SCHOOL NEWS
VICKIE CARTWRIGHT CHOSEN TO LEAD BROWARD SCHOOLS PERMANENTLY By Terry Jaillet
B
roward County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Vickie Cartwright will get the full-time job. The former Orange County school administrator was chosen by the Broward County School Board after an 8-1 vote in her favor. Lori Alhadeff was the only dissenting vote at a School Board Meeting on February 9. Cartwright has been the interim superintendent since her predecessor, Robert Runcie resigned from the role last year. She was chosen despite initially not being allowed to even apply for the job. The interim superintendent was initially not supposed to be eligible for the full-time role, but Cartwright gained the support of board members and, importantly, The Broward Teachers Union. “In the six months that she has served as interim superintendent, she has proven to be an intelligent and excellent leader with an ability to listen to and work with all constituencies,” said Teachers Union President Anna Fusco in a prepared statement. “She quickly gained a keen understanding of the district’s challenges and opportunities. I look forward to continuing
the positive and fruitful relationship we have created and to Dr. Cartwright’s long tenure as the leader of Broward County Public Schools.” The school board had narrowed the search to two finalists. Along with Cartwright was retired Air Force Colonel Michael Gaal. Gaal has held a number of leadership positions in large schools systems after his military service. He was never a teacher, however. Some board members pointed to this fact as a reason to prefer Cartwright. “The beginning of my career is one that is truly based on relationships and the value of understanding the importance in ensuring that we put students first,” Cartwright told the board. “During my 7th-grade year, unfortunately, my family did become homeless.” “I am humbled. I am honored,” Cartwright said after the vote, “One of my initial interests at this point is really going out and recruiting the best-qualified candidates for those (key) positions.” Alhadeff explained the reasoning for her vote for Gaal, saying, “he was the stronger leader
in totality, as far as being able to question the status quo, hold people accountable.” Cartwright will have her work cut out for in managing the nation’s sixth-largest school system. There are currently vacancies in several key management positions.
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24 / March 2022 / OurCityMedia.com
