Ann Arbor Public Schools has invited stakeholders to take part in focus groups and collect input on their next superintendent. Stakeholders including WISD, LEAs, post-secondary, private schools, parents, students, community groups and centers as well as instructional staff (union leadership, building reps and caucus members) have been encouraged to participate in in-person meet ups and online survey on or before January 12th as well as an open parent and community forum on Sunday, January 14th. Hazard Young, Atteam & Associates will take part of the conversations to learn more about what the district desires for their future leader.
Focus Groups and Online Survey
Ann Arbor Public Schools will be hosting a series of focus groups, in-person and via Zoom, to collect input from stakeholders on their next superintendent. The district also encourages community members to provide feedback through an online survey by the 12th of January. Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates have arranged for 8 to 9 AM for WISD, LEAs, post-secondary, former board members and private schools at the Earhart Building, 3700 Earhart Road; as well as a 9:15 to 10:15 AM open parent and community forum (open to anyone in the community) via Zoom. This is an excellent opportunity for the Ann Arbor community to make their voices heard.
PTO Council Meeting
PTO Council Meeting
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Time: 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
Location: Earhart Building, 3700 Earhart Road
Student Group No. 1 Zoom Meeting
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Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Instructional Staff Meeting
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Time: 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Earhart Building, 3700 Earhart Road
Community Groups and Centers Zoom Meeting
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Time: 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
Student Group No. 2 Zoom Meeting
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Time: 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
The PTO council is proudly meeting on Earhart Building, 3700 Earhart Road from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. At 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Student group No. 1 will hold a Zoom meeting and Instructional staff (union leadership, building reps and caucus members) will meet in the Earhart Building from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Community groups and centers will take part in a Zoom meeting from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. and Student group No. 2 will join a Zoom meeting from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Open Parent and Community Forum
The Ann Arbor Public Schools community is excited to host an open parent and community forum via Zoom on Sunday, January 14th from 6:30-7:30 PM. HYA, who has conducted searches in other Michigan school districts including Battle Creek, East Lansing, Plymouth, Flint, Kalamazoo and Traverse City, will ask questions during the forum to gain insight into what the next superintendent should build upon, challenges they should be aware of, characteristics and traits desired, and any additional information that may be helpful in finding the best fit for the position.
Following the meetings, HYA will begin interviewing and screening potential candidates before presenting a leadership profile to the AAPS board in February. The search firm will present a slate of candidates during a special meeting and interview workshop on March 6, with the first round of candidate interviews taking place at 10 a.m. on March 16, and the board identifying six to eight semifinalists during an eight-hour meeting. Site visits for the semifinalists are scheduled between March 18 and April 26, with final interviews held on April 3. AAPS is confident that the process will be completed by the end of April, with the new superintendent’s contract beginning July 1.
The AAPS school board is proud to appoint longstanding administrator Jazz Parks as its interim superintendent, following a voluntary settlement and resignation agreement with previous Superintendent Jeanice Swift. After an extensive review process, the school board approved an employment agreement with Jazz Parks on November 8th, marking the start of a new chapter in the district’s history.
Ann Arbor Public Schools has taken a helpful and proactive approach to the selection of their next superintendent. By supporting stakeholder input through organized and virtual focus groups and inviting all community members to participate in the online survey and forum, the search will benefit from direct information gathered both locally and statewide. In particular, the open parent and community forum, hosted on the 14th of January by HYA, will provide an essential opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties to give their insight. Through this multi-faceted process aimed at allowing all voices in the district to be heard, new vision and inspired leadership can be brought into the Ann Arbor schools.
