THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 19, 1995 TAG: 9506190033
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
Joyce H. Trump is what a previous generation once described as ``ladylike'' - refined, decorous and dainty. She lives in one of the oldest houses in the city, a quaint Main Street fixture built in the early 19th century.
But don't be mistaken. This lady is no shrinking violet.
Those who know her say she's a perfectionist with a steel spine; a meticulous administrator and team player with a sharp, discriminating eye; a kind, self-deprecating soul who never loses control.
Retiring Superintendent Beverly B. Cox III will pass the baton to her on June 30. After a three-month national search and its nearly $2,000 price tag, the School Board recently voted to promote Trump, an assistant superintendent, to the school district's Big Office.
She will take over a small but growing district of about 9,500 students, one that's still trying to shake its stepchild image. The board offered her a two-year contract with an annual salary of $76,158.
``I view this as a very exciting time in Suffolk public schools,'' Trump said. ``I think we've been steadily improving our academic programs, our facilities and our services. But I think there's so much more that's going to come rather quickly.''
One of her key goals is to get ``the citizens of Suffolk and those who live outside of Suffolk to recognize this as a school division of excellence,'' she said.
Trump, 56, began her Suffolk career as a social studies teacher 34 years ago. She spent a dozen years in the classroom before deciding to try other roles through which she could apply her talents on a broader scale.
Although she's changed offices and titles over the years, she still views herself as a teacher - even if that core now lies beneath an administrative veneer.
If she had, say, $3 million to spend any way she chose, she'd hire more teachers to reduce the student-teacher ratio, assuming classroom space wasn't an issue. She'd put computers in every class and then link them to a central system.
And, last but not least, she said she would expand a program for at-risk 4-year-olds, which will kick off this fall. Thanks to extra state dollars, about 80 disadvantaged kids will get an early start in school. Eighty isn't a magic number - that's simply how far the dollars will stretch. But many more children could benefit, she said.
When she talks about ideas, plans and wishes, Trump uses many of the catch phrases today's reformisteducators utter:
``We need to improve articulation between grades and grade levels.'' . . . ``We need increasing opportunities for teachers to talk to teachers.'' . . . ``We need to constantly increase the variety of strategies we use to teach children, because children don't all learn the same way.'' . . . ``We need to increase the expectations of all students and the opportunities for them.''
But parents and colleagues say such statements aren't dismissed as jargon when she says them.
``I think she's wonderful,'' said PTA leader Sharron Hill. ``She's very interested in what's happening with students and also bringing the community and businesses and educators together. You feel secure with her.''
The Rev. John H. Kindred, a former board member, put it this way: ``She gets the job done.''
Beatrice Reeves, a retired city teacher, urged Trump to apply for the job. ``She's dedicated, thorough, consistent,'' Reeves said. ``And she always gave you a direct answer or went to get an answer if she didn't know.
``Moreover, she knows the curriculum and the system. If you don't want to work, you'll have to work now. If she says something needs to be done by Thursday, make sure it's done by Thursday.''
Don't expect Trump to make fiery speeches on a soap box or hunt for a magic bullet. And don't expect her to jump at every hot education idea that pops up on the national scene.
Do anticipate a careful leader who's not afraid of new ideas or programs, but wants to make sure they're good for Suffolk before they're fully embraced.
As assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the past three years, she's had a finger in almost every pie - from staff development, to a focus on the marriage of vocational and academic skills, to early intervention measures for underachieving kids, to a push to enroll more students in tougher classes.
She said she wouldn't start to feverishly rock the boat because, for the most part, it's already on the right course.
``We have many, many good things in place right now and we need to continue with those things,'' she said.
As the district's first female superintendent, Trump will find herself among a small number of comrades.
A 1989-90 national survey of about 1,250 superintendents found that only 8 percent of them were women - although the field of education has long been dominated by women. In Virginia, the percentage is about the same, including a female superintendent in nearby Isle of Wight County. Trump doesn't dwell on gender.
``It's not like I'm going to say, `Look at me, I'm a woman,' '' she said. ``I'm your superintendent.''
And lots of eyes will be on her, especially as suburbanization continues to spread across Suffolk, and swell its school enrollment.
``I see that as a challenge. It doesn't cause me any anxiety,'' Trump said. ``I know we have good, capable people in this division. As long as we're working together, we can continue to improve.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by D. Kevin Elliott
[Joyce Trump]
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOLS SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD SUPERINTENDENT by CNB