Teachers make super endorsement
By Daily Press staff
DISTRICT HDQTRS. — The executive board of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teacher’s Association intends to recommend current assistant superintendent Mike Matthews be named interim superintendent of schools.
Matthews would be stepping in for outgoing superintendent John Deasy, 45, who has accepted the post of chief executive officer for the school district in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
“Dr. Matthews has the institutional knowledge to ensure a smooth transition, and more importantly, he has the mind and heart to help lead this district,” said teacher’s union president Harry M. Keiley. “There’s no doubt that Mike Matthews is the clear choice of Union leadership for the interim job.”
Union leadership is solidly united in their support of Matthews, who was an important player in last year’s negotiations between the district and the union.
Sarah Braff, a member of SMMCTA’s executive board, praised Matthews for his role in the negotiations.
“Mike really values teachers and what they do,” she said. “He helped make sure our negotiations were done in a respectful and professional manner and that the final outcome was fair to everyone involved.”
For the past three years, a committee of teachers and administrators, including Matthews, has been developing a new teachers evaluation system based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. This year, the new Standards Based Evaluation was implemented for all temporary and probationary teachers.
“Matthews respects the process and is mindful that in order for meaningful change to be adopted by teachers, they must have true buy in,” said Jenny Lipson, a member of the executive board.
Prior to becoming an assistant superintendent, Matthews served as principal at Malibu High School and has worked in the district for the past 13 years. Union officials believe that Matthews’ institutional knowledge, leadership style and past accomplishments in the district will help to ensure a smooth transition from Deasy’s tenure.
The teacher’s association is continuing to give input about who will be named the district’s new permanent superintendent and is currently making plans to survey its members about what they seek in a new administrator as well as for any possible candidates to recommend for the job.
The school board is scheduled to discuss who will be named interim superintendent tonight in closed session. It’s unclear whether a decision will be made public this week.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 23, 2006. Read the original PDF.