Honest. Self-reflective. Committed. Open.
Those were the four adjectives Bellevue school superintendent candidate Susan Enfield used to describe herself to community members during her public Wednesday afternoon today at the Wilburton Instructional Service Center.
“Bellevue is an extraordinary place with extraordinary staff,” she said, following a long day of visiting with staff, teachers and community members in Bellevue. “There are so many things here that I can say Yes, Yes, Yes; that resonates with me. As I go to pursue a position in superintendence it’s important that I do it in a place where the mission, vision, and values parallel my own.”
After personally greeting those in attendance at the forum, Enfield answered 14 questions gathered from input given by the Bellevue Schools Foundation, staff meetings, and the PTA . All three superintendent candidates will be given the opportunity to answer the same 14 questions during the public forums taking place over the next two days.
With a background in journalism and ESL Certification, Enfield taught English as a high school teacher and went on to take a position as a school coach in the Bay Area.
“I have tried to maintain the heart and the head of a teacher and bring that to my work as an administrator so a disconnect doesn’t happen,” Enfield explained. “I want to create a system that works for all kids.”
She later entered into a doctorial program and then took a superintendent internship in Pennsylvania. There, she had the opportunity to work at a state level in charge of curriculum, instruction, and professional development for all 501 school districts in the state. She is now the deputy superintendent of the Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, Wash.
After moving from various positions during a short time span, Enfield says she’s ready to put down her roots.
“I’m not applying to several places, fishing for a superintendent job,” she explained. “I’m looking for the right one. Bellevue feels right.”
During the forum, Enfield was asked her experience and views on common curriculum and common assessments.
Enfield spoke in favor of common curriculum.
“From a district perspective and as a district leader, I have to be able to look families in the eye and say to them with confidence that regardless of what school their child goes to, they will have access to the same high quality curriculum and the same high quality teaching and learning practices,” she said. “There has to be some common ground from which we are all functioning.”
In regard to common assessments, Enfield said that in her opinion, assessments give good data for teachers and the system to see where there may be gaps in student learning but also gaps in the curriculum that need to be addressed.
“It’s a good way for us to say we are functioning as a system and not just as a collection of independent schools,” she added.
When asked what her mission was as a teacher, Enfield placed emphasis on making sure that every student in the (school) system had equal value and voice and got the same supports that they needed. As an administrator now, she tries to keep that same mission and focus.
“What appeals to me about Bellevue, is this genuine commitment to pushing all students to excel,” she said, adding, “Not that pushing every student needs to look the same, but that every student needs to be pushed to excel. It’s crucial that we have high expectations for students and we put those mechanisms in place so they can meet those expectations.”
The community forum is available for viewing on the Bellevue School District Web site. To participate in an online survey about the candidates, visit www.bsd405.org.
The School Board hopes to select a superintendent in the next three weeks.
Questions from the Bellevue Reporter
Reporter: What has been the best part about your interview process in Bellevue?
Enfield: I have loved every moment of it. Every group I have met today was so smart, honest and welcoming.
Reporter: What was your favorite subject in school?
Enfield: I have to say English.
Reporter: What was your favorite year in school?
Enfield: Hmm, second grade was definitely my favorite. I had a wonderful teacher who inspired me to read and helped to develop a passion for reading in my life.
Reporter: What is one thing Bellevue doesn’t know about you?
Enfield: Oh gosh, it’s been a long day. Let’s see. I use to run marathons and I was a spinning instructor. Big emphasis on used to. I don’t have a whole lot of time to spare these days.
