The Fulton County Board of Education today announces
Cindy Loe, Ph.D., as its finalist for the position of
superintendent for the Fulton County School System. Following
a 14-day public comment period, which begins today, the board
plans to formally tender the position to Dr. Loe.
"Dr. Loe is a perfect fit for
Fulton County schools -- and just the person our
students, parents, staff and community need," commented Julia
Bernath, president of the Fulton County Board of Education.
"As a long-time resident of Fulton County, Dr. Loe understands
the district. Her strong skill-set and willingness to be part
of the team ensures our continued educational
excellence."
About the
Finalist
Dr.
Loe currently serves as associate superintendent of teaching
and learning for Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia's
largest school district with over 155,000 students. As
associate superintendent, Dr. Loe's responsibilities include
supervising all district principals and schools, as well as
curriculum, special education and continuous improvement.
During
her career in Gwinnett, she led the district in the
development of its standards-based curriculum, instructional
programming, testing and assessment processes, English for
Speakers of Other Languages, gifted education, forecasting and
planning and research and development. Under Dr. Loe's
direction, Gwinnett has raised student achievement across
multiple measures, including the highest scores on the Georgia
CRCT, the SAT and the ACT. When she joined Gwinnett in 1996,
she facilitated the establishment of the district's Academic
Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum, which has helped
Gwinnett raise student achievement to an all-time high while
significantly narrowing the achievement gap.
Dr.
Loe has been a teacher, assistant principal and middle school
principal. With 26 years of public education experience, she
has shared her expertise throughout the United States and
internationally, including a presentation at the International
Economic Round Table at Oxford University on the topic, "Best
Practices for Increasing Student Achievement Among Diverse
Student Populations: Funding, Programming and Community
Involvement." Dr.
Loe was among 20 participants selected in 2004 to participate
in the Eli Broad Foundation's Urban Superintendent's Academy,
which is designed to prepare participants for leadership
positions at large urban school districts across the
country.
Dr.
Loe received her bachelor's degree in elementary education
from Georgia State University. She received her
master's degree in middle grade and gifted education from
Armstrong State College in Savannah and her Ph.D. in
educational leadership from Georgia State
University.
Dr.
Loe's first public school teaching assignments were in Fulton
County at Mountain Park and Esther Jackson elementary schools
and later at Holcomb Bridge Middle School. She has been a
Fulton resident since 1991 and has two children who have
graduated from Fulton County schools.
"I
look forward to working as a team with the school board and
system leaders to help students reach their fullest potential.
Together with our parent and community partners we will extend
the learning opportunities for all students," said Dr. Loe,
who is expected to begin April 1.
"The
Fulton County Board of Education has made an excellent choice
in naming Dr. Cindy Loe as the sole finalist for
superintendent," said J. Alvin Wilbanks, CEO/superintendent of
Gwinnett County Public Schools. "I have worked directly with
Dr. Loe for over a decade and know her to be an effective
leader, both instructionally and operationally. She has done
all the things one needs to do to be well-prepared for the
superintendency. Dr. Loe will do a great job for the students
of Fulton County as she has done for the students in Gwinnett.
I wish Dr. Loe every success and congratulate the Fulton board
on its decision."
About
the Search Process
Following
the announced retirement of current Superintendent James
Wilson, the Fulton County Board of Education began a national
search that included extensive interviews with a number of
candidates and concluded with the board focusing on a single
leading candidate.
"We
realize the importance of our decision," said Bernath. "Truly,
the most important responsibility for the board is the
selection of a school superintendent. After careful review and
consideration, we believe that Dr. Loe was the single most
outstanding candidate -- and we look forward to her
leadership."
