Dr. Susan Enfield will step down as Superintendant of Seattle Public Schools in June.
By Anne-Marije Rook
Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield announced today that she won't seek nor accept the permanent position of superintendent when her contract ends in June.
"This was not an easy decision for me to make given my commitment to Seattle and to our students," she said in a statement. "I wish the school board well in their search for a new superintendent, and will work with the new appointee to ensure a smooth transition for our staff, students and families. It is my sincere hope that the board will continue to build on our successes to date and continue the momentum we have built. I believe strongly that losing this momentum would be a disservice to our students and staff."
Dr. Enfield was appointed Interim Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools in March and in her announcement today, Enfield celebrated the progress of the last 10 months.
"I am incredibly proud of the work our students, teachers, principals and staff have accomplished over the past 10 months. Seattle is fortunate to have such a team of dedicated educational professionals. The progress we have made is significant," she said.
In the last year, the four-year graduation rate went up from 67 percent to 73 percent.
Seattle Public Schools students outperformed the state average in every tested subject in grades 3-8 and
overall school performance is increasing, with 27 schools increasing their overall performance level during 2010-2011.
"Our work here is far from over. Continuing to improve outcomes for all students and attack our achievement gaps will require great principals, great teachers, connected families and community partners and a central office serving schools by supporting high quality teaching and learning in every classroom. Please know that I remain dedicated to Seattle Public Schools and will continue to partner with, and serve you all to the best of my ability in the months ahead," said Enfield. "I want to thank you for your support. I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the students and community of Seattle."
