As local students, teachers and parents settle into the 2012-13 school year, they may have noticed a historic development.
This school year marks the first time that Marion County, in its 190-year history, has four African-American school superintendents, two of whom are women.
They are:
n Dr. Dena Cushenberry of the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township.
n Dr. Nathaniel Jones of the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township.
n Dr. Eugene White of Indianapolis Public Schools.
n Dr. Nikki Woodson of the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township.
Individually, they bring a high caliber of experience and skill to their positions. Collectively, they represent a significant portion of the educational community in Central Indiana, overseeing school districts that have a combined total of more than 67,000 students.
Although Marion County has had African-American superintendents before – Dr. Percy Clark in Lawrence Township schools from 1982 to 1996, and Dr. Shirl Gilbert in IPS from 1990 to 1994 – this school year is the first time that several minority superintendents have served concurrently.
“Times are changing and this is very exciting,” said Woodson.
Plans for the year
Last month, Cushenberry took office as superintendent following the retirement of her predecessor, Dr. Peggy Hinckley, becoming the second African-American woman to lead a school district in Indianapolis.
Although not available at press time, Cushenberry but during an earlier said more rigorous academic standards will be emphasized, and shared what she believes is the goal and mission of Warren Township schools.
“Our mission is to prepare students to be self-directed learners who are literate, creative, critical thinking and civic-minded democratic citizens who do meaningful and productive work in school and for post-school life,” Cushenberry said.
In Pike Township, Jones said his Northwestside district is placing a “tremendous emphasis” on increased student achievement on standardized assessments. Pike schools, he said, have already made steady increases in the past three years on ISTEP, especially in the elementary schools.
“Therefore, we will continue to help our wonderful teachers implement best instructional strategies with fidelity within their classrooms to continue the goal of increased student achievement at all levels,” said Jones.
In addition, Pike Township is offering a full-day kindergarten program, which currently has over 900 students.
In addition, new construction has taken place for Guion Creek and College Park elementary schools.
This school year, Pike will also pilot the state approved RISE Teacher and Principal Evaluation Model, a very comprehensive evaluation process that was developed to strengthen the evaluation process for teachers.
“The RISE evaluation will allow for differentiation in compensation for teachers based on student achievement on several assessments,” Jones said.
During the 2012-13 school year Pike Township will implement its new strategic plan that was developed by 150 community leaders, parents, students, teachers, administrators and School Board members.
“I am excited about the strategic plan because it will serve as a blueprint to advance Pike to the next level of excellence in many different facets of its operations,” Jones stated.
In IPS, White, who has led the state’s largest school district since 2005, heralded new developments such as the opening of the new Gambold College Prep High School and the new Longfellow Magnet Middle School, which has an AVID focus.
White added that IPS will also implement the new RISE Teacher Evaluation System, with an additional focus on an eight-step instructional process.
“We’ll also complete the third phase of our renovation projects,” White said. “We will have 15 Superintendent Cluster Schools selected to improve their academic instruction, performance and assessment improvement. Voyager Learning is the lead partner in this project.”
Other things IPS is looking forward to this school year is a new gymnasium and academic programs at Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy, a new partnership between that school and the IU School of Law; expansion of the science and social studies Discovery Education programs, the Centennial Celebration of Arsenal Technical High School next month and the Annual Conference of the Council of Great City Schools in October, which IPS will host.
In Washington Township, where Woodson is in her second year as superintendent, plans are being made for full implementation of the International Baccalaureate IB program, which awards diplomas earned by meeting high academic expectations and standards.
Instead of just saying select students or schools could have IB, the district decided to make sure every child has this opportunity, because it is their right,” Woodson said. “If this is good for one child, why isn’t it good for every child in our district?”
Woodson added that Washington Township’s full implementation of IB is remarkable because it is one of a few districts in the country to do so.
“It’s an international framework known around the world that represents our major areas of focus, because it involves everything including how we teach in our classrooms, the training of the teachers our assessments and expectations of students,” she added.
This year, Washington Township is also deploying a new calendar that will add 55 minutes to the school day for elementary students, to match other districts and give instructors more time to teach material and meet higher standards.
In addition, some days have been redistributed to provide one full week for the fall and Thanksgiving breaks.
Increasing minority achievement
Jones, White and Woodson agreed that a major challenge for all school districts is reducing the achievement disparities among students of different cultural and economic backgrounds.
Jones said Pike will continue to implement its current support programs and strategies because they have proven to be successful. The projected graduation rate this year, he stated, is 91 percent, and the non-waiver rate 81 percent.
“As a school district, we increased our expectations for students and saw an increase in the percentage of students receiving CORE 40 diplomas and Honors diplomas,” Jones said. “These figures are most impressive because Pike is one of the most diverse school districts in Indiana.”
According to the National Students Clearinghouse, which tracks the subsequent educational endeavors of students after graduation, 89.58 percent of Pike graduates from the class of 2008 enrolled in college, and over 80 percent of graduates have either graduated from college, or are still pursuing their post-secondary degrees.
Jones said Pike Township recognizes the importance of addressing disparities, but more importantly, is committed to closing the achievement gap and increasing achievement for all groups.
“I firmly believe offering full-day kindergarten to all students is a strategy that will begin the process of addressing achievement disparities,” Jones said. “We will also implement research-based instructional strategies with fidelity to ensure that all students receive a quality education.”
White said graduation rates for African-American students in IPS increased from 47 percent in 2007 to 64 percent in 2011. Also, the number of African-American students earning a Core 40 Diploma increased from 54 percent to 69 percent.
White credits the increase to the improvement and monitoring of instruction in English/language arts and mathematics, as well as introduction of the 8-Step Instructional Process.
“Accountability for the supervision of instruction and the active evaluation of teachers and administrators has made a tremendously effective difference in student performance,” White said. “These practices plus culturally sensitive practices and behavior create a positive environment in which all students can learn.”
Woodson noted that a majority of students in Washington Township are minorities, and the district is proud of its diversity.
She said the district has many students of color who are excelling at the same level, and in some circumstances, surpassing their white counterparts in achievement. Woodson says she still believes Washington Township has a racial achievement gap like other districts in the county.
The township, she said, has programs to assist minority students who are at-risk of not graduating on time, but also understands it can’t lower the standards for high achieving students, white and otherwise, just to close the racial achievement gap.
“We need those students to continue to achieve and excel while also accelerating the learning for those who are not achieving at the same level,” she said.
Washginton Township, Woodson, has its Learning Center and “a matrix” of support systems specifically designed to support students of color by encouraging higher academic pursuits among Black and Hispanic/Latinos, and offer guidance for refugee students arriving form foreign countries.
“We don’t have a one-size fits all program because not all students have the same needs,” Woodson said. “What have are smaller support systems in place to support the specific needs of students within that matrix.”
Dr. Dena Cushenberry
– Education: Bachelors, masters, specialist and doctorate degrees from Indiana University.
– Career highlights: Previously served as associate deputy superintendent. Thirty-one years experience in education, including 13 with Warren Township. Served as principal and assistant principal at middle and elementary school level. Opened Liberty Park Elementary School, recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 2008.
District profile:
– 2011-12 enrollment – 11,741
– Graduation rate – 87.6 percent
– Ethnicity – 46 percent Black, 37 percent white, 9 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian and multiracial.
– Poverty – 66 percent of students qualified for free or reduced priced meals.
– Attendance rate – 96.5 percent
– Percent passing ISTEP – 65.3 percent
– Percent taking SAT/ACT – 59 percent SAT, 70 percent ACT.
Dr. Nathaniel Jones
– Education: Bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from Indiana University.
– Career highlights: More than three decades in education, starting as elementary school teacher in IPS followed by 25 years of administration in Washington Township. Previously served as a principal, director of elementary education and assistant superintendent for instruction. Has won honors such as a Congressional Salute and the Milken Educator Award.
District profile:
– 2011-12 Enrollment- 11,074
– Graduation rate – 91.8 percent
– Ethnicity – 59 percent Black, 17.5 percent Hispanic, 13.5 percent white, 10 percent multiracial and Asian.
– Poverty – 59 percent qualified for free or reduced meals.
– Attendance rate – 96.3 percent
– Percent passing ISTEP – 60.5 percent
– Percent taking SAT/ACT – 49.7 percent (for both)
Dr. Eugene White
– Education: Bachelors in social studies, health and physical education from Alabama A&M University; masters in school health from the University of Tennessee, doctorate in superintendence from Ball State University and doctorate in education administration and supervision from Ball State University.
– Career highlights: Teacher, coach and administrator in Fort Wayne Community Schools for 19 years. First African American principal in that city. Joined Washington Township in 1990, where he became principal of North Central High School. Served as deputy superintendent of IPS before returning to Washington Township, where he served as superintendent. Has been given numerous national awards and honors.
District profile:
– 2010-11 Enrollment- 33,079
– Graduation rate – 91.8 percent
– Ethnicity – 54 percent Black, 23 percent white, 17.5 percent Hispanic, nearly five percent multiracial and Asian.
– Poverty – 81 qualified for free or reduced priced meals.
– Attendance rate – 95 percent
– Percent passing ISTEP – 49.9 percent
– Percent taking SAT/ACT – 26.2 percent (SAT) and 45.8 percent (ACT)
Dr. Nikki Woodson
– Education: Bachelors in special education from Ball State University, masters in education from Butler University and doctorate in philosophy from Purdue University.
– Career highlights: Most recently, served as assistant superintendent in Washington Township. Prior to that, worked for Lawrence Township for 12 years, serving as principal, director of staff development, director of communications and director of continuous improvement. Recently named among Indy’s Best and Brightest.
District profile:
– 2011-12 Enrollment – 11,155
– Graduation rate – 83. 2 percent
– Ethnicity – 41 percent Black, 34 percent white, 14 percent Hispanic and 10 percent multiracial and Asian.
– Poverty – 54.6 percent qualified for free or reduced priced lunch.
– Attendance rate – 96.5 percent
– Percent passing ISTEP – 65.8 percent
– Percent taking SAT/ACT – 78.4 percent (SAT), 44.8 percent (ACT).
Source: Statistics from Indiana Department of Education. District figures are the most recent available.
