Sunday, December 2, 2012

Southfield schools chief named 2013 Michigan Superintendent of the Year

Southfield schools chief named 2013 Michigan Superintendent of the Year


Southfield School Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson has been named as the 2013 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators.

MASA Executive Director William H. Mayes presented the honor at the Southfield Board of Education meeting.

“This is a most prestigious honor,” said Mayes during the presentation. “You can be proud to have been chosen from a group of highly qualified nominees. It is clear to me — as it was to our selection committee — that Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson is a leader to watch as she improves learning, closes achievement gaps, and supports excellence in the Southfield district and throughout her region.”

Earlier in November, a panel of judges selected Cook-Robinson from a pool of highly qualified nominees. The selection of the Michigan recipient is part of the American Association of School Administrator’s National Superintendent of the Year Program. As the MASA honoree, Cook-Robinson also becomes a finalist for the National Superintendent of the Year Award.

“Not only has Dr. Cook-Robinson set the highest standards for herself in terms of professional development and improvement, she also models for students, parents, staff and administrators dedication to children and quality service delivery,” wrote nominators wrote in their letter. “Dr. Cook-Robinson exemplifies the commitment to education, quality, and ethical integrity that has strengthened and advanced Southfield Public Schools over the last six years.”

MASA’s superintendent selection panel comprises representatives from Michigan’s various education stakeholders, including superintendents from local and intermediate school districts, the Michigan Board of Education, the Michigan PTSA, local school boards, principals, and school business officials. MASA will recognize Cook-Robinson at its Midwinter Conference in Kalamazoo in January 2013. She will have opportunities throughout the year to address superintendents statewide, and her name will be inscribed on a commemorative plaque on display at the MASA office in Lansing.

The Superintendent of the Year Award is presented by MASA to one member who has shown tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of children and the community as a whole. Cook-Robinson is recognized for her visionary leadership and energetic advocacy for public education.

As evidence, nominators say that during her six years as superintendent, Cook-Robinson has worked tirelessly to drive a common focus on differentiated instruction in order to better meet the needs of all Southfield students, and to close the system-level gap related to socioeconomic status. Under her leadership, SPS established a four-year partnership with the national Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development to implement district-wide professional development for staff. This partnership focused on incorporating the “Understanding by Design” framework district-wide to support differentiated instruction as a strategy to improve student achievement in targeted areas. The district’s use of this model enables teachers to monitor and respond in a focused way to what students know and what they need so teachers can better support and challenge students to gain skills and move forward.

As a result, SPS now serves as a model site for ASCD, and student achievement has risen. For example, reading proficiency scores (as measured by the Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP) show an overall rise in student achievement and smaller gaps between all students and those who face economic disadvantages.

Cook-Robinson also earned accolades for her strength in both personal and organizational communication, which has strengthened partnership with parents, post-secondary institutions, community and business organizations, and educational leaders across the U.S. Supporters say that her energy, hard work and leadership have created collaborative linkages to support stronger communication networks and systems.

“Dr. Cook-Robinson’s educational leadership at the local, state and national levels benefit the City of Southfield — far beyond the walls of its 14 school buildings,” said City of Southfield Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence. “Her commitment to students and education in the city of Southfield and beyond is exemplary, and her willingness to network far beyond the boundaries of the school system has made her an invaluable ally and colleague.”

Cook-Robinson received praise from the higher-education community for her work in improving university programs that prepare future educators.

“Dr. Cook-Robinson’s commitment to students and the field of education is exemplified in her service and dedication to Wayne State University’s College of Education Board of Visitors and the Young Educator’s Society of Michigan,” said Janice Green, assistant dean of academic services in the WSU College of Education. “Her contributions to our efforts have been invaluable.”

MASA is a statewide association that represents the superintendents and first-line administrators of Michigan’s local and intermediate school districts. The mission of MASA is to develop leadership and unity within its membership to achieve the continuous improvement of public education in Michigan.

— From staff reports

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