See Also: Full transcript of Dick Feagler & Dr. Eugene Sanders Interview
As a child, Dr. Eugene Sanders always thought he would grow up to be a lawyer. But, he says, that dream didn't last.
Eugene Sanders: My older brother actually became a teacher and I really became attracted to education, and really, about after ninth grade at Sandusky High School I decided to go into education.
Sanders attended Bowling Green State University to become a teacher and taught history until 1984. He went back to Bowling Green for his master's degree and transitioned into administration. His first job out of graduate school was as assistant principal in Oberlin. He says he'll draw most from that experience to tackle disciplinarian and attendance problems he sees in Cleveland. He says children should always be given opportunities to correct their conduct, but its ultimately up to parents, teachers, and the community to enforce consistent standards of behavior.
Eugene Sanders: One of the things we hope to bring to Cleveland is a very open policy with parent engagement and give our parents the opportunity to learn about the importance of school, to learn about the value it can have to that children and to also have policies and procedures that are consistently applied to students across the board.
Before coming to Cleveland, Sanders spent six years as Superintendent of the Toledo Public Schools. During that time, he took the district from the state's lowest academic ranking to the best-performing urban school district in Ohio. Sanders sees his years of teaching organizational leadership at the college level as an important part of his preparation for meeting the challenges of urban public schools. He says he understands how to balance the wants and needs of different groups within districts, while at the same time creating common ground.
Eugene Sanders: What has to happen is a clear understanding of what are we doing? How are are we going to do it and how are we going to evaluate what we're doing. And when everyone understands what we're doing then I think we have an opportunity.
Sanders says he wants to hear from the community too. Next week he'll join Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and the school board for a series of what they call "Student Safety Summits," in several locations across the city.
Eugene Sanders: I want to meet families I want to meet students. I want to hear what their interests are, what their concerns are. You know, I've met all the big shots - I want to get to the little shots.
It's those "little shots" - teachers, students and parents - Sanders says, who have the most influence on the health of the school system. But, he says, he knows it up to him to forge the path.
Eugene Sanders: As the C.E.O. of the Cleveland Schools, people will look to me for leadership. They will give me credit for things when their going well, probably too much credit. And they will give me blame, probably too much blame as well.
With several new school buildings opening in the fall, Sanders says right now he senses positive momentum for the 2006-2007 school year. Maintaining it, he says - with all the districts short comings - will be his first big challenge.
Lisa Ann Pinkerton, 90.3.