The school board evaluated School Superintendent Tim Smith last May at the end of his full school year. No one said he needed improvement.
District 1 – Kevin Adams
Leadership – Satisfactory with Recommendation: Superintendent has done an excellent job of representing the district and advocating at local and state level for our public education requirements.
-Expedited completion of the strategic plan to close the achievement gap and increase learning for our at-risk low performers.
-HR to review and provide recommendations to Superintendent for all employee diversity training materials and videos.
Governance – Effective
Student Learning – Satisfactory with Recommendation:Awaiting results of state testing to determine if calculated school grades returned to at least pre-COVID levels.
-Provide improved multiyear trend reporting charts to board members.
-Maintain good order and discipline in our schools so that students have a safe environment conducive to learning.
Systems – Effective: The contracting of grounds maintenance has provided a positive impact to the selected schools.
-Improve Custodial performance across the board as this requires improvement and performance varies from school to school.
-Increase attention to exterior and internal cosmetics (painting, fencing, facade, etc.) to maintain or encourage an increase in student enrollment.
Communication – Satisfactory with Recommendation:
-Increase utilization of alternate media avenues and social media platforms
-Increase utilization of media platforms to provide news and events to our parents and community.
Community – Effective: I appreciate the high-level of involvement of the Superintendent in community events and promoting stronger partnerships.
District 2 – Paul Fetsko
Leadership – Effective
Governance – Effective
Student Learning – Satisfactory
Systems – Effective
Communication – Effective: Share info with staff before implementation
Community – Effective
District 3 – Laura Elder
Leadership – Satisfactory: Superintendent Smith faced many issues when he entered the District. He was focused and engaging with all stakeholders, opened to new and innovative ideas while maintaining an open mind to listening to suggestions for change. I admired him for his practice of diversity and inclusion. What concerned me the most was the powers of the “good ole boys” and how long t would take for them to recruit him to the club!
-While Dr. Smith has made tremendous progress in the direction of a positive change system, I caution him to continue to lead, setting examples and developing policies for practicing the goals of the vision, missions and goals set forth for the district.
-I believe he has the knowledge, skills and desires to lead the district forward. He must begin to be the leader and not the follower, by caving into the good ole boys.
Governance – Satisfactory: Dr. Smith has worked well with all stakeholders. There are several policies that I believe he should take a critical review as to the barriers and challenges they may be presenting – examples: hiring of principals, reassigning and explosions of students.
Student Learning – Satisfactory with Recommendations: I believe Dr. Smith has met this goal. I believe the form needs to be modified from effective to achieved and from student learning, which we have no control to student learning to student learning opportunity.
-Continue to implement programs and opportunities for quality education for all children.
-Review and suggest change in areas which may be preventing some children entering programs – examples: GPA, minor discipline issues, etc.
Systems – Satisfactory: Dr. Smith has achieved this goal. I believe he became a little stage frightened when erroneous information circled the community about a previous staff development. He must get up, brush himself off and start again. There should be a required number of in-service hours (for) employees.
Communication – Effective: Dr. Smith is ranked over achieved! He has made himself visible in the community with all populations. He adjusts his schedule to meet and hold conversations with everyone! He is a people person. I encourage him to continue this practice!.
Community – Effective: Over achieved. Please see comments above. I have the greatest confidence in Dr. Smith’s skills and ability to lead the Escambia County School District forward. He will need to “toughing his hide, strengthen his backbone, resist the good ole boys and let go of the spirit of the past superintendent.
-Review existing policies, procedures and practices to determine the need to modify, change, delete issues which do not apply in the 21st century. This includes making sure the right person’s name is on the document.
District 4 – Patty Hightower
Leadership – Satisfactory: Communications with schools and parents needs to improve.
-Share your framework as a plan so board members know what is in place and how you will measure success.
Governance -Satisfactory: You have done a great job of communicating your interactions with the media to the board.
Student Learning -Satisfactory with Recommendations
-I would like reports on student progress to be part of our workshops after each progress monitoring.
Systems – Satisfactory+: I believe you have kept the district moving forward and have implemented sound programs. I appreciate your vision for working to raise compensation for all employees.
Communication – Satisfactory: You may be effective, but I’m still transitioning to your leadership style. In this block, I believe there is a difference between community and parents.
-Need to develop a system to reach out to parents.
Community – Effective
District 5 – Bill Slayton
Leadership – Satisfactory
Governance – Effective
Student Learning – Effective
Systems – Effective
Communication – Effective
Here are the evaluation forms.