Not an easy, but a doable task ahead

Nationally recognized superintendent addresses Akron Board of Education and Akron community

BY J.V.W. Miller
Westside Leader Reporter

DOWNTOWN AKRON -- "There is no magic bullet."

"The work is hard."

"It will take everyone's commitment."

While there may have been no panacea in the message delivered by Carl Cohn, Ph.D., superintendent of the Long Beach, Calif., Unified School District to the audience at Central-Hower High School March 1, listeners nonetheless saw hope in the message Cohn imparted.

Cohn was in town through the efforts of Summit Education Initiative (SEI) and the Akron Public Schools (APS) to discuss his work in the successful transformation of the Long Beach school system. He met early in the day with the APS Board of Education -- currently in the midst of a national search for a new superintendent -- to provide members with a perspective on what to look for in superintendent candidates (of which he is not one). Cohn later addressed the community meeting, explaining the steps taken in the collaborative effort at Long Beach, leading a panel dialogue and answering questions submitted from the audience.

"It was a very exciting evening," said Susan Vogelsang, of SEI. "The feedback in terms of the panel discussion, and the information from Dr. Cohn was very favorable.

"My hope is that all of us became more informed of the possibilities for school improvement for all kids," she added. "I hope that we were able to raise the expectation levels for what we are looking for in a new superintendent as well as expectation levels for what we can do as a community."

The district for which Cohn is superintendent is composed of 94,000 students in the third largest district in the state. The district emphasizes "seamless quality education, K through 16" -- kindergarten through college -- in a collaborative effort by the public school district, the community college, the Long Beach branch of California State University, as well as local government and businesses. Seamless education means setting standards with multiple assessments, including reading by the end of the third grade or mandatory summer school; matching what teachers teach with what students need to learn; enhancing teacher preparation; and using math tutors and writing coaches.

Among components for success relevant to Long Beach and to any school district, Cohn listed:

* a board of education unanimously focused on improving the schools;

* how a strong leader must be supported with a talented executive staff. "It can't be done alone," Cohn said;

* a teacher-union leadership that must be engaged and involved in the reform efforts;

* a strong partnership and ongoing collaborative conversations with community leaders.; and

* the staff of the partnership -- in his case, the Long Beach Education Partnership -- that keeps a focus on the common good without allowing "turf issues" to interfere.

"Victory is in the classroom," said Cohn. According to Cohn, that victory will come about through the investment in high-quality professional development for staff and spending more time on the core academics.

While there are other interventions that Cohn mentioned -- new instructional materials, coaching for principals and teachers, financial incentives for the staff at low-performing schools, creating new schools, partnering with the private sector, extending the school day and utilization of YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs -- "there is no magic bullet," he said.

"I thought Dr. Cohn clearly articulated some good, new ideas," said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, who was a member of the panel discussion. "He gives hope to districts that are looking for solutions."

APS board President Linda Kersker, also a panel member, said she benefited from Cohn's input about the superintendent search as well as his discussion later in the evening.

"I think that through his success, it was demonstrated that success is possible," said Kersker.

While Cohn made school board unanimity the first in his list of success components, Kersker clarified her understanding of that unanimity.

"I don't think he was telling us that the board needs to be unanimous. I think he was saying the board needs to be unified and continue to focus on student achievement and improvement," she said. "You may not always agree on how to achieve that end, but once you've made a decision, you need to stand unified about that decision."

The reform agenda, according to Cohn, is full of benefits.

"Every child needs this help and support," said Cohn. "We still have problems, challenges. The turn-around will take time, but stand together to face those tough, tough issues."