Schools CEO candidate 'intrigued by challenge'

Arlene Ackerman, a finalist to become the Philadelphia School District's next chief executive officer, yesterday said her love of children and desire to help create successful urban schools makes the job appealing, despite having had a sometimes rocky six-year tenure as superintendent of San Francisco's schools.

"I thought I had hung up my superintendent's shingle and had found a new way to give back," Ackerman said during a phone interview. "But I am intrigued by the challenge. I enjoy a challenge. I'm not afraid of one - or many."

Ackerman said she was happy in her new jobs, as a Columbia University professor and coach of future superintendents for a philanthropy organization, when Philadelphia school officials asked her to apply for the CEO vacancy.

Ackerman, who also was superintendent of Washington, D.C.'s public schools in the late 1990s, said she still has not decided if she'll take the $275,000-a-year job if it is offered to her.

"I'm at a point in my life that I can do other things and do them well and have great satisfaction," said Ackerman, who celebrated her 61st birthday yesterday.

"I also know deep in my heart there is a sense of urgency in education," she said. "We are losing children every day. Someone has to be their advocate and someone has to make schools work for all kids."

On Wednesday, School Reform Commission Chairwoman Sandra Dungee Glenn announced that the names of the CEO finalists would be made public Jan. 23, with the new chief to be named shortly after.

But based on information from sources close to the selection process, the Daily News yesterday reported that Ackerman and C. Kent McGuire, dean of the Temple University College of Education, made the CEO finalists short list.

Dungee Glenn yesterday reacted angrily to the reports, contending they had undermined the search process.

"It is unfortunate that someone breached the integrity of the CEO search process and that the press was more concerned with rushing to 'get a story' than protecting the interests of our children," she said.

"Endangering our ability to offer the job to the best candidate is a slap in the face to our students and parents," she added. "I remain fully committed to the search process, and we intend to go forward as planned."

Ackerman said she was also caught off guard when reporters called her at Columbia, where it was not common knowledge that she had been talking to Philadelphia officials since about September. Still, Ackerman, a native of St. Louis, said she wants to continue discussing the job with Philadelphia officials.

"I am honored and happy they believe the work that I have done for the last three decades may be of value to Philadelphia."

She defended her time as head of San Francisco schools - 2000 to 2006 - by noting six years of improved test scores for minority children. During her final three years, the district posted the highest student achievement of any urban district in California.

In addition, her fiscal oversight resulted in the district recouping $56 million from a fraud scheme which landed several people in jail, Ackerman said.

Still, she gained a reputation of being an autocratic leader, who did not include parents and teachers in major decisions. She also had stormy dealings with members of the school board.

Ackerman countered that she had monthly roundtable meetings with parents, and even made regular visits to private homes to meet with parents.

"I don't know any superintendent who has done that, and I have lots of friends," said the former teacher.

"Whenever you challenge the status quo and stand up for right, it's going to be a rocky road. But I felt rewarded by the results in student achievement."

A divorcee, she and has two sons and three granddaughters. *