TALLADEGA COUNTY — The Talladega County Board of Education interviewed three finalists for superintendent Thursday evening. The board will likely go into executive session to discuss issues of good name and character today at 2 p.m. before putting the issue to a public vote.The finalists were Rita Wright, Chuck Ledbetter and Suzanne Lacey.
Wright is currently the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Butler County School System. Ledbetter is currently the principal at Councill Middle School in Dadeville, and prior to that was assistant superintendent for the Tallapoosa County system.
Lacey is currently deputy superintendent in Talladega County, and has taught in the county system since 1984.
All three candidates were asked essentially the same questions, and for the most part gave similar responses. The questions and the individual answers are given below.
Why do you want this job?
Wright: I’m familiar with the county. I know and have worked with (current superintendent) Cindy Elsberry, and I taught in Calhoun County. I’ve worked with a lot of people here on technology programs. And the size is just perfect. I’ve worked in Montgomery County, which is way to big, and now I’m in Butler County, which is so small that everybody has to wear 20 different hats.”
”Voltaire said good is the enemy of great,” Wright continued. “Pain is inevitable with change. Talladega County students earned $3 million in scholarships last year, which is a great accomplishment, but it’s not enough. You’ve got 20 percent of Talladega County students going to college, but we’ve gotten that up to 50 percent in Butler County. We’ve got fewer students, but they’re getting just as much scholarship money. I want to focus on making those changes.”
Ledbetter: “My parents and grandparents are all from this area, and I spent a lot time here. It feels like home. And as I got into education in Tallapoosa County, I was working in a rural system that’s dealing with a lot of the same problems Talladega County is facing. But this system has done great things in the past, and I’ve worked with Dr. Lacey on some programs here recently. As a coach, I know I’m not going to invent much, but I can see what others are doing right and apply it to my situation.”
Lacey: “I’ve worked in the Talladega County system since 1984, at Childersburg Middle School as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, and then in the central office since 2000. I’ve been deputy superintendent for the last two years. I’ve had a long, dedicated career here. I originally came to Talladega County planning to stay for a year, and now it’s 24 years later. I also think I’m the best cheerleader for professional development programs, and I feel the various roles I’ve played prepared me to serve the community and the students in a broader fashion.”
To what degree are system policies impacted by various stakeholders, such as the board, the faculty, the administration, the parents and the general public?
Wright: You need collaboration. The roles of the board and the superintendent are largely defined by state law, but they also have to reflect the community in order to earn community support. The superintendent can implement those programs, but she also needs to listen to the faculty and the administrators.”
Ledbetter: “It is critical to continued success to listen to everyone. You take from the parents and the community where you need to go. They have a lot invested in it. Economic development rests on education, so you need to look at the needs for the available work force, too.”
Lacey: “They all have a role to play. It needs to be a collaborative effort. The board has goals, the principals have ideas, the parents express a need for input in the curriculum. We all have opinions on different things, but we have to start preparing for the 21st Century. We need to work with the industries, whether students are work-bound or college-bound. Either way, we have to make sure they’re ready.”
What are the major problems that prevent improving quality instructional programs?
Wright: “The biggest barrier to change is our own memory. Change is hard, and it’s scary, but there are things that have to be done. We have to move our high schools into the 21st Century. We’ve seen that some in the elementary schools with the reading initiative. And professional development is another key.”
Ledbetter: “There are many problems. One thing you’ve got to address is the fact that it is no longer enough to just educate some. You must educate everyone. When I started out, Tallapoosa County was very much a textile area, and most of the graduates would end up working at Russell Mills. That didn’t necessarily require a top education. But those jobs are gone now. High school graduates now need communications skills, critical thinking, and they need to be lifelong learners. In 2008, most of the top 10 most desirable jobs didn’t exist in 2000. So people need to be able to think, to problem solve. But you also have to look at an idea from adult education, which is rigor, relevance and relations. These are things you need to start learning at 10 or 12, not 18 or 20, and those things need to be addressed every day. People need to know why they need to learn things.”
He continued, “Another major problem is personnel. Programs don’t teach, people do. And you need leadership from the principals. That’s critical to the success of any program.”
Lacey: “There are always obstacles to any goal. The idea is try to turn those obstacles into advantages. We have a lack of funds here, but that leads us to partnerships and collaborations. We think in big terms, but we are a rural county, and sometimes we have to look outside the box and come up with some creative measures. There’s also a lack of training that will allow teachers to develop new programs. We’ve done well using teacher leaders to train others, and they give great presentations and broaden the curriculum.”
What are your thoughts on the importance of vocational education?
Wright: I am a strong advocate for Career Tech, and I would like to see it expanded to keep up with the skills that, say, Honda will need. That is critical.”
Ledbetter: “Specialized skills can be important, but problem solving, thinking and communicating are more important. Problem based education is useful whether you’re designing something or drawing up a business plan.”
Lacey: “Career Tech, in the future, will not be a stand alone program. Now, it’s for all students. We’ve seen a significant rise in the enrollment, whether the students are college-bound or work-bound. We also have a good partnership with our advisory council… We need to expand the program.”
What are the roles of the various stakeholders in the budgeting and fiscal management of the system?
Wright: “I don’t look good in stripes, so I want to make sure I stay out of prison. I’ve handled local, state and federal funds and grant projects, and they all have different strings. And you have to be able to explain to people how capital funds are separate from operating funds, so you can still build when it’s a lean year. But financial decisions need to be driven by policies and need, not by history. Everyone needs to be of one mind. It’s a complex process, especially in Alabama, where money comes in at different times from different sources. It can be hard to explain the impact of a downturn.”
Ledbetter: “The stakeholders do interact… Where the money is going matters, and you need to make sure it’s getting where it needs to be. And you have to explain that vision to the stakeholders, and why it’s important.”
Lacey: “The superintendent is a facilitator. (Financial officer) Avery Embry is crucial in his role; he’s got his finger on the pulse of the budget. But 85 percent of our funding goes to personnel, so we’ve got to work creatively to find funding. It’s a collaborative process for the board and the stakeholders, which is why it’s important to hold work sessions before approving the budget.”
What should be the relationship between business and industry and the classroom?
Wright: That relationship has been neglected too long. We’re not putting out graduates with the needed skills, but industry isn’t getting us the information on what skills they do need. But a career tech program also needs mentorships, and we need graduates ready to go to work, to college or both.”
Wright said she had worked with local companies to get internships and jobs in Butler County during her time there, including a first-tier Hyundai supplier.
In response to a followup, she added, “Bringing the business into the classroom, instead of the other way around, is a good idea, but it can be difficult for smaller businesses to spare someone that long. So we’ve talked about working with industries on curriculum development as a middle ground.”
Ledbetter: “The job we do is critical to them, and they are our lifeline. If we work with business, industry and higher education, we can improve on what any of us could do alone. We also partnered with Russell and the chamber of commerce to make sure our students were prepared, and now we’re working with parts suppliers for Hyundai and Kia. I would do the same thing with Honda here. Historically, the program has produced what was needed, but what was needed has changed faster than we did. If you could read and write you could get a mill job, not everyone needed the top tier. That’s not the case anymore.”
Lacey: "I would cite as an example of that the partnership with Munford Elementary and the U.S. Forest Service. What they did at the elementary school, and are planning for the middle school and high school, couldn't have been done without them. I've also worked with Central Alabama Community College on an early enrollment and dual enrollment program. We're now seeing people earning associate's degrees at 17. But bringing businesses into the classroom is first and foremost. And that's something I wasn't directly involved in until recently, but I found that businesses are willing to come in and connect you with resources that will bring new resources into the classroom. It really opened my eyes."
