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HISD Superintendent Abe Saavedra wants to retire next year or sooner, so the school board and an outside search firm are holding a full week of private and public meetings designed to help them write the profile of the perfect superintendent. District Chief of Staff Michelle Pola says they’re hearing the qualities people want in a superintendent.
“We’re hearing communicator, collaborator, somebody who’s a good listener, somebody who is very focused on the students, and recognizes the community as a whole and the diversity of the community. Being accessible, being visible, motivating of course, inspirational.”
Pola says the search firm and board members are meeting in-house with students, administrators, teachers and employees. Outside they’re meeting with elected officials, civic leaders, spiritual leaders, and the general public.
“They really want to hear what the community has to say, with the understanding that the Board of Education is responsible, and it is their responsibility to make the final decision on the selection of the superintendent.”
Pola says the board will start interviewing candidates as soon as they can analyze all the input, and determine the sort of person who’s best for the job. The search process is moving right along because the board wants a new superintendent on the job by September. The next public meeting is tonight at 6:30 at Deady Middle School, on Broadway near the South Loop on the east end.
Jim Bell, KUHF, Houston Public Radio News.