Inviting community input on the Kent School District’s search for a new superintendent revealed a number of things about the district from what it does well to what it could do better.
The five- to six-person focus groups provided input from teachers to parents to community members. It is part of the process to help the district search for a successor to Edward Lee Vargas who resigned his position in October.
While the groups praised the district’s diversity and inclusiveness, others felt that it has unresolved issues the new superintendent will need to be aware of.
“It’s a combined community here,” said Sina Siliga, whose child attends school in the district. “We are combined together and work together as well.”
Paul Singh, a Kent businessman, echoed the sentiment that Vargas’ leadership in the district had helped advance cultural integration and cooperation.
“We all have different cultures, values, languages and morals,” Singh said. “It’s very difficult when you have to put a goat and a lion in the same cage.”
The committee also provided input for skills the next superintendent would need to bring to the table. In addition to the same kinds of cultural competency that Vargas displayed, they said they wanted the new leader to have a vision for the district in the future.
“Where do I see the KSD in five or 10 years?” was the question that Dalicia Miller, who is pursuing a master’s degree in administration and whose nephew attends school in the district.
A second group of parents further discussed how to look for a new superintendent.
They agreed with the district’s cultural diversity as a big strength, but added the technology edge that Kent possesses in relation to other schools. They also said that, following the teacher strike in 2009, KSD leadership has been more responsive to problems in the school district.
When pressed for qualities they would want to see from the leadership at the district, community members had their own suggestions.
Honesty and accountability were paramount to Steve Klem.
“If you say you’re gonna do it, do it,” he said.
Alan Sutliff agreed that being accountable and honest about shortcomings as much as achievements is important.
“So many people who make it to the position of superintendent do so by covering things up,” Sutliff said. “With all the groups that play out in a position this big, you gotta be honest or you’re gonna get caught.”
But the group’s biggest and most important need was to have the superintendent capable of discussing the multiculturalism and racial issues in Kent’s many communities and how they relate to the schools.
“South King County is the new America as far as representing diversity,” Sutliff said.
They were looking for a leader who can have the difficult discussions and start to further bridge the gaps that Vargas began. “Courageous conversations” is the buzzword du jour.
“It could be a person of color, it could not be a person of color. They just need to have those skills,” Ray Lee said. “They need buy-in from the community and staff or they’ll get nowhere. You can have some surface level courageous conversation, but you’re not putting on your diving gear and getting in.”
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