Decatur Superintendent David Dude quietly celebrated his one-year anniversary this week. Over that duration he’s made few administrative changes, but a big one is on the horizon. He recently began advertising for a deputy superintendent.
City Schools Decatur recently eclipsed 5,000 in student enrollment, and Dude admits the growth is a big reason for the added position.
Decatur hasn’t had a second-in-command since Associate Superintendent Thomas Van Soelen resigned in June 2013. Then-Superintendent Phyllis Edwards created two new positions — directors of secondary and elementary education.
The new deputy will preside over both those directors and also over the student support and assessment directors and the principals of all nine schools.
“For me,” Dude said, “it’s important to have a single person to help implement my vision of teaching and learning. Plus it will also allow me to spend more time in the schools.”
Dude said he’s still isn’t sure how he’ll hire the deputy, and whether or not he’ll form a committee. He added the absolute earliest the new person would start is January, though it might not be until summer.
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