Teachers skeptical after being ‘shut out’
SMMUSD HDQTRS — While it was the school board that hired her on Thursday to be the next superintendent of schools, Dianne Talarico made it clear that she’s here to work for the students, even if that means clashing with her new bosses.
Speaking publicly for the first time as the top education official in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Talarico, 49, said she will be an advocate for children, putting their interests above the board’s if the two seem out of sync.
“If a dilemma arises (with the board)... it will be because I think that we might not be making some decisions in the benefit of the children and that would be a difficult choice for me … That would create quite a conflict,” Talarico said during a special meeting of the school board, called for the sole purpose of appointing the 20-year-veteran of public education.
“I will spend a lot of time with students because they are our customers and I want to make sure we are doing what’s best for them,” Talarico added.
Conflict seems unlikely, as the school board unanimously approved her appointment, showing great confidence in Talarico, who was plucked from Canton, Ohio, where she served for the last five years as superintendent of the Canton City School District.
Under Talarico’s leadership, Canton increased graduation rates by 20 percent and the number of graduates going on to college by 35 percent, according to previous reports. She also helped the district move off of the state’s academic watch list and oversaw a nearly $200 million school renovation and construction project.
Prior to assuming that role five years ago, Talarico held various positions in the San Francisco Unified School District over a span of almost two decades, serving as associate superintendent for three of those years. She began her career as a special education teacher in Ohio, was a principal and special education teacher in San Francisco, and was principal of the American Overseas School in Rome, Italy, for one year.
Talarico received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from San Francisco State University, where she served as a adjunct professor.
“I’m really thrilled,” said school board member Jose Escarce of Talarico’s hiring. “We heard form the community what they were looking for in a candidate and I feel we are extremely fortunate to have (Talarico) come walking through the door. It’s a thrill for us to have her talent. She is intelligent, passionate and … I am confident she will take the district to the next level.”
Talarico signed a three-year-contract in which she will be paid $182,000 a year, with the possibility of earning a 10-percent bonus each year, based on her performance. She will also receive an automobile allowance of $650 per month and $1,000 per month to hire a coach or mentor during her first year on the job. Talarico is entitled to receive health coverage, disability insurance, 24 days vacation, 13 sick days and five days of bereavement leave annually under the terms of the contract, which begins Aug. 14.
In her first semester as superintendent, Talarico said she will spend the majority of her time at school sites — primarily middle schools and high schools — so that she can become more familiar with district operations. She said she will continue with programs already in place to raise student achievement and close the gap between students of color and their Caucasian counterparts.
“I’m not coming in with the flavor of the month or the latest tactics,” Talarico said.“I’m coming in with an openness to really see what we can do together to get Santa Monica to the next level … You won’t see me much in the district office, which may be a new experience here.”
It looks as if she’ll have her work cut out for her when it comes to establishing a relationship with faculty.
Harry Keiley, president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teacher’s Association, said his members were “more or less shut out”of the selection process for the superintendent and are, therefore, skeptical of Talarico. Union leadership plans to do a background check on Talarico to gauge the relationship she maintained with teachers in Canton.
Keiley said that Talarico will not only have to improve communication between administrators and the teachers on the ground, but also work to de-emphasize standardized testing and take steps to empower teachers by including them in the decision-making process, especially in the selection of site principals.
The union will be watching Talarico to see if she expedites contract negotiations with the union and works toward cost-of-living increases for teachers in the district.
“We know that teachers usually can’t afford to live in the district they work in, but the way things are going, they may not be able to afford to drive to where they work either,” Keiley said. “And that’s something we’re certainly going to expect the new superintendent to deal with.”
Keiley also said that since the board chose to select Talarico through a closed process,“her new job is going to be all about opening doors.”
That should be no problem, according to Talarico, who said she will be easily approachable and accessible, looking to collaborate with all members of the education community, from administrators and teachers to parents and students.
“I’m inclusive and passionate about what I do,” Talarico said. “I already feel like I’m part of the family, part of the team … and I can’t wait to get started.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 22, 2006. Read the original PDF.