2015 February PASO Magazine

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By Bob Chute, Part 2 of 3 I had the pleasure of interviewing our new Superintendent of Schools Chris Williams in early December and Part 1 of that interview appeared in the January Paso Robles Magazine. Williams started his new post at the beginning of the school year in September after working as an Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources for the Central Unified School District in Fresno for the last 8+ years. I waited to meet with him until early December to give him a chance to settle in a bit to his new post…to review what lies before him, described by some as inheriting a troubled district, striving to pull out of quite a mess, hemorrhaging actually. I taped the exchange and transcribed it…enough to fill over six pages of this magazine. I pondered significant editing but decided to leave it intact and let you, the residents and parents of this school district - those that have survived the problems we’ve had in this district over the last several years - get an up close understanding of our new Superintendent, Chris Williams. PRM: It’s coming through loud and clear to me what people have been telling me about you - that they like your relationship driven, no mediocrity management style. It sounds like you’re relishing coming here with basically a clean slate to fix it, but, at the same time, hard to overcome your predecessor, Kathy Mc- Namara, with the 97% vote of no confidence in February of last year. Not to bad mouth her but it gives you a unique opportunity. WILLIAMS: Sure, but I think the word goes hand in hand with me, challenges equals opportunity. I think there’s been some great foundational things that have been built in this district over many years that have been sustained because of great people in the classrooms and great employees. But I also An interview with Superintendent Chris Williams New Directions in the Paso Robles School District realize there are things that we are at a level that we definitely have a greater opportunity to impact student learning and impact the culture of this organization. Plans don’t change districts, people change districts. People impact culture, culture is based on our belief and trust of doing what you say and not leaving it out there. I had promised our cross country team when I presented them at the board that if they made the state cross country meet that I’d be there. Going to see our girls cross country team and our boys cross country for the first time - both qualified for the state meet - but driving from Paso at 5 a.m. to get there to watch these kids - it’s a value added to these kids that have worked so hard to get where they’re at. I think that those areas of understanding that these parents commit to these kids and these kids commit to a process that is going to build their character… the hard work, the discipline, the commitment, that we have to have to value that and understand that. Our coaches did such a fabulous job. Those are pieces to me that are so important - they are the intangibles that add value to these kids and the organization and are so important for change yet also to honor the great things that have been in the past. The past five years being challenging, I get, it’s created a great opportunity for us. But the conviction that is so strong, that burns in my heart every day, is that I think of the decisions that have been made based on whatever the scenarios have been. What has that taken away from our kids the last four year period of time? In cabinet on Monday we sat here for a long period of time which I don’t usually do, but we went around and said, “What is our conviction in this organization and what is our belief in this organization?” Because every decision we make, if we choose to make the easy decision, rather than the right decision, and it costs us $25,000 or $100,000, how does that impact student learning and student success? I know when we begin to create our VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) program for K-5 next year, that one of those decisions would have allowed us to have a complete VAPA program for K-5 elementary kids. I know that, to be able to sustain that, we’ve got to make our decisions based on our purpose and belief in this organization. Again, from the past to the future, it’s a great opportunity, a lot of areas to build on, and reality - the passion and commitment about student learning is what we have to be about. PRM: I think you’ve pretty much answered this question, but how did your eight year position as Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources with the Central Unified School District in Fresno prepare you for Paso Robles…did they have some of the same financial constraints, or is this all new for you? WILLIAMS: We had some similar situations when I started in Central as a vice principal and assistant principle. We had about 8000 kids, kind of rural, little city area but we began to grow and expand. By the time I made it to the district office we looked at the structures and systems on how we can align with what our community needs were, and although we had challenges when we went through two severe years of layoffs in ’07-’08 and ’08-’09, I learned a lot about the components of making the tough decision and the right decision aligned to the organizational values and beliefs. It helped me, really, to develop an internal fortitude to make tough decisions, if you will, in alignment to what we’re here for…we’re an educational institution. We have to promote the education to get these kids better prepared, we have to look at every classroom and every student. So the experience I had going through those challenges, by the time we were done with layoffs, we were still able to sustain and grow our music program, we were able to implement a full elementary VAPA program, an elementary dance program, expand our library services during the summer, create an elementary athletic program that is still up and running successfully. When you look at the basis of what your community is about and what their needs are, is how you really align your purpose. My belief will never change about students, but the culture will guide you in what we need to focus on as we go through. PRM: Do you envision any curriculum changes for this school year...for the next school year implementing Common Core Standards? WILLIAMS: We began our implementation of Common Core already and we’re really focused on instructional delivery and instructional practices. I think the change or refocus is keeping the three key elements of instruction in place. Please see WILLIAMS page 26 24 Paso Robles Magazine, February 2015
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2015 February PASO Magazine

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