Ferguson to seek opportunities in higher education
SMMUSD HDQTRS One familiar face will soon replace another at the only alternative education institution in the school district.
Jessica Rishe, who launched her teaching career at the Santa Monica Alternative School House 13 years ago, is expected to be named the new principal on Thursday, replacing outgoing administrator Carrie Ferguson.
Currently the assistant principal at McKinley Elementary School, Rishe beat out 50 other applicants who submitted their names for the opening at SMASH, a popular position that involves the principal working closely with students and parents, a result of the school’s intimate community of just 174 students and nine teachers.
Ferguson is stepping down at the end of the academic year after five years at the helm, seeking new opportunities in higher education and moving to Mission Viejo.
Much like her successor, Ferguson started her career as a student teacher at SMASH 13 years ago, overseeing grades three through eight before becoming the principal eight years later.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Ferguson said. “It’s really opened my eyes to what is possible and what could be happening in education.”
The K-8 school is unique in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, focusing on alternative teaching methods based on applying classroom lessons to real world issues. Students are split into multi-age thematic “cores” and are assessed not on conventional testing methods, but rather on self, peer and teacher evaluations.
“It’s not about kids compared to each other, it’s about where each individual child is, what their next goal is and what the next step is,” Ferguson said.
Before launching the nationwide search for a replacement several months ago, district staff sat down with SMASH parents to talk about the qualities they wanted to see in the new principal. More than 50 candidates submitted applications, more than twice the average number for a typical principal opening in the school district, according to Mike Matthews, the assistant superintendent for human resources.
“I think people like the idea of a small school,” Matthews said. “You can actually have a chance to be part of the everyday process.”
Applicants without previous administrative experience were screened out and only seven candidates were interviewed by an ad hoc committee comprised of parents, school and district staff. Superintendent Dianne Talarico interviewed the two finalists before making her decision. Matthews did not disclose the name of the other finalist.
Talarico is expected to make her recommendation to the Board of Education on Thursday.
A requisite for the new principal, one that sets the position apart, is a belief in the alternative school process.
“Just being able to run a school was often seen as not good enough for the SMASH population,” Matthews said. “We interviewed good candidates that we will consider for an opening in the future, but did not consider to be alternative enough for SMASH.”
“Alternative enough means you’re willing to commit to believing in the importance of teaching standards but being equally committed to constructive learning, hands-on learning and a variety of ways to reach students.” Matthews added.
Rishe started as a student teacher at SMASH in 1995 as part of a UCLA graduate teaching credential program, working with the Core 1 group that includes kindergarten, first and second grades.
She has taught the past several years as a coordinator of teacher support at the district’s central office while serving as assistant principal at McKinley.
“It’s about building on student interest and passion, making sure every child gets to make real-world connections and apply community-based learning,” Rishe said about the mission of SMASH.
Unique about SMASH is its combination of elementary-and middle school-aged children, fostering a close-knit community where families typically make a nine-year commitment to the school, Rishe said.
“As a principal, I would make a lasting long-term commitment to those families,” she said.
A popular figure with parents, Ferguson is getting ready for her imminent departure, among the final activities being the annual eighth grade trip to Malibu, which she left for on Tuesday. The trip is considered the culminating activity for eighth graders at the school, but this year’s trip will have a similar meaning for Ferguson.
“I love to be with kids away from school, too, and see them in a different light where they’re being challenged and trying new things, stepping outside of their comfort zone,” Ferguson said. “That is something they’re going to be doing for the rest of their lives.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 14, 2008. Read the original PDF.