School Information System: Madison Names Two Superintendent Finalists, Public Forum on 2.7.2013

February 3, 2013

Madison Names Two Superintendent Finalists, Public Forum on 2.7.2013

The Madison Metropolitan School District has chosen the two finalists for the superintendent position, it was announced Sunday in a press release.

The two finalists are Dr. Jennifer Cheatham, chief of instruction at Chicago Public Schools, and Dr. Walter Milton, Jr., superintendent of Springfield (Ill.) Public Schools.

The public is invited to a public forum Thursday, Feb. 7 at 5:45 p.m. at the Monona Terrace to meet and ask questions of the two candidates. If you cannot attend the forum, you can email your comments or questions to board@madison.k12.wi.us.

Much more on Madison Superintendents.

A recent look at Madison Superintendent hires.

UPDATE: Samara Kalk Derby:

According to Cheatham's biography on the Chicago Public Schools website, her focus is on "systemic improvement in urban school districts" and her expertise "lies in developing instructional alignment and coherence at every level of a school system aimed at achieving breakthrough results in student learning."

She has worked as a Chief Area Officer for Chicago Public Schools and the executive director of Curriculum and Instruction for San Diego City Schools, the biography said. She has a bachelor's degree in English from DePaul University, a master's in education from the University of Michigan, and a master's and doctorate in education from Harvard University.

According to a personal website promoting his book, "Me in the Making: One Man's Journey to Becoming a School Superintendent," Milton is a native of Rochester, N.Y., who earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Albany and a master's from SUNY College at Brockport. He took post-graduate courses at the University of Rochester to receive his administrative certifications, including his superintendent's license. He holds a doctorate of education in leadership and policy from the University of Buffalo. He has also been a teacher and principal.

Google News on On Chicago & Dr. Jennifer Cheatham. More, here:Long on Class Time, Short on Answers .

Google News on Springfield Superintendent Walter Milton.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 3, 2013 1:05 PM
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Comments

A few additional links on Madison's Superintendent experience:

Former Superintendent Art Rainwater arrived in Madison as the Assistant Superintendent from the challenged Kansas City School District:

http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2007/01/notes_and_links.php

http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2008/02/a_chat_with_art.php

Rainwater of course replaced Cheryl Whilhoyte (an "outsider").

http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.schoolinfosystem.org&q=Wilhoyte&sitesearch=www.schoolinfosystem.org&sa=Search&client=pub-3538568741225934&forid=1&channel=2218114178&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A1&hl=en

The recent Paul Vallas Town Hall Meeting in Madison:

http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/community/larry/Vallas-2012-05-26/Resources/Vallas-2012-05-26.html

I've received a number of reader links on the present Superintendent Search, including:

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/09/loan_company_foreclosing_on_fo.html

and

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-farmer/chicago-long-school-days_b_1340227.html

In the end, it is unlikely that one person will transform Madison's $385,911,793 public system. (2012-2013 enrollment is 27,095 PK-12. Per student spending is $14,242.)

http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2013/01/wisconsin_schoo_46.php

We have more assets than most, whether financial, academic or community. Madison should have world class public schools. Our poor reading scores illustrate the basic challenges. The District must focus on a few things (reading, writing and math) and do them well.

http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2012/11/61_page_madison.php

It is no longer 1948 or 1955, yet our institution has not changed much...

Posted by: Jim Zellmer at February 4, 2013 9:08 AM

Will we ever know who was in the pool of 7 semi-finalists, prior to Cheatham and Milton being selected?

Posted by: David Cohen at February 4, 2013 5:52 PM