THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610010133
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: EDUCATION
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 89 lines
Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. promised that this school year would be one of ``transition,'' and one of the first changes has occurred at the top. His move to hold schools accountable for student test scores has led to a shuffling of central office staff, prompting the retirement of one of the system's most senior and respected administrators.
Nichols this month tapped Thomas B. Lockamy Jr., who was assistant superintendent for school governance, to oversee the initiative, known as the Norfolk Instructional Accountability Program.
Effective this week, Lockamy became assistant superintendent of the new Division of Academic Affairs and Accountability, formerly the Division of Instructional Support Services.
Margaret B. Saunders, who was assistant superintendent for instruction, was asked by Nichols to switch into Lockamy's old job - a lateral move. But Saunders, rather than switch, decided to retire.
Saunders, a 1950 honors graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, returned in 1957 to begin her career with the city's schools, starting as a chemistry, biology and science teacher at her alma mater. With nearly 40 years in the system, Saunders said she had planned to retire in June but decided to leave early when Nichols announced his reorganization plan.
``I said, `Maybe it's my time to go,' '' Saunders said last week.
Colleagues and School Board members said Saunders' contributions will be missed.
``She was a tremendous asset through the years to teachers,'' said Shirley George, president of the Education Association of Norfolk. ``Teachers found her very accessible and knowledgable.''
``I have nothing but high marks for her,'' said School Board member Anna Dodson. ``She did a lot for the school system. She was a go-getter.''
In recent years, Saunders helped shepherd efforts to eliminate the general high school diploma, create a character education program, improve the academic achievement of minority students, stem the dropout rate and begin an International Baccalaureate program.
She championed programs geared to make all students learners and achievers.
``I think anyone who ever worked with me will say I cared about children and their welfare,'' Saunders said. ``If I ever had doubts about which decision to make I always tried to make the decision that would be most beneficial to the child.''
As part of the staff reorganization, the office of Research, Testing and Statistics will be shifted into Lockamy's new division. In addition, alternative school program officials and Fred Oliver, assistant to the superintendent for continuous improvement, will now report to Lockamy.
Lockamy came to Norfolk schools in 1985 as director of instruction. Lockamy now will help usher in a new mindset - a ``paradigm shift,'' as private business calls it.
Lockamy said schools will become more data driven, focused largely on improving standardized test scores. The plan calls for bonuses to employees at schools that meet or exceed specific targets for the year.
But principals and teachers will be held accountable for low student achievement, meaning that employees at schools that fail to improve over a three-year period, for example, could lose their jobs. For the first time, central office administrators will seek input from parents, students and teachers when evaluating a principal's job performance.
While principals and teachers will face higher expectations, they also will be given more freedom to experiment with methods to meet test score targets, Lockamy said.
``We're going to tell them what must be done - we're not going to tell them how,'' Lockamy said. ``They'll be given approximately three years to get to the `what,' and if they're not, there will be some changes.''
But accountability cuts both ways, Lockamy said. Under the new system, principals will evaluate central office administrators. Those getting low marks for delivery of services and resources principals need to improve their schools could join the ranks of the unemployed.
``It's essential we change the way we do business in central administration,'' Lockamy said. ``They can't sit behind a desk in an office all day and not do something to help schools.''
Officials with the city's two teachers' groups are optimistic but wary: While they support holding teachers accountable, they also note that teachers on continuing contracts can't be summarily fired without due process hearings. And the Norfolk Federation of Teachers has criticized Nichols' plan to seek as much as $2 million each year from City Council to pay the bonuses; NFT president Marian Flickinger argued at a School Board meeting last week that the administration should seek money for salary ``step'' raises before seeking money for a new bonus program. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Thomas B. Lockamy Jr.
Overseeing new program
Margaret B. Saunders
Retiring by CNB