School watchers react to superintendent candidate

PARENTS and teachers who heard from superintendent candidate Pedro Martinez on Monday had plenty to say about him:

Brian Cohen, teacher at the Academy at Palumbo: "I like hearing him say things like collaboration and distributing thoughts and getting input from teachers and community members. I don't totally think he would do it to the extent that I would appreciate. ... He seems like a nice guy, he seems earnest in his beliefs. ... I happen to disagree."

Chris Powers, 39, parent and teacher at Samuel Powel Elementary School: "I've been a little happier to hear that he's been pushing away from charters a bit. … I'm just nervous about the fact that he's not an educator. I'm not convinced. It sounded like a good speech, it sounded wonderful, but in the end I'm skeptical.

Sonya Brintnall, 41, of West Philadelphia: "We need someone who has classroom experience to really understand what we're dealing with on a daily basis. He has barely any experience. He's a 2009 graduate [of the Broad Superintendents Academy]. We've already had a few of their grads and that's what got us into this mess."

Kristen Luebbert, teaches seventh and eighth grade in North Philadelphia: "I think he says all the right things ... but from a short meeting it will be hard to tell what he will actually do within the constraints of the Philadelphia school system and the politics of Philadelphia. He does seem to talk a lot about collaboration, that's a good thing, but what does he mean by that? I don't think he understands how top-down [former superintendent Arlene] Ackerman was."

Rose Lentz, 59, community member from the Lower Northeast: "I'm concerned because at the moment Chicago schools are not in good shape. When you do a good job, it should continue and it doesn't seem to have."