First of Three Audit Reports Delivered to WCPSS
March 14, 2011 – Today the Wake County Public School System received the first of three audits being provided by the Broad Superintendents Academy as part of its support program for Superintendent Tony Tata. The audit focused on district-wide communications, outlining recommendations intended to improve how the district communicates internally and externally with key stakeholders.
The audit included an analysis of communications practices and procedures, collateral materials and staff interviews. Terry Abbott, former chief of staff for Secretary of Education Rod Page and a consultant for the Broad Superintendents Academy, conducted the audit. Among the findings in the audit were:
- “Unlike many school districts across the country, this year Wake County began working regularly to harvest e-mails of parents, especially those of middle and high school students to help the district regularly provide electronic communication.”
- “The district offers the unique “ParentVision” communication—bi-weekly podcasts with tips and information about schools and the district aimed at helping parents support their children.”
- “The district needs to improve its news creation process, and become much more aggressive about anticipating story opportunities and getting out in front of opportunities to deliver news and information to the public…”
- “The district has failed to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the school board meetings to create news coverage opportunities.”
“This communications audit, and the other audits which we will receive in the coming weeks, will inform our decisions and provide fresh insight for improving our operations and, ultimately, providing better support to our students and teachers,” Tata said.
As a 2009 graduate of the Broad Superintendents Academy, Superintendent Tata is provided with a full menu of alumni services during his first year as superintendent. The next two audits will focus on the school system’s organizational structure and how it analyzes data.
In addition to the three audits, Tata will meet with a strategy team comprised of three of the nation’s top superintendents who will evaluate and provide feedback on his first 90 days as the superintendent of Wake County Public School System.
“Accessing and leveraging the national resources which the Broad Academy offers in the areas of recruiting, research and professional development is a tremendous asset for us. They will help us as we make strategic changes to reduce the achievement gap, improve academic performance and enhance organizational structures of this already very good school system,” Tata said.
The Broad Academy also assigned Peter Gorman, superintendent of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools as an executive coach for one year to Tata.
“The executive coach is much like a teacher mentor,” Tata said. “The focus of the relationship is on the mechanics of the role of the superintendent and providing support.”
Wake County Board of Education Member Dr. Anne McLaurin agrees with the assignment of Gorman to the coaching role. “I think Pete Gorman is an excellent choice as a coach for Superintendent Tata. Dr. Gorman is widely respected in the state and around the country as a thoughtful and instructional leader," she said.
Tata graduated from the program in 2009 with 10 other fellows. Since becoming superintendent on Jan. 31, he has worked with a Broad facilitator at the Feb. 25 school board retreat, which produced a new mission, vision and core beliefs statement by the Wake County Board of Education. (Board Approves New Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs)
The Broad Superintendents Academy, known for its rigorous 10-month training program, began in 2002 when founder Eli Broad, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, established the academy to provide training and support to executives who desire to improve K-12 public education in large urban school districts. Upon completion of the program, the academy equips graduates with continued support by providing an extensive coaching network, expert instructional and operational review teams, and job placement assistance. New Broad Academy superintendents may tap the academy for assistance with filling district cabinet positions and for continuous support and research.