Back to DC public schools main page
|
Major Areas State Education
Agency Calendars Columns Directories Organizations |
News
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:
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. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS May 17, 2000 The Honorable Alice M. Rivlin 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:
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. Respectfully, Arlene Ackerman DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Arlene Ackerman
|
Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcpswatch.com
Web site copyright ©1997-2009, DCWatch