Well, the new Lake County Appointed School Superintendent Dr. Susan Moxley announced the first members of her new "team" by selecting two experienced high School teachers, Nancy Velez & Aurelia Cole. I have seen both at earlier Board workshops, and Velez gave a VERY good presentation on the methods they used to improve grades and retention at her High school. Matter of fact, Velez's presentation was at the executive level that has been missing in the School District. She actually used the computer projector and gave an organized, factual presentation that was rarely ever seen by the Board. In some earlier discussions during the recent election period, I had mentioned Velez's presentation quality as a model of what should exist in Board meetings. In contrast, outgoing Pat Nave rarely provided any leadership or improvement in reporting to the Board, and many times presentations of her subordinates were unorganized and lacking supporting data. Nave should have never let her staff give half the presentations or budget spending "justifications" because they were so unorganized or incomplete.
Although Velez talked about education issues when I saw her, that is the type of presentation the Board should have been getting on fiscal management and budget issues, but never did.
So, Dr. Moxley has raised the bar for District management on the education side. I don't think I have seen anyone at Cole or Velez's level on the administration or fiscal side, so hopefully she goes outside and finds someone at the level of the City Managers in Tavares or Eustis to manage the fiscal and business side. PLEASE don't appoint an educator or insider to be in charge of central administration (According to the article below, Cole is in charge of school adminstration, which is different and probably that position NEEDS someone with Cole's experience). Get someone to manage central administration, budget, policy & fiscal affairs with outside, tough fiscal, business knowledge and management skills who has experience in establishing key performance indicators for non-instructional areas. Otherwise, I will have to start going to all the meetings again!
So, the Fiscal Rangers tips of the day for the new Superintendent & Assistant Supers are to
1) always have sound, justification data to accompany spending requests given to the Board (or I will publish a review of what is missing), and
2) use the computer projector to show organized presentations of topics like a corporate board presentation, so NOT only the Board, but the visiting public can understand the issue, its relevance, and decision issues, and
3) have the presentation be logically ORGANIZED and complete (unlike many of the prior Super's staff presentations which were half baked and unsupported). The Assistant Supers should have the experience to ensure unskilled presenters learn good presentation and budget justification skills BEFORE they appear in front of the Board. (Presentation skills seem to be lacking in most staff appearing before the Board, which makes the District and the Board look unorganized and unprofessional).
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2 high-school principals chosen to head Lake County Schools
TAVARES
- A pair of longtime educators who served as principals at two of the
district's larger high schools have been tapped as assistant
superintendents in Lake County Schools chief Susan Moxley's new
administration.
The appointments of East Ridge High's Aurelia Cole and Leesburg High's Nancy Velez to district posts top the list of Moxley's new management team.
Moxley, Lake County Schools' first appointed superintendent in three
decades, took over Tuesday for Anna Cowin, whose four-year,
controversy-marred tenure officially ended last week.
This Monday, Moxley will formally present her recommendations to the School Board for approval.
Cole, who has worked with the district since 1969, will serve as assistant superintendent for school administration and safety, a post formerly held by David E. Cunningham, an educator here for 25 years. Cole and Cunningham will essentially swap posts, as he takes over as principal at East Ridge High.
Cole has served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal at middle and high schools during her 39-year career. Under her leadership, East Ridge earned a B rating in 2008.
"She is such a stellar leader," Moxley said. "She's respected by everyone in the district."
Velez, also a 25-year school veteran, previously served as high-school principal at Tavares, Mount Dora and most recently Leesburg. She takes over as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, replacing Patricia Nave, who moves to Eustis High as an assistant principal.
"Mrs. Velez has strong expertise in the area of curriculum development," Moxley said.
Velez's replacement at Leesburg High has not yet been chosen.
Moxley also selected Carmen S. Arnold to serve as director of Federal and Compensatory Programs. Arnold, a district employee since 1973 and most recently principal at Grassy Lake Elementary School, succeeds Patricia V. Smith in her new role.
Smith's new assignment has not yet been finalized, Moxley said.
The School Board meets at 6 p.m. Monday at the County Administration Building, 315 W. Main St., Tavares.
Stephen Hudak can be reached at [email protected] or 352-742-5930.
