Press Release |
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July 13, 1999 For Immediate Release FOUR SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES IDENTIFIED BY BOARD OF EDUCATION The Denver Board of Education today announced four finalists for superintendent of Denver Public Schools. The four finalists are:
The four finalists will participate in open community forums on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (July 14 and 15) at the administration building, 900 Grant Street, in the first floor Board room. Two of the candidates will appear on Wednesday; two on Thursday. The forums will begin at 7 p.m. Both forums will be televised on Channel 22. All community members including parents, students, teachers and interested citizens are invited to attend. Additional background: Eugene J. Gutierrez was recruited in 1998 by the Dallas Independent School District to serve as Acting Financial Officer. Dallas is a large urban district with 158,000 students, 19,000 employees, and a $1 billion budget. At the time, Mr. Gutierrez was charged with developing the 1998-1999 budget and responding to financial control issues raised by independent auditors. He led a multi-departmental task force to implement a new, on-line financial system initiative and drafted policies that formed the foundation for the district's new financial controls. In all, Mr. Gutierrez has 30 years in urban education experience. Prior to his work in Dallas, Mr. Gutierrez served as associate superintendent for non-instructional services for the Fort Worth Independent School District, from 1980 to his retirement in 1996. From 1977-1980, he was the deputy superintendent of financial services for the Chicago Board of Education, where he was recruited to address a $100 million deficit and to oversee a $1.2 billion budget. He has also worked in two California school districts. Mr. Gutierrez also is president of EGS Consulting Group, based in Fort Worth. Mr. Gutierrez has a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree in business administration from Brigham Young University. James Harris has been superintendent of Buffalo schools since 1996. Buffalo School District serves 48,000 students and is the second-largest school district in the state. During his tenure, Mr. Harris led the development of a five-year strategic plan that included the involvement of 400 people, wrote and implemented a "Blueprint for the Buffalo Public Schools," and completed additions to three major schools in the district. He also led strategies that resulted in significant student performance on all state tests and organized a Comprehensive Education Plan designed to increase academic rigor and standards for all students. Mr. Harris also worked with nine different labor unions and organized a series of training sessions for the nine-member Board of Education. Prior to his work in Buffalo, Mr. Harris served as superintendent of North Chicago Public Schools in Illinois (1994-1996); assistant superintendent of West Aurora Public Schools in Illinois (1993-1994); and assistant principal of Redford High School in Detroit, Michigan (1986-1989). Beginning in 1997, Mr. Harris also held other posts in Detroit Public Schools, all as Department Head or Administrator of Fine Arts. Mr. Harris received his doctorate in education administration and a master's degree in music from the University of Michigan. He received a bachelor's degree in science from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. Robert Schiller has served as interim chief executive officer for Baltimore Public Schools, a district of 109,000 students and 12,000 employees. Mr. Schiller has extensive experience in labor relations, fiscal management, community relations, and educational reform. In Baltimore, Mr. Schiller created and implemented a state-approved Strategic Master Plan for 1998-2002; erased a $24 million shortfall; and worked collaboratively with governor, state legislature and state superintendent of Maryland in overseeing the reform of Baltimore City Schools. He also selected new management information systems and initiated a successful teacher recruitment campaign. Mr. Schiller also developed a state-approved strategic plan for 78 schools that had been identified as eligible for reconstitution. Prior to his work in Baltimore, Mr. Schiller also served as state superintendent of public instruction in Michigan (1991-1996), state deputy superintendent for Delaware (1989-1991) and state deputy superintendent of education in Louisiana. He is widely published on education issues in a variety of national journals and magazines and has made dozens of major presentations and national conferences. He recently won the Champion for Children's Award from the Baltimore Fund for Educational Excellence and the Greater Baltimore Committee. The Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers recently awarded him a Teachers Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for Outstanding Service to Children and Youth. Mr. Schiller received a doctorate in curriculum and instruction and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Pennsylvania. He has also received a master's degree in English literature from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Upsala College. Sidney (Chip) Zullinger has been superintendent in Charleston County Schools since 1996. Charleston is an urban district with 45,000 students. During his tenure, Zullinger implemented school-level accountability through a report card system that created benchmarks for school performance. As part of his re-organization of the district, some $3 million worth of administrative services were shifted to local school control. In addition, school governance councils were created at the school level, giving teams of parents and teachers the responsibility for decision-making on student performance. In response to a community desire for more select schools in the district, Mr. Zullinger constructed three "Break the Mold" schools that were built by collaboration between parents and teachers. All operated at two-thirds the cost of traditional magnet schools. Mr. Zullinger challenged the community to accept a new and profound responsibility for education and is credited with re-engaging people into the schools. Recently, voters approved two large bond renovation proposals. Prior to Charleston, Mr. Zullinger was superintendent of schools for the Natrona County Schools in Casper, Wyoming (1990-1996); superintendent of Sampson County Schools in Clinton, North Carolina (1985-1990); and superintendent of Yancey County Schools in Burnsville, North Carolina (1983-1985). Mr. Zullinger holds an educational doctorate from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, a master's degree in school administration from Western Carolina University in Cullowee, North Carolina; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina. |