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A Message From The Superintendent
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Winston Brooks Chosen As Next Superintendent
Educator brings 34 years of experience to new post
[Albuquerque, N.M.] – The Albuquerque Public School Board of Education has named Winston Brooks as the next superintendent. Brooks was selected from among six finalists and will begin his new duties on July 1.
“This was an extremely difficult decision,” Board President Paula Maes said. “We had an exceptional pool of finalists to choose from, and we believe we have selected the one who best fits the needs of APS. The board would like to thank all of the applicants for their time and interest in APS.”
“I am grateful to the APS Board of Education for giving me this opportunity,” Brooks said. “My thanks also to the teachers, students, staff and everyone who came out to Friday’s forums. I’m excited about being your superintendent, and I look forward to serving the Albuquerque community and its students.”
Brooks takes over the nearly 90,000-student district after the resignation of Elizabeth Everitt, who stepped down in December to take a position in Aiken, S.C. Linda Sink has served as interim superintendent since January.
Brooks will earn an annual salary of $250,000, plus benefits that bring the package to $273,000 annually. The board offered Brooks a three-year contract.
Brooks comes to Albuquerque after serving nearly 10 years as superintendent of the 49,000-student Wichita Public Schools in Kansas. Prior to that, he served WPS as division director of personnel services (1996-98); executive director for personnel/employee relations (1994-96); director of classified personnel (1991-94); elementary school principal (1987-91); as well as chief negotiator from 1993-98. Other professional education positions:
• Adjunct professor, education department, Newman University, Wichita, 1990-98
• Interim superintendent, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 1986-87
• Acting principal, Bishop Carroll High Schools, Wichita, 1986
• Assistant superintendent, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 1982-86
• Principal, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 1977-82
• Teacher, Lincoln Elementary Schools, Augusta, Kan., 1974-77
As Wichita superintendent, student achievement increased each year of his term and enrollment has increased five percent during that time. In 2000, Brooks also oversaw a $284.5 million facility bond issue that was passed with 64 percent approval.
Brooks holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education (1974), master’s degree in educational administration (1978) and an education specialist degree (1980) from Wichita State University.
Everitt had first announced her retirement last July and had intended to leave her post when her contract expired this June, until the South Carolina position opened.
The board put together its search process last September. It announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a firm to conduct a national search; three board members—Robert Lucero, Berna Facio and Gordon Rowe—were made part of a 27-member committee of principals, teachers, students and local citizens that reviewed applications and make recommendations to the board; a website would be created to hold all current information on the process; a survey for public comment would be available on the site; a local polling firm would conduct a public survey on qualities a new superintendent should have; and a series of 12 public meetings would be held across Albuquerque.
In October, the board hired Ray and Associates, Inc., to lead the search. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, based firm specializes in executive searches for major urban school districts across the country and has been in business since 1975. The board and the firm set up the timeline for the process. Results from the online survey were compiled.
Ray and Associates placed advertisements for the position in leading national education trade publications and job websites including Education Week newspaper and website, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education and Executives Only Website. Applications were accepted from Jan. 2-Feb. 19. The firm made 177 recruiting contacts.
The 27-member search committee met on March 1 to review 49 applications delivered by Ray and Associates. It recommended six finalists to the board for review.
Named as finalists were (in alphabetical order): Brooks; Steve Flores, Chief of Staff, Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, Texas; Diego Gallegos, Assistant Superintendent, Albuquerque Public Schools; Thomas Miller, Chief of Staff (Acting Superintendent), Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, Texas; Gary Norris, Superintendent, Sarasota County School District, Sarasota, Fla.; and Linda Sink, Interim Superintendent, Albuquerque Public Schools.
Each finalist met individually with students, business and community members, teachers and staff, and parents in 90-minute formal question-and-answer sessions. Each candidate was also scheduled to meet for two-hour, closed-door interview sessions with the board.
Brooks and his wife, Ann, have three sons and one daughter, and a grandson.
Every child has a right to a quality public education and APS is committed to providing that education. For more information about Albuquerque Public Schools, visit www.aps.edu.
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