As the school week winds down, the second of three candidates for the superintendent position visited Bellevue for a public forum with parents and community members.
Dr. Stephen Fink, presently the Executive Director of the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington, addressed educational issues during the candidate forum at the Wilburton Instructional Service Center.
“I want to create an environment where teachers feel empowered and supported,” Fink said during a forum on Thursday.
Fink was asked to answer 14 questions covering the areas of common curriculum, leadership style, the achievement gap and others. The questions were 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 from Wednesday to Friday.
Fink brings to the table past experience as the Assistant Superintendent, Director of Special Programs, and Executive Director for Student Services for the Edmonds School District. Previously he served as a principal at the Idaho State School for the Deaf and Blind. He received his Ph.D. from Brigham Young University.
During the forum, Fink was asked his view on the advantages and challenges of using a common curriculum in a school district.
“Accountability is where the rubber meets the road,” he said, in regards to the challenges of implementing a common curriculum.
When it comes to using a common curriculum, it becomes an issue of trust and respect, he said. To combat the challenges that accompany using a districtwide curriculum, Fink pointed to the importance of open communication through ongoing feedback between district leaders, teachers, staff, students, union members and parents.
Fink placed a strong emphasis on the importance of district leaders working closely in conjunction with the district union and classified associations.
“The union needs to be seen as a partner with the district,” he explained.
As the superintendent of the Bellevue School District, he said he would encourage monthly meetings between the school board and associations in the district to stay informed on current issues and concerns. He also proposed utilizing focus groups and technology to document findings through surveys.
“Collaboration isn’t a skill; it’s a value,” he stated. “It is vital to legitimize the role of the union and the teacher groups. They are the voice of the teachers.”
In regards to the achievement gap, Fink said it boils down to two aspects. First, he said as a district, schools need to provide opportunities to learn for students who come from an uneven playing field. Secondly, he identified curriculum as a major factor that leaves kids behind.
“It’s important to look at what’s being taught, but also how it’s being taught,” he explained.
The challenge is not lowering the standard to help close the gap, he added, but instead, to provide kids the ladder with a lot more rungs and scaffolds, to bring them to the level they need to be on.
Fink was adamant about fostering professional development and said if chosen, he planned to set clear professional objectives and benchmarks for teachers and staff to aspire to.
“We need to figure out a way to even the playing field for all students,” he said, adding that you should not be able to determine a students future achievements based on race or economic standings. “Education researchers have proven that creating other pathways (of education) for kids, dependent on their ability or lack their of, does not benefit them.”
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?
Fink: I have really enjoyed putting a face to names and meeting each and every person and getting to know them up close and personal.
Reporter: What was your favorite subject in school?
Fink: I have always been drawn to subjects like political science and history; anything to do with the study of international affairs.
Reporter: What was your favorite year in school?
Fink: Can I say college? I would definitely have to say college was great but then again so was the first grade. I can still remember those first years of learning to read and write.
Reporter: What is one thing Bellevue doesn’t know about you?
Fink: Well, I’m one heck of a good fisherman. I bring back a lot of fish.
