By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
Fort Worth, TX – Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Melody Johnson has abruptly announced plans to resign. In a statement emailed to media Thursday morning Johnson said she will leave the district September 19 if school board members accept her resignation.
Johnson's departure after almost six years in the job would come as FWISD grapples with deep cuts in state school funding that threatens district jobs and programs.
Johnson's statement doesn't explain why she's leaving, though it follows public criticism by several board members during public meetings.
District 5 Trustee Judy Needham said she's saddened by Johnson's decision to leave and blames dissention on the board.
"She has done a fantastic job of educating our children. We had a great deal of divisiveness on the board. Personal, relentless attacks on her and staff makes it impossible to focus on what's important for kids," Needham said.
Johnson's statement released Thursday morning:
Superintendent Melody Johnson Announces Plans to Resign
Fort Worth, Texas - Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Melody Johnson has submitted her resignation to the District Board of Education. If accepted, Dr. Johnson's tenure will conclude on September 19, 2011.
In a letter delivered to Board members today, Dr. Johnson wrote: "It has been my great privilege to provide leadership to the 12,000 employees, our 81,000 students, their families and this great community.
She added, "For 36 years I have been involved in unifying educators and working side-by-side with them to ensure the best for students. In recent months however, it has been increasingly difficult to remain effectively focused on the instructional agenda for our students."
Under her administration the Fort Worth Independent School District
More than doubled the District's fund balance to 152 million during the most restrictive and challenging economic times ever experienced in public education, thus positioning the District well for this year's severe budget reductions by the legislature
Led the District in the passage of the largest bond package of $600M in capital improvement projects and ensured an on-time, on-budget outcome
Designed, built and implemented a state-of-the-art Curriculum Framework that have been widely lauded and embraced by District teachers
Saw unprecedented, across the board, statistically significant gains or maintained strong performance in student achievement in the 2009-2010 school year on the TAKS tests for all student groups in all subjects.
Saw FWISD students exceed expected academic growth for every year in school in all grades and subjects with the exception of 6th and 9th-grade reading. This is demonstrated over the last three years in the aggregate and has been affirmed through the District's investment in value-added statistical analysis through the SAS Corporation.
Created instructional support for principals and teachers, including common planning time for teachers in core subjects grades 6 - 10
Reinstated art and music in every elementary school
Restructured high schools to offer Programs of Choice beginning in 2011-12, ensuring access to licensures, certifications, mentorships and college mentoring support/guidance
Introduced Schools of Choice, including the Young Women's Leadership Academy, a single-gender school for leadership development, and the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences, for students who aspire to careers in the medical field
Extended the learning day for primary students
Required the implementation of Pre-AP and AP classes in all core content areas in every middle and high school to encourage a "college bound culture."
Redesigned and strengthened the instructional program for English language learners
Implemented District-wide inclusion for all special education students creating equal learning opportunities for all students
Reopened the District's Outdoor Learning Center - a 228- acre environmental learning experience open to all students and professional development experiences for teachers
Required every student in grades 3 through 12 to read a minimum of 4 novels or great literary works every school year
Became one of the first districts selected to participate in TEA's partnership with the University of Virginia to develop a true "turnaround" model for urban school systems. In December, the District received a comprehensive report that concluded "FWISD is well positioned to become a national lighthouse of urban excellence."
Began using 21st Century technology in the classroom to deliver consistent, high quality curriculum and instructional materials across the District. Classroom technology, infrastructure and support have been modernized to include replacing 20,000 computers, installing over 40 miles of network cable and becoming the first urban school system to install interactive white boards in every classroom
Established the District's first ever Department of Parent and Public Engagement to create stronger home-school connections and communications systems
Designed and implemented the first Office of Student Engagement and School Completion to strengthen and address the district's dropout prevention and intervention needs; including Project Prevail involving Community Action Teams and business partners
Redesigned the Human Capital Management department to ensure that all schools and departments select, hire, develop and retain the most qualified personnel to staff our schools and educate our students
Rallied talented dedicated people, both long-tenured and new to the District, to a common vision of excellence.
Dr. Johnson joined the Fort Worth ISD in July, 2005 and is now in her 36th year as a professional educator. She has not announced her future plans.
-FWISD-