Tommy Chang of the Los Angeles Unified School District was chosen Tuesday night to be Boston's next schools superintendent.
Change was selected by the Boston School Board with a 5-2 vote. Chairman Michael O’Neill spoke positively about each of the four finalists for the position, but put his support behind Chang.
“I think he is a quiet visionary," O'Neill said. "I think he has quiet intensity. He’s ambitious with school improvement. He has experienced education at all level, which I think is critical to have the buy-in of our teachers and our school leaders. I think he has a compelling personal story that will allow him to build relationships with parents, students and teachers."
In the end, the vote really came down to two candidates, because Dana Bedden, superintendent of schools of Richmond, Va., dropped out of the running at the last minute, and Guadalupe Guerrero of San Francisco school system, didn’t have the support of any board members or, for that matter, anyone who spoke in the public comments period at the beginning of the meeting.
That left Chang, who runs a program which tries to bridge gaps between high and low performing schools in L.A., and Pedro Martinez, superintendent-in-residence for the Nevada Department of Education. Board member Miren Uriarte supported Martinez, who she said would be a role model for students.
“How I would have liked to have my son, as well as all the kids, the Latino kids in the Boston Public Schools today, see someone like him who shares their history, their background, that looks like them, in the leadership of the Boston Public Schools,” Uriarte said.
On Twitter last night, Chang said he humbly accepts the opportunity, and that as the birthplace of public education in America, Boston needs to serve as a model of a world class education system.
It is honor to be selected as @BostonSchools Supt. I humbly accept opportunity to serve youth of Boston.
Boston matters! As the birthplace of public ed in America, it needs to serve as a model of a world class education system.
Some board members, like Meg Campbell preferred Chang because, unlike Martinez, he has experience as a teacher and principal.
“You know, I like unconventional candidates in this role for superintendent, but I think it just helps to have a visceral understanding of running a school,” Campbell said.
Board Chair Michael O’Neill praised Chang as a quiet visionary who speaks four languages. Chang also had the support of Mayor Marty Walsh. In a tweet last night, Chang said Boston is a championship city and it deserves a championship education system.
Boston is a championship city and it deserves a championship education system. Looking forward to partnering up with everyone.
