Press Release

BERNADETTE SEICK NAMED INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

The Board of Education has appointed Bernadette Seick Interim Superintendent, Board President Elaine Gantz Berman announced Thursday evening.

"Bernadette is highly respected by teachers, principals and parents. Her knowledge of Denver Public Schools and the community is a valuable asset," Berman said. "We will look to Bernadette to engage parents, community members and staff in ways to best serve students."

In announcing Seick's appointment, Berman also outlined district priorities for the 2000-2001 school year. Among them: Implementing reforms in line with state legislation including developing a plan for low-achieving schools; continuing to focus on the teacher pay-for-performance pilot; re-energizing school CDMs (Collaborative Decision-Making teams); and making central administrative offices user-friendly for schools.

"I intend to focus on the goals established by the Board," Seick said. "Along with district staff, parents and the community, I'll work to ensure that the academic needs of our diverse population are being met. This is a transitional time for the district, but we will keep moving ahead and making progress."

Seick has served as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education for the past six years. Previously she was principal of John F. Kennedy High School for five years.

Discussions about finding a permanent superintendent will begin soon, Berman said. "We will conduct a careful, thorough search with considerable involvement from the community," said Berman. "We will move expeditiously, but in doing so our priority will be to run a high-quality process that leads us to the person that is right for Denver Public Schools. This might entail a year, it might mean less."