Akron.com

APS names first chief diversity officer



Also, assistant super announces retirement

DOWNTOWN AKRON — During the March 22 meeting of the Akron Public Schools (APS) Board of Education, board members recommended Carla Chapman as the district’s first-ever chief diversity officer.
Chapman, who most recently served as APS director of community relations, diversity, equity and inclusion, began her career in the district in 1995 as the Enterprise Community Family Services liaison for several inner-city schools in low-income neighborhoods. She later became a social services specialist and special projects coordinator for the district. According to district documents, Chapman “has dedicated her career to advocating for urban families and children.”
“I am so very thankful for this opportunity,” Chapman said. “For me, this is the culmination of 26 years of work in supporting many others around removing barriers for students and families. And, so, I appreciate the work that is ahead of us.
“I embrace all that we are currently doing and have done, while we will continue to deepen our lense around equity and inclusion in our district and continue to work on behalf of the students we serve,” she added. “And most importantly keeping our eye on consistently doing what is in the best interest of our students and families.”
In continuing the district’s superintendent search, the board reviewed the 27 candidates for the position that will become available when current Superintendent David James retires at the end of this school year.
On March 12, the board chose the following eight candidates to participate in first-round interviews:
√ Shaun Black, assistant superintendent of schools, Detroit Public Schools Community District;
√ Vilicia Cade, chief academic officer, Sandusky City Schools;
√ Christine Fowler-Mack, chief portfolio officer, Cleveland Municipal School District;
√ Felisha Gould, assistant superintendent, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District;
√ Rebecca Kaye, chief of information and accountability, Oklahoma City Public Schools;
√ Ryan Pendleton, treasurer/chief financial officer, APS;
√ Markay Winston, assistant superintendent, Monroe County Community School Corp.; and
√ Sandy Womack, area superintendent, Columbus City Schools.
The first-round interviews were expected to be held this week. The board will narrow down that group for second-round interviews, followed by an in-person final round in early April.
During the March 22 meeting, the board discussed hosting forums with the final candidates that will be open to community partners and stakeholders, APS staff, community members, as well as students and families. The district is expected to provide more information about the forums on social media and its website, akronschools.com.
James also said the deadline for families and students to request a change from remote learning to in person, or from in person to remote, is March 31.
“After that, we’ll be processing those,” James said. “We can look at those changes after we’re back from spring break and then finish out the year.”
Regarding end-of-the-year plans for graduation, James said the administration is looking at guidelines set by the Ohio Department of Education.
“It looks like we can have in-person events, but it’s just finding the right venue,” he said. “And then there are some restrictions on the number of people who can be in the audience, so we’re working through that diligently because Akron Early College is the first one that we need to deal with.”
According to the APS website, Akron Early College High School graduation is scheduled for May 6.
James also said the APS administration is working on plans for summer programs to help students who may have experienced learning loss during the pandemic. The deadline to provide this information to the state is April 1, and the superintendent said he would provide a full report to the board at its next regular meeting.
Board members also approved the following:
• the acceptance of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund II, in the amount of $42.7 million. According to board documents, the fund is “intended to help states and school districts safely reopen schools, measure and effectively address significant learning loss, and take other actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the students and families who depend on our K-12 schools”;
• a $25,000 grant from the Akron Community Foundation, which will be added to the foundation’s initial grant of $25,000 — accepted at the Jan. 11 board meeting — for a total grant of $50,000;
• waiving senior dues for the 2020-21 school year;
• donations from individuals and organizations, including a Sonova Amplification System from The LeBron James Family Foundation to the I PROMISE School for instructor voice amplification as needed in individual classrooms to increase class interaction, improve attention and on-task time and lower behavioral incidents, valued at $41,329; $1,194 from an anonymous donor; and $1,000 from Audrey Dean in memory of Janis Zupke-Dean, former APS teacher, for a scholarship to be awarded in her honor;
• the employment of six substitute teachers, three temporary custodial workers, two recreational enrichment specialists at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Middle School; two mail truck drivers; Alexis O’Brien as a special projects teacher for the Virtual Akron After School Spring Program; Carol Jordan as an intervention specialist assistant; Mildred Montgomery as a substitute educational assistant; and Agnes Davis as a family liaison; and
• the retirement of Marilyn Clackler, Cathy Fogle and Kevin Griggs. According to board President N.J. Akbar, Clackler has worked for APS for 50 years, with 20 years in the superintendent’s office. She served most recently as secretary to the superintendent.
“When you’re a new board member, there’s nobody that will put your feet right on the ground like Marilyn,” said board member Lisa Mansfield. “[Marilyn] is a joy, she is a treasure. … She has put up with so many of us, and with everything with David’s office, and phone calls that none of us could even imagine, for more years than we could even imagine.”
In other district news, On March 18, Ellen McWilliams-Woods, who has served as APS assistant superintendent and chief academic officer for the past 13 years, announced her retirement, effective June 30.
In a letter to the superintendent, she said she began her career in the district as a student teacher at Hotchkiss Elementary School in 1989.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my 32-year teaching and administration career in any other district,” McWilliams-Woods said, thanking James for providing her “opportunities to learn, lead, dream and create, which fueled my desire to continuously design new learning experiences for our students.”
The next APS board meeting is scheduled for April 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sylvester Small Administration Building, 10 N. Main St. For details, visit bit.ly/2V8oNVk.