2 minute read
New Superintendent Hired
ANDY GARDNER SHARES HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT
By Ming Wong
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On Feb. 3, the Greater Albany Public Schools school board convened for a roughly 13-minute special board meeting in which they announced and voted unanimously to make Andy Gardner the next superintendent of the district. This isn’t Gardner’s first time being a superintendent; he’s currently the superintendent of North Santiam School District and has held this position since 2010, according to information shared by GAPS. Gardner will become superintendent of the district on July 1, as interim superintendent Rob Saxton’s contract ends at the end of June.
How do you view the voice of the community?
I think the different voices are going to be coming from different perspectives. It’s a complex organization, but yet there’s some very simple things that run through our entire organization. Safety of students, students learning to their ability level, exiting with work or college skills. So there’s some things that whatever people’s viewpoints are, they can still agree on those central core outcomes. From wherever you approach, whether you’re from the Chamber [of Commerce], whether you’re a parent, whatever, so it’s going to be about fine tuning that. So I see different organizations or viewpoints. It’s just looking at a different side of that same picture.
How will the voices of the community, including students, factor into your decisions as superintendent?
So there’s two student reps on the board. One of the things we have done here, there was one year we missed, but just listening to students at the end of the year, like seniors, about their experience so that we can take their impressions of the district. So listening to kids, I think sometimes you have to really scope what that looks like. But we have two student reps on the board that we would hear from regularly. Of course, being in the schools like we are here we get to know the kids really well, so they’re a little more comfortable talking to us. We’re a smaller district. So I think we’re going to have to be a little more explicit and organize some things where we are listening to kids about their experiences, all kids, but also diversity groups, things like that.
How do you plan to help marginalized communities in this district?
Well I think there’s already been some good work that’s been done. I think we’re going to have to regularly meet with people to hear from them — how our systems inadvertently marginalize them, make it harder for them. I think we have to be really intolerant of racial epithets, and some of the things that have increased recently. I think that’s really important. I know that [interim superintendent Rob] Saxton is working on developing a strategic plan for some outcomes, among which is to increase the number of diverse staff members in the district. And so as that is developed, of course, that’ll be my responsibility to implement that.
FAST FACTS
Grew up in Eastern Oregon Lived in Albany in the 1990s Loves fishing & camping Principal of Stayton Middle School (2007-2010) Current Superintendent of North Santiam School District Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Executive Board Member (2012-2018)
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Photo used with permission of Andy Gardner
Famous by Word of Mouth!
