within the system and understand that the values of one area do not reflect the values of all areas within our diverse county. Knowledge of what works in Bennett will not assist in determining what is needed at Virgina Cross or Moncure. Program implementation must be directed toward the unique populations of each school in the system.

· We need a visionary person. I believe that a person out of Chatham would have a better chance for the paradigm change I mentioned earlier. We might possibly need someone that tries the untried. To much vocal concern of a few loud complainers from the northeast comer of our county. Bring back more fine arts programs at all costs. Too much emphasis on test taking is not producing the well rounded students ready for the 20th century.

· We need a superintendent who values all staff and people of Chatham County. Everyone who has been hired at the County office has received a salary higher than the person they replaced. Why? We have also dramatically increased the number of personal at the county level. Why? The scores and moral of the school staff has decreased since this county, their opinion is important. Instead of hiring curriculum coaches and specialists who make $50,000+ use the resources you already have. Our scores have declined not improved. Let your teachers participate in workshops and plan together. There is no way these people have enough to do to warrant their salaries. The money should be used in the schools. We are wasting money. I would be offended for a so called specialist or coach to tell me how to teach. Most of your teachers feel that these newly created positions are a joke. We need to move away from the monarchy created at the central office. I would like to see the salary total of the county office personal now and 3 years ago. I believe the community has a right to know how our increased tax dollars are used to pay for Central office members instead of being used to fund technology, classroom supplies, and other school projects.

· The superintendent needs to respond to needs from the schools, not to pressure from parents. The staff at each school needs to be prepared (educated) to make the best decisions for that school-and then supported from the central office.

· I am concerned about the working conditions for the EC staff as it relates to recruitment and retention. It seems that the EC staff needs more support to provide effective and successful intervention programs for our children.

· We need a candidate that is willing to put their time and energy into researching how to improve our school system as a whole, in order to be a successful school that all employees are happy. Happy employees are the basis of all successes. We need to feel appreciated.

· I would like to see that teachers have a bigger voice when making decisions concerning the school year. As a teacher, I would like to give my opinion on decisions that are being made and at least have my voice heard.

· Needs to understand all demographics of all school systems and be understanding and compassionate with all schools.

· We need a superintendent who is competent, but not excited about him/herself. We need someone who knows the different areas’ demographics of our county and is experienced in focusing on "the good of the children." Chatham County is a good place to work and to educate our children for the future. Decisions need to be made for the good of the whole county. A "cabinet" for a superintendent seems unnecessary! Let's get back to the reason schools exist!!

· The superintendent should be highly visible in ALL schools and to ALL employees and students. He/She should have high morals and values and a strong backbone to stand up for what is right (even though it may not be politically correct). The new superintendent should be focused on the growth of our county and its need for new schools built in a timely manner.

· I believe that Chatham County needs someone who has been a superintendent before. It would be difficult to come into this county without any experience. I do not think this county would tolerate a learning curve at this point.

· Superintendents usually focus on the High School level and feel elementary levels can adjust their schedules for whatever comes along. Elementary teachers have the least amount of planning and get a lot of paper work with no planning times that are lengthy enough to get anything done! I would like someone to understand the demands of teaching all curriculum along with necessary paper work and continue to expect elementary teachers to get it all done.

· The Superintendent should clearly understand the cultural aspects of our community and diverse population. This person should have a strong desire for the school population in this county to be very successful and help them break the cycle and help create a desire for them to succeed. He should be willing to try new technological teaching tools to inspire students and help increase classroom interaction. He needs to fully understand the way students now learn and that they learn more through technology. We must give the students a strong desire to succeed and understand that they are competing in a global economy and must take responsibility for their careers.

· The superintendent position should be filled by someone who is willing to accept and explore new ideas. They should be responsive to faculty and staff concerns and willing to forgo appearances to meet the needs of all students. Think educator rather than politician.

· Think this should be someone that is from around this area and is familiar with our system. Will have an open mind from both ends of the county - both are important in our system.

· Would like to see someone committed to the long haul-prepared to spend at least a decade in Chatham County. Significant experience in rural or small-town North Carolina, either growing up or as an educator. Understands importance of recruiting and retaining excellent teachers.

· Being highly visible and approachable are two qualities that should be considered. People working in the school system and parents should be able to share feelings, views, concerns, and successes and feel that they are genuinely being heard. One can possess much on paper so that credentials "look good." However, if he/she can't relate to the people he serves; hope for our schools is dreary. When a superintendent visits our schools, he should be eager to get to know the staff and children, not just be seen.

· I feel that the next superintendent should help us ways to improve our public image. Educating the public as to our status and reasons why our test scores are low needs to be addressed. Year after year we strive to be the best that we can be and deep in our hearts we know that we are that and more!

· Has the guts to stand up to No Child Left Behind knowing teachers will work to the best of their abilities to reach all children regardless of what the government on all levels holds over us. For those of us that work ten hour days creating a curriculum to reach all government programs are an insult.

· Our new leader should know how to communicate. Look at his leaders in schools and make sure they are doing the job they should be.

· Staff members are wondering what is going on in the county office. We hear stories that have made us mistrust our current administration and anger us in regards of how the school board has been treated. Restoring the trust of the staff should be a priority on your list. We need a superintendent that has excellent public relations skills, that has a reputation of being trustworthy and respectful to all staff members. We don't need arrogance; we need a real person with a realistic vision for the future and the ability to make it happen.

· We need a superintendant WITHOUT A CABINET. We need TEAMWORK! We need a superintendent who doesn't put stress on county office personnel who then, to survive, turn around and put stress on staff in the schools.

· It is very important for the new superintendent to have prior experience as a building principal and as a superintendent.

· I feel that the superintendent should be a people person and care about the county staff as a whole and the morale of the staff. The position of superintendent is of great importance and carries a great deal of responsibility, however if the teachers and supporting staff do not feel supported and appreciated then the job of teaching is so much harder. Teachers and principals need to feel that they have the opportunity to communicate with the superintendent at any time and that their concerns are just as important. The superintendent should be available to visit the schools on a regular basis and interact with the students. I believe it is important for the parents to have an open line of communication to the superintendent and feel that their ideas and concerns matter. I feel that the Board of Education should be involved in the decisions and that the board and the superintendent should have a strong working relationship and support to each other. I also feel that it is important to hire and promote graduates from Chatham County in the education system.

· The superintendent should show support and interest to all areas of the county and not a chosen area. One side of the county should not be favored over the other.

· We need a people person who easily relates to all levels of employees and the community. Everyone should be equal.

· The system should operate as a School NOT A BUSINESS. I know you have to balance the budget and such but we are growing the next generation who we want to be the very best they can be. 2. Treat teacher with respect!!!! 3. GET RID OF THE CABINET!!!! The cabinet has did nothing but separate the Central Office and let everyone else know they are in charge of EVERYTHING. 4. Why let the Principal be in charge of the entire budget in the schools. Media have always orders books for the schools. Please in the name of Jesus they have always spent the monies on what is needed for the schools, principal have no ideas what is needed. Teacher goes to the MEDIA PERSON not the principal. 5. GET RID OF THE CABINET!!!! The cabinet has did nothing but separate the Central Office and let everyone else know they are in charge of EVERYTHING. 6. How many piece of elevation software do we need for the student? Just let the teacher teach!!! 7. GET RID OF THE CABINET!!!! The cabinet has did nothing but separate the Central Office and let everyone else know they are in charge of EVERYTHING. 8. If we continue in the current direction of the school system we will be on the very bottom. Chatham County Schools have always led now we are close to the bottom. We need to stop and take a look a CLOSE LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!! 9. GET RID OF THE CABINET!!!! The cabinet has did nothing but separate the Central Office and let everyone else know they are in charge of EVERYTHING.

· We need a superintendent with vision, and the willingness to work to see that vision through. I want a superintendent that puts the children first, but realizes teachers have a life outside of school!

· It is important to seek someone who will examine current practices and the value of these without discounting them in favor of new ideas he/she brings with him/her. New ideas are welcome; however, we should not rush to new ideas too quickly before current ideas have had a chance to show their value.

· I feel that whoever is chosen as superintendent should have people skills, honest, open and well educated with the position that they receive.

· Let's put the students at the center of our schools and our entire school community.

· Superintendent needs to be able to build trust within the community and to build on the strengths of those already working successfully in the county. Cannot try to please all the people all the time. Should have the education of children as first priority.

· Should be someone who really cares for our county and for the staff. Support the staff and understands many different aspects how a school system should run. Should work with current staff and should not hire only the people they know.

· Eliminate all the useless meetings and needless paperwork and allow teachers to spend their time where it is most effective, in the classroom. There are too many pencil pushers in the central office creating excess work for teachers in order to justify their jobs. Get rid of them.

· It's this simple: The teachers support the kids, the principals support the teachers, the superintendent supports the principals, and EVERYONE follows the rules already on the books.

· It is important that the superintendent continue with the initiatives that are in already in place for Chatham. It is most important that we consider someone who will commit to a contract for a minimum of 5 years. Furthermore, it is most important that the person hired does not take the county through a whirlwind of changes in a short period of time.

· The new person should not be interested in maintaining "programs" but allowing schools to do what works at individual sites. We need a person that is comfortable with principals being school leaders. One of the best things that we had was the principal's forum and that was done away with under the new administration. This was a forum where principals could discuss school issues and get feedback on solving them.

· Chatham County is not as poor as the commissioners want us to think we are. I think a lot of the money which is designated for technology could be awarded to us in salary. It doesn't matter how many computers you have if you don't have good teachers in the classrooms showing them how to use them. Frankly, I think we put way to much stock in technology.

· I would like the next superintendent to have a holistic view of how to educate children. The next superintendent should view education as a way to produce not only high test scores, but competent and confident individuals who are happy, healthy and can contribute to the betterment of our community.

· Each and every employee in the school system should be treated equally. No matter what their job is, everyone should be treated the same when it comes to bonuses and end of year celebrations. Everyone is important for Chatham Co. Schools to be a success.

· Chatham County Schools needs a superintendent who has been with our community and seen the growth that we are currently dealing with as well the anticipated growth. Our school system needs someone who is a vocal advocate for building new schools, staffing schools with the correct amount of teachers, and someone who will be here when the going gets tough. Our county is no longer the "small, rural area" it once was. We need someone who is willing to invest their time and energy for years to come.

· Person needs to have a vision for the most important educational strategies especially for middle and high schools. Should make a commitment to stay in Chatham for a long enough period that he/she can see the results of program implemented.

· The new superintendent should also be someone who not only works well with the community, but someone who is willing to help the school employees and stand behind decisions made in the right manner. We do not need a superintendent that will only listen to the community and not the school personnel; we need this person to be flexible with both.

· The new superintendent should remove the highly-paid cabinet and get back to basics.

· The superintendent needs to hire experienced, competent administration for schools; and be willing to make changes in current positions as needed.

· This superintendent needs to understand the strong difference between various schools in our system and support the needs based on these differences.

· The teachers want a supportive and genuine superintendent who also understands the parents.

· Should inspire direct reports to be creative, industrious, honorable, and dedicated to providing the very best service to the education community.

· No “cabinet”. I hope that the new Superintendent will not bring in his/her selected people with little or no experience and pay them thousands of dollars more than experienced people that are already employed by the system. Also, the local supplements paid to the "cabinet" should be reviewed and brought in line with teacher supplements.

· I feel the new superintendent should be familiar with Chatham County Schools, and should be willing to listen to groups and individuals from all areas of the county.

· Please select a person who will insist that a decent level of dignity, behavior, and discipline be restored at NHS.

· This system in terms of morale is in the dumper.

· We have a school board which is powerless despite the efforts of one member to take some control. It seems the school board likes mediocre performance and that attitude permeates the system. We need more business people and former military people to get control and have the new superintendent lead. If this doesn't happen, I am out of here the end of this school year with my 11 years of experience.

· The new Super should not be a micro-manager. Principals can run their schools, the Super needs to run the System and be a liaison between the schools and the BOE. After an initial evaluation of the system, the new Super can make adjustments; however, they should not come in and "fix what ain't broke". Coming in and changing things for the sake of changing them, only to notch their resume is not needed.

· THE SUPERINTENDENT SOULD BE A PERSON OF THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY WITHOUT A PERSONAL AGENDA. HEISHE SHOULD BE ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL OF CHATHAM COUNTY STUDENTS NOT CERTAIN AREAS. THE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE UNIQUENESS OF CHATHAM

·COUNTY SCHOOL. HEISHE SHOULD BE WILING TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH FROM WITHIN THE COUNTY.

· This superintendent must be able to have clear communication and an understanding of conditions and situations from the "trenches" in order to make system-wide decisions. A person who is in touch with the stakeholders is a must. Fresh perspectives are necessary, tempered with a sensitivity to see what's working and what's not.

· I would like someone who makes choices that are best for the children and staff based on solid research, and not on opinion.

· Candidate needs to consider including directors at cabinet level meetings in order to have more effective communication of programs and county focus better articulated. More collaboration with all departments at county office.

· Should truly understand and care about what is in the best interest of each and every child. Should make sure that the east and west are brought together. Should be fair in allotments and in the distribution to the schools. Should attempt to rebuild the moral in the total system. Should attempt to keep in place principals and teachers who have been faithful to the county and system and keep them in our community schools. Should make sure that principals are treated fairly and pay is equitable.

· Everyone that works in the school system should be treated equally as well as fairly including all departments of the school system. A bit of common sense would not hurt one thing.

· Teachers should be included in interview and selection process, teacher input in decisions, calendar, payroll and county office hiring, has been a teacher, in favor of teachers choosing workshops and professional development that meets their needs, trust teachers to make sound decisions about workshops

· We need a person who understands that every child will not go to college; however the opportunities for college preparation should be available to each child. Discipline and respect for teachers and other students should be an important issue. Administration should set the rules and follow them. Dress codes should be explicit and enforced for both faculty and students. Teachers set the examples and should look like professionals.

· It is important that the Superintendent keep the community very well informed.

· Our next superintendent needs to promote consistency in ESL and content teacher practices across the county. We want all our schools and - students to benefit from best teaching practices.

· Please search for someone with ties to Chatham County.

· We need a person who is not part of the good old boy club.

· I think the new administration should continue to build on what has already been put in place. I don't think this school system needs another overhaul! We need someone that is consistent, a good communicator, GENUINE!

· There has been a lot of turnover as well. I think it is extremely important to a superintendent that is familiar with the make-up of our county. It would be great to hire someone who has lived here, worked here, and is proud of this county. If not, the person will want to come in and make our school system like other school systems, and we're not.

· A superintendent who can balance the needs of parents, teachers, and the community would be an asset.

· Our school system, and the Central Office in particular, has undergone dramatic changes in the past two years. Please consider a candidate who is willing to move in our current direction without making new, substantial changes in either personnel or policy.

· Worry less about pay raises at county office and more about the people who actually work in the schools. Without the school staff, there would be no need for central office staff. Let’s treat everyone fairly money wise.

· It would be nice to have a superintendent who does not try to staff the central office with all of their friends or individuals that they have worked with in the past, who will be equitable to all schools regardless of the location, and one who will not be so "top heavy".

· The Superintendent should respect and communicate with all staff and school personnel on a constant level. Children should be the priority.

· Should have a global management style and not be a micro-manager.

· A person who cares about all kind of teacher's concerns.

· Business and personal skills are most important. It is not necessary for someone to be a native of Chatham in order to have CCSS best interests at heart. Candidates who have previous experience as a successful superintendent are also very important as well.

· All departments are important to how our school system operates not just the teachers and administration. There is too much waste of money in our school system, too many high salary jobs being given to unqualified people. Purchasing items that are not needed, and throwing away equipment that is still in good working order. Employees bonuses are not only important for teachers but for ALL staff members.

· Someone who is willing to change current situations which are problematic.

· Candidates should be investigated thoroughly. Former coworkers, community members, employees, etc. need to be polled in depth to determine each candidate’s past performance. It would be most helpful to have someone who has been a principal and has a variety of experience.

· We need a superintendent who is not going to try and organize the central office like a company. Get rid of titles that include the words chief and officer. We need a superintendent who does not have power/control issues and can take advice from people in the trenches. God help us make a good choice this time.

· I feel that it is very important that the next superintendent be from Chatham County with strong ties to the community and plans to remain in Chatham County.

· The superintendent should have demonstrable experience with diverse school populations and should have some ability in speaking Spanish.

· Should support More at Four or Pre-K in public schools Should be able to delegate to individuals who have expertise in their own area Have a broad focus, not just one are (i.e. technology)

· I believe our new superintendent should have a vested interest in Chatham County Schools, not just some fly-by-night who intends to use our system as a stepping stone. I would also like to see a superintendent who is supportive of teachers and attempts to hire teachers who (themselves) attended Chatham County Schools. The new superintendent should recognize the importance of the teachers' personal lives and attempt to minimize county meetings and evening events that teachers much supervise. I would appreciate a superintendent who recognizes teachers to be professionals and will trust them to behave in a professional manner - meaning, eliminating some of the bureaucratic procedures that are in place or are being established currently. Our system is entirely too top-heavy.

· Should leave the things that are working in Chatham County schools alone or enhance them and change the things that are not being effective rather than just "change" things so that they can say they have changed things.

· Discipline is a big issue in my school. Much of the staff is frustrated and feels unsupported when it comes to school discipline. We try to enforce rules but administrative staff typically metes out ridiculously soft consequences for rude and disrespectful behaviors. This is probably the biggest source of teacher discontent in the school. (NHS)

· Must value all staff at any level of job and honestly convey this. Involve staff from various levels in major decision making vs. top down approach.

· Someone who is truly willing to use available funds to provide technology to all classrooms across the county and smaller class sizes, not for more administrative positions and other "stuff'.

· Needs to have a strong interest in athletics, not just lip service

· The current direction and status of the school system is very terrible. Test scores have gone down along with faculty and staff moral. We need a superintendent to bring things back to working in the matter they did before where test scores were on the rise and people enjoyed working for CCS. Moral within the district has gone down due to lack of leadership. There is division at the CO from the Senior Staff (Cabinet), Directors and then the work ants that make things happen in the district. The work ants of the district are not allowed to consult with the cabinet officials. All information has to be channeled through directors up to cabinet to make decisions. Then they come back and say no we don't like that idea and information has changed so much. Then in my department I have been discouraged from talking to the BOE several times. Any concerns that I have I have to take to my cabinet member and I never know if the board ever receives the info. I also was told before this survey came out that the only way I could let the BOE know what I wanted in a Superintendent was to come as a private citizen and not as a school district employee. If you take nothing else from my comments please keep this information, I would like to see the BOE take more control into their hands and less into the senior staff. I also would like to see a superintendent who does have an open door policy to where if I needed to speak with them I don't have to make 2 appointments with other people before I get to speak with the Superintendent. If the cabinet can be removed it would be wonderful.

· A superintendent that is not only concerned about test scores but someone who considers utilizing current county personnel for advancement rather than always bringing in someone new. A superintendent who is concerned with reducing class size by increasing the number of teachers not the number of central office positions. For example, HR used to be a 2 person department and now it is an 8 person department. I don’t think the county has grown significantly to warrant such an increase in the department. A superintendent that is reasonably approachable; meaning employees do not have to go through the cabinet chain of command. A superintendent that is a part of the educational community; not a "cabinet." A superintendent that hires people with educational backgrounds. A superintendent that addresses payroll concerns immediately instead of making excuses that data needs to be entered every year. Technology has advanced too much for that to be an acceptable excuse. A superintendent who will examine the amount of time teachers are spending after school in meetings (not working on lesson plans, parent conferences, or grading papers) and develop some type of a comp time program or put a cap on the number of meetings to be held while taking into consideration travel expenses.

· They need to know about our school system and understand the diversity that exists from one end of the county to the other.

· Should be someone that is from Chatham and is willing to stay here, and not use us for a stepping stone. I think that they would be more likely to stay with us if they have ties to this county other than a pay check!

· Please someone who treats all schools equally and does not favor the northern end of the county. The feeder schools to Chatham Central are not as vocal as the northern end of the county. Please do not let them get pushed aside as in the past.

· This person should be supportive in ways that children will benefit from their education. Should be an avid supporter of principals and provide more resources to schools in need.

· Responsiveness to parents and concern for the welfare of the central office staff is very important.

· The next superintendent should not be allowed to call his/her staff, ''The Cabinet".

· I believe it is also important to hire someone who tries to put Chatham County employees and graduates in vacant positions when appropriate. We have some very qualified folks who are capable of serving in leadership positions as opposed to bringing in so many outsiders or a person who has been in Chatham County for more than three years

· I know that there is talk about having our next superintendent be more from the business sector, but education is about children, not only the bottom line. I firmly believe there MUST be a balance. Too much business and you lose the educational professionals in the trenches. Not enough business and you lose the perspective of a future vision for Chatham County. Remember that she does not operate alone, but his/her role as lead educator for our county should be paramount!

· Chatham's growth requires the consideration of a superintendent experienced with larger districts. In the last year or so, the central office has become larger and often has difficulty communicating amongst departments and teachers.

· The superintendent should never have a cabinet. That shows that only a select few know very little. I do not like the way that the central office turned from being an open place to having to be escorted throughout the building being an employee. Also too much of the budget is tied up in wasteful spending at the central office and not available to the individual teachers who could use that money very usefully in the classroom.

· The current direction of the school system is on a downward trend. Moral is very poor and test scores continue to decline. We need someone to lead this school system and at the same time be accessible

· We need to feel like our opinions are listened to and matter to the Superintendent. The Superintendent needs to know and care about the people that work around them and not just know and rely totally on "The Cabinet".

· Keep all employees informed of changes before they happen and get input from the ones who will be affected by those changes. People who do the job everyday know a whole lot more then they get credit for. Do away with the inner circle (or cabinet).

· We need someone who is willing address growth and space ,and more resources

· Figure out a way to get more of the money from the top down to the "trenches" where the real work is actually done.