Incoming Youngstown schools superintendent puts premium on testing, assessment, monitoring

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

Youngstown

Assessments, monitoring and retesting.

“That’s how schools get out of academic emergency,” said Connie Hathorn, deputy superintendent at the city schools. “They monitor what they’re doing.”

Hathorn, who will take over as superintendent at the beginning of 2011, spoke with city school teachers last week at an information session about the district’s plan.

He will replace Wendy Webb, superintendent since 2004, who is retiring at year’s end.

The teachers comprised the building leadership teams of all district schools.

“We have to come together as educators and to try to find a way to provide the best education for our students,” Hathorn said.

That means student testing because that’s how the state measures school districts.

Beverly Schumann, director of curriculum and community support, said a new system, which is data based, will be rolled out in phases, with the first phase slated for December.

She said that diagnostic testing of students at the beginning of this year will work.

“You’re working hard — be proud of that,” Schumann told the teachers. “We know that. Hopefully, we’re going to be working a little smarter with the data.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com