Source: MPS Superintendent Thornton headed to Baltimore
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- WBAL-TV in Baltimore is reporting that Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Thornton may be taking a job in Baltimore.
WBAL indicates Thornton will make a decision on becoming the new CEO for Baltimore City Schools as early as Tuesday, February 18th.
The Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association issued the following statement on Thornton's anticipated departure:
The MTEA would like to acknowledge Dr. Thornton’s years of service as the superintendent of the Milwaukee Public Schools. We look forward to working with Milwaukee’s democratically elected school board to ensure that the voices of educators, parents and community members are part of the process of hiring a new superintendent. A quality superintendent is essential to the district’s future. MPS is the only educational institution in Milwaukee with the capacity, commitment, and legal obligation to educate all children. As the leading voice of Milwaukee’s educators, we remain committed to a quality public education for all children, and to safeguarding public education as a fundamental democratic institution.
This anticipated move comes just months after the Milwaukee Board of School Directors extended Dr. Thornton's contract through June 2016.
At the time, Thornton said in a release, “I’m appreciative of the support of the Board of Directors and excited to continue the work we’re engaged in to improve outcomes and opportunities for our students. Much work remains to be done, but we are clearly headed in the right direction. I look forward to working with the Board, our parents, students and the community to continue to improve student achievement and success.”
Thornton has led Milwaukee Public Schools since 2010. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors have not gotten official word Thornton is leaving, but they have heard the reports. They say they want to assure parents they will make sure any transition will be a smooth one.
"He put us in a strong position to move forward - put it that way. We're a united Board, and we'll work through this like we have many other things. The process over the next six months will be to find someone - an interim person or team that will deal with the transition," Milwaukee Board of School Directors District #5 member Larry Miller said.
"This is not a panic situation. There`s a good team in place. The Board will take it`s time to get the right person," Milwaukee Board of School Directors At-Large member Terry Falk told FOX6 News.
On his blog, Thornton lists the district's top accomplishments in 2013. At the top is the $38 million allocated for improvements to stadiums and infrastructure.
Milwaukee Board of School Directors say the district has made improvements under Thornton's leadership.
"This year was the first year in many, many years where we actually saw a slight increase in enrollment," Falk said.
"He`s advanced our Montessori work. He's advanced our IB programs. He`s advanced our advanced placement programs," Miller said.
An MPS spokesperson did not return calls from FOX6 News for comment Monday.
Baltimore City Public Schools has sent out a press release saying on Tuesday, February 18th, they will "announce an important milestone."