Commenters on the AJC Get Schooled blog had a range of reactions to the hiring of Meria Carstarphen as the new superintendent of the Atlanta Public Schools to succeed Errol B. Davis, who is retiring. Carstarphen, 44, comes to APS from Austin, where she has been school chief for 15 years. Here is a sampling of comments:
Ernest: Congratulations to APS on selecting a new superintendent. Let's hope that all can work together to help ensure her leadership will result in the students of APS realizing success and better outcomes.
Rhetoric: It appears that she is capable of making the tough decisions that will have to be made.
Red: Hopefully, she will be the solution to APS problems. She may be a rolling stone just passing through, however. I believe it is time for our government to take a long, hard look at what we are paying for school administration. Many school superintendents make more than the governor of the state does. Over time, schools have added layer upon layer of administration at grossly inflated salaries.
Mattie: No one person can make much of a difference until parents start to value education. Lack of parenting is the downfall of education in America.
EastATL: It will be a great stride forward if she is just not a crook.
Ivan: I wish her the best of luck, as her success will be our success. One of the many items she should get a handle on is how many kids within the Atlanta Public Schools boundary never enter APS, and find out why and then find out how many opt out after elementary school and middle school. If we could bring these kids into the fold, we would help the schools and the community.
Chamblee Dad: I wish her success. I wish the kids of APS success. Now, I want positive change for DeKalb.
BurroughstonBroch: APS is a relatively small public school system (93rd largest) and attracts superintendents on the way up the career ladder or on the way down. Ms. Carstarphen is the former and Beverly Hall was the latter. The career tactic for superintendents is to leave for a new position before they are held responsible for their decisions. Ms. Carstarphen's career history shows she uses this tactic. Beverly Hall hung on too long and will pay the price.
Old Grunt: Hope that she can renew faith in academics. When we look at some of our stalwarts from DeKalb, Clayton, APS and even Cobb, makes you wonder how they ever acquired a bachelor's degree, much less a PhD.
CJAE: From the press clippings, Ms. Carstarphen seems like a shiny new penny. However, it's disturbing to me that she is the lone candidate brought forward for consideration by the APS Board for the job. It smacks of a false choice being offered. Are we to assume there were no other candidates qualified to fill the position, to offer some contrast to the choice being thrust upon us? As anyone close to APS over the last 5 to 10 years can tell you, if this hire doesn't come with a shakeup in the tactical management positions that report up to the superintendent, there will minimal cultural change. Let's see how she stands up to the political pressure cooker that is public education in the GA.
Milton: The AJC staff was also singing the praises of one Dr. Bev Hall in the late 1990s. How did that work out for the APS?
