What I’ve Learned as a State Turnaround Superintendent

My View

In 2022, I was asked by the Arkansas commissioner of education to serve as superintendent of a turnaround school system that had been placed under state authority twice previously. Officially, the district was assigned Level 5 supervision, the most intensive oversight and support from the state, for issues relating to licensed teachers and management.

School districts across Arkansas are taken over due to consistent low performance academically, but long-term success as a result of the state intervention rarely lasts. The district previously operated under state authority in 2011 through 2016 because of fiscal distress.

My journey over nearly two years in this role has taught me four key components of sustained change that lead to high yields.