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Arlene Ackerman Resigns as Superintendent
May 17, 2000

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Press release Resignation letter Biography

News
D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Public Engagement · District of Columbia Public Schools 202-442-5635 · fax: 202-442-5418 · www.k12.dc.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2000
Contact: Devonya Smith
(202) 442-5010
Pager: 1-888-769-1407

ACKERMAN ANNOUNCES DECISION

"No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which any one can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance. " By Henry Miller

After careful thought and heartfelt deliberation, D.C. Public School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has announced her resignation effective July 17, 2000 in a letter to Financial Authority Chairman, Dr. Alice M. Rivlin. In her letter of resignation, Mrs. Ackerman expressed regret in her decision to leave what she describes as the most difficult job of her professional career, but also the most rewarding.

During Ackerman's three-year tenure as Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent, tremendous strides have been made to move the D.C. Public Schools from crisis to promise. Mrs. Ackerman arrived as Chief Academic Officer in 1997 not long after the Control Board had released its monumental 1996 report: Children In Crisis: A Report on the Failure of D.C.'s Public Schools. Ackerman became Superintendent in May 1998. Since then, there have been significant accomplishments that have contributed to the national attention now focused on the District's public schools:

  • Improved academic achievement
  • Ended social promotion
  • Year-round (Saturday and Summer) learning opportunities for more than 40,000 students
  • Highly-regarded content standards for all subjects
  • Performance targets for schools with incentive awards
  • Social studies textbook adoption for grades K-12 and science secondary subjects
  • A Weighted Student Formula that promotes fiscal equity among all schools
  • Negotiated pay increases for teachers and principals, and developed evaluation instruments that include pay-for-performance incentive clauses
  • Collaboration with the Washington Teachers' Union on multiple education initiatives
  • Restructuring of the Special Education department for improved programs and services and the elimination of longstanding backlog for initial assessments
  • Improved school facilities with major capital improvements and repairs
  • Reduced central administration costs from 15% to less than 6% of school district budget
  • Two additional hours of operation for central administrative offices to better serve school staff and citizens (new hours of 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. replaced 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.)

Mrs. Ackerman is especially pleased with the aggressive reform agenda that puts children first. "I believe that we are on the right track," Ackerman states, "and have laid the foundation for continuous progress." The core beliefs that have guided the reforms are manifested in many, many ways. Parents and teachers eagerly report victories in the classrooms that come in the form of support for new teachers, resources, books, content standards and professional development opportunities. Children are succeeding in a variety of ways beyond the improved test scores. Educational opportunities have been greatly expanded with the support of the corporate community and a host of community volunteers. These range from the tutorial activities of DC Reads and increased instructional technology to the DC College Access Program that is sending more college-bound students to post secondary colleges and universities across the nation.

In leaving, Mrs. Ackerman expresses her confidence that under the leadership of Mayor Anthony Williams, the Authority, the Council and Congresswoman Holmes Norton that the city will take the necessary actions to ensure that the infrastructure needed to support school operations are implemented in a timely and efficient manner.

Mrs. Ackerman is delighted to have been part of the new renaissance of Washington, D.C., and leaves with great respect and admiration for the scores of dedicated educators and staff members who work tirelessly on behalf of students. She also expresses her thanks to the many parents, community and business members who have offered their unwavering encouragement and support. A special thanks is also owed to the business community for their generous and unselfish commitment of time, resources, dollars and technical expertise on behalf of our schools. "The outpouring of support and kind expressions of encouragement have been overwhelming," says Ackerman, "and made it absolutely heartwrenching to reach my decision."

Mrs. Ackerman also used her letter of resignation to thank the current and past members of the Control Board, the Mayor, Congresswoman Holmes Norton, the elected School Board and, specifically, the Emergency Transitional Board of Trustees for their work and support that made the progress over the past three years possible. She closed her letter with a remembrance of the "wonderful, beautiful children of this city" who she has seen as an inspiration because of their many talents and demonstrated will to succeed.

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at 11:15 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. at the D.C.P.S. Administration Building, 825 North Capitol St., N.E., in the 5th floor board room.

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002-4232 202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us

May 17, 2000

The Honorable Alice M. Rivlin
Chairman
D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority
One Thomas Circle, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005

Re: Letter of Resignation

Dear Dr. Rivlin:

After careful thought and heartfelt deliberation, it is with regret that I tender this letter of resignation as Superintendent of the District of Columbia Public Schools, effective July 17, 2000. When I became Superintendent two years ago, I knew that I had accepted one of the most difficult jobs of my professional career. It has been that, but I want you and everyone in this city to know that it has also been the most rewarding.

In my tenure as Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent, tremendous strides have been made to move this school district from crisis to promise. These are accomplishments that would make any school district proud:

  • Improved academic achievement
  • Ended social promotion
  • Year-round (Saturday and Summer) learning opportunities for more than 40,000 students
  • Highly regarded content standards for all subjects
  • Performance targets for schools with incentive awards
  • Textbook adoptions for grades K-12 and bilingual education
  • A Weighted Student Formula that promotes equity
  • Negotiated pay increases for teachers and principals, and evaluation instruments that include pay-for-performance incentive clauses
  • Collaboration with the Washington Teachers' Union on multiple education initiatives
  • Restructuring of the Special Education department for improved programs and services and the elimination of longstanding backlog for initial assessments
  • Improved school facilities with major capital improvements and repairs
  • Reduced central administration costs from 15% to less than 6% of school district budget
  • Expanded central office hours (two hours) to better serve school staff and citizens

The D.C. Public Schools are now attracting national attention because of our aggressive reform agenda that puts children first I believe that we are on the right track and have laid the foundation for continuous progress. The important work that lies ahead for sustained progress will require every aspect of local government and the community to support the total reform of the D.C. Public Schools. I am confident that under your leadership, and that of Mayor Anthony Williams, this city will take the necessary actions to ensure that the infrastructure needed to support school operations will be implemented in a timely manner.

It has been my pleasure to be a part of the new renaissance of Washington, D.C. I salute, with great respect and admiration, the scores of dedicated educators and staff members who work tirelessly on behalf of our students. I thank the many parents, community and business members who have offered their unwavering encouragement, resources and technical expertise. I also want to thank the Control Board members (past and present), Mayor Williams, Congresswoman Norton, members of the Council, the Board of Education and, specifically, the Emergency Transitional Board of Trustees whose work and focused support have made this progress possible. Finally, I will never forget the wonderful, beautiful children of this city. They, as an inspiration to all of us, have exhibited a multitude of talents and have demonstrated the will to succeed.
I wish for this school district much continued success. Those who have worked so hard will continue to do so, because they do it for children. I will be leaving for San Francisco, but a part of my heart will always be here.

Respectfully,

Arlene Ackerman
Superintendent
AA: bd
cc: Ms. Constance B. Newman
Mayor Anthony Williams
Councilman Kevin P. Chavous
Rev. Robert G. Childs
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent
825 North Capitol Street, N. E., 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002-4232
202-442-5885, fax: 202-442-5026
www.k12.dc.us

Arlene Ackerman
Superintendent
District of Columbia Public Schools

Arlene Ackerman has served in public education for 31 years and is currently Superintendent of the Washington, D.C. Public Schools. Her work experiences include classroom teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels; principal at the middle school level;. Director, Upward Bound Program for first generation college-bound students; Director, Basic Skills Academy for at-risk high school youth; Assistant Superintendent, Special Services, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Achievement and Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer. Ms. Ackerman possesses a strong leadership background with an unparalleled blend of academic credentials and professional accomplishments.

Superintendent Ackerman is affiliated with such organizations as Phi Delta Kappa (Harvard University Chapter), the Council of the Great City Schools, College Access Board, D.C. Agenda, Reading is Fundamental, Inc.--National Advisory Council Board Member, Haberman Educational Foundation, Inc.Advisory Board Member, Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area, National Urban Alliance--Board Member, Network for Instructional Television, Inc.--Board of Directors, National Alliance of Black School Educators, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the American Association of School Administrators, the Washington Performing Arts Society, the Wesley Theological Seminary Board of Governors and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.

Also, Ms. Ackerman has received numerous honors and awards, including Uniquely University City Award for Outstanding Service, Apple for the Teacher Award (Iota Lambda Sorority), Distinguished Alumni Award (Harris Stowe Teachers College), and the McDonnell Douglas Fellow (Harvard Urban Superintendents Program). She also has been honored in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Ms. Ackerman is currently pursuing her doctorate in Administration, Planning and Social Policy through the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Urban Superintendents Program. She holds a Master of Arts in Education from Harvard University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Policy from Washington University (St. Louis, MO) and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Harris Stowe Teachers College (St. Louis, MO).

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