Sanderson not just superintendent, he’s CEO

Fred Sanderson would rather spend his workdays in classrooms. But keeping up with what students are learning is only part of the job of the Cobb County schools superintendent.

“I’m the CEO of a big company,” he says.

As if the responsibility of educating more than 106,000 students a day isn’t enough, there are also more than 15,000 employees in the system.

The seven-member school board voted unanimously in January to keep Sanderson, who took over in January 2006. That brings even more pressure for the district — and its leader — to succeed.

“We’ll offer our vision, and you figure out how to get us there,” said John Abraham, chairman of the board.

Sanderson’s supporters say he’s up to the task.

“There’s not a better guy to be leading our district right now,” said Gordon Pritz, associate superintendent.

All about the students

Sanderson, 58, faces considerable challenges. The district is dealing with its biggest ever budget crisis, facing at least a $76 million shortfall next year. He is ultimately responsible for filling the gaping holes.

Numbers are everything in education. From standardized testing to the guidelines of the federal No Child Left Behind act, Sanderson and his staff are held to increasing levels of accountability.

In 2008, 16 of the systems’ 115 schools did not make Adequate Yearly Progress goals, down from 21 in 2006.

“He never takes his eye off the fact that student achievement is number one,” said Karen Hallacy, an east Cobb parent and legislative chair for the Georgia PTA.

While schools in east Cobb consistently exceed expectations, schools in the southern part of the county face unique challenges. These schools have higher rates of families living in poverty, and many of those students are learning English. More than 110 languages are spoken in the district.

“It’s not just black and white and Hispanic,” Sanderson says. “We are a global system.”

Long route to current job

Sanderson has been preparing for his current role for more than three decades. A University of Georgia student and football player in the late 1960s, he decided to become an educator like his parents. His first teaching and coaching jobs were at his alma mater, Fulton’s Milton High.

“When I first started teaching and coaching, I didn’t think I’d ever do anything else,” said Sanderson, who later led Wheeler High to an undefeated regular season in 1984.

He retired in 2002 and spent three years in benefits marketing. In August 2005, former Cobb superintendent Joe Redden resigned following a foiled $100 million plan to provide laptops to middle and high school students.

For the district’s next chief, board members wanted a home-grown leader. They turned to Sanderson.

“He’s a good operational superintendent. He’s fair,” says longtime board member Lindsey Tippins, who did not seek another term.

Flexibility key

His tenure has not been flawless, though.

Sanderson has made successful hires and his staff values his willingness to listen. Still, there is at least one hire he’d probably rethink.

Last summer, Sanderson recommended the board promote Floyd Middle School principal Lawrence Bynum to the same role at North Cobb High School. The board later voted to fire Bynum after allegations of sexual harassment.

Sanderson did not initially reveal that the principal was investigated for similar allegations at Floyd. When he suggested Bynum be promoted, he thought any issues were resolved, Sanderson said.

Pritz says the superintendent can’t control everyone’s actions.

“You’re going to have someone do something stupid every day,” Pritz said. “For every one you find, you’ll find 1,000 good things.”

It’s the good things that keeps Sanderson going. He’s an optimist, and he believes in his challenging mission.

“You have to be able to switch goals very quickly. You’ve got to be flexible,” Sanderson says of his job requirements. “A person that’s task-oriented can’t do that in this job.”

THE FRED SANDERSON FILE
• Age: 58
• Position: Cobb County Schools Superintendent
• Salary: $214,894 annually. His compensation package totals
$268,043, and he draws retirement pay for earlier service with the district.
• Family: Wife Carey and grown children, Justin and Jessica. Justin teaches at Roswell High School. Sanderson served as the best man in son’s November wedding. Jessica, an exercise physiologist, will be married this summer.
• Education: Milton High School; bachelor’s and specialist degrees from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, he played as an offensive guard for legendary coach Vince Dooley.
• Honors: Lassiter High School was named a National School of Excellence and Georgia School of Excellence with Sanderson as principal. As a football coach, led Wheeler High School to an undefeated regular season in 1984
• Hobbies: Hiking with the family’s black labs, reading and golf