Schools

Meet the Superintendent Finalists: Daniel Nerad

The current superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District is one of two vying for the superintendent position with Birmingham Public Schools. He is to be interviewed before the school board Thursday.

On Saturday, the Birmingham Board of Education chose Robert Shaner and Daniel Nerad as finalists for the position of superintendent with .

The school board is working to replace outgoing superintendent David Larson, .

Shaner and Nerad were chosen as finalists from a group of five semifinalists, all of whom interviewed before the school board last week. The pair returns this week for a second interview with the board; finalists will also give a 15-minute presentation, tour the district and meet with a committee of parents, teachers and community members.

Find out what's happening in Birminghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school board is expected to make its final recommendation for superintendent at a special meeting June 11 in the hopes of having a new superintendent in place by July 1.

In this two-part series, Birmingham Patch is taking a closer look at the superintendent finalists ahead of their final interviews. All interviews are public; stay with Patch for updates and/or watch live on Birmingham's Channel 17. First-round interviews are currently running from 1-11 p.m. on Channel 17.

Find out what's happening in Birminghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Daniel Nerad

  • Current position: Nerad is the superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison, WI and has been since 2008. On March 21, Nerad announced that he wouldn't be seeking an extension of his contract with the Madison district, which expires next June.
  • Career: Before coming to Madison, Nerad was a superintendent for six years, and before that worked in school administration, in Green Bay, WI. Nerad earned both his bachelor and master's degree in social work and worked for part of his career in that field. In 2006, Nerad was named the Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year.
  • School board reactions:
    • "His life work is around serving children," Trustee Lori Soifer said, adding "he has demonstrated courage, humility and patience in dealing with his current situation" in Madison.
    • Trustee Steve Scheidt called Nerad a "man of substance" who has lived through a challenging and controversial period but who is still focused on creating consensus among the community.
  • Coming up: The school board will hold a meet-and-greet for Nerad from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday at the district's administrative offices. Nerad's presentation begins at 5:45 p.m., with his second interview to immediately follow.

His interview

Nerad .

What do you see as your strengths?

"I view myself as a child advocate and that means speaking out for the needs of kids," Nerad said."I feel I have the ability to create the right conversations around the lives of children ... (and) I feel one of my strengths is helping other people grow."

What is an example of a time you've failed and what did you learn?

"In leadership there is risk and there isn't always success," Nerad said, noting that his last two years in Madison — during which the community has been divided over several key issues — have been particularly challenging.

"As much as I look at myself as a unifier, I don't feel like I've necessarily been successful in doing that," Nerad said. "It's very difficult. I feel I'm trained in conflict resolution ... but in this particular case, I don't think all the conflicts were resolved in the right way, and I do place a lot of responsibility on myself."

What does 21st century teaching and learning look like to you?

Nerad said 21st century teaching and learning is about focusing on lifelong learning, changing the way students are taught, teaching children how to become problem-solvers all the while balancing required content standards.

"It's not only knowledge and skills but how young people develop as people," he said.

How does a school district know when it has an effective program?

This can be a struggle for school districts, Nerad said, but programs need to be evaluated over time, districts need effective ways to collect data, and there needs to be systems in place that allow teachers to collaborate around data and solve problems.

How do you move a personal vision into something shared with the community?

"I believe a mission and a vision is something accomplished over time," Nerad said. "It's about bringing people together for an ongoing dialogue about what we're doing for kids."

What are some best practices you have use to reduce the achievement gap for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)?

Nerad said he's a believer in one set of standards for all kids. "We have to start with a very strong belief system at a leadership level that all really does mean all, and it's one set of standards for all kids."

Once students are placed in special education programs, Nerad said he advocates the use of co-teaching while also making sure core curriculum standards are the same across the board.

How do you envision working with your executive team?

In Madison, Nerad said he has formed a leadership council, bringing together administrators and building principals for regular conversations on a district level.

"I am very interested in how central offices can do their work differently," Nerad said. "I want to move away from directing ... the work has to be about supporting schools."

Discuss the role of strategic planning and what it might look like for Birmingham?

The road map toward strategic planning needs to be dynamic and flexible, Nerad said, while ultimately bringing one back to the district's core vision, mission and beliefs. Nerad said his bias is to build on what you have, and if hired, would look for ways to improve and refresh Birmingham's current strategic plan.

What is the role of principals, the school board and superintendent in terms of innovation and curriculum development?

According to Nerad, the school board ensures there are enough resources for curriculum development and innovation, the superintendent is responsible for outlining what that curriculum will look like, while schools have the responsibility to implement curriculum in the way that's best for each building.

What is your budgeting process and how would you go about cutting money from Birmingham's budget?

Budgeting has to be a year-round process, Nerad said, and should he be hired, he would go to district stakeholders — whether they be parents, teachers or community members — and ask: what are your priorities?

How would you engage the rest of the Birmingham community, including the local business community?

Nerad said he would work with the district public relations office to focus heavily on engagement and outreach. "I do believe in putting a face on the superintendency," he said.

How did you build consensus on an important issue?

When trying to reach consensus on tough issues, Nerad said he uses voting procedures and works to ensure people are heard. "My whole life has been dedicated to those kinds of practices."

How do you judge whether a school board is doing a good job?

According to Nerad, the school board should be a model for the entire district.

"I believe if the superintendent evaluates the board, the board should evaluate itself," Nerad said. "If we want our staff to grow, we have to model that kind of commitment. It's about the whole organization getting better, from the superintendent to the board to teachers to support staff."

Final thoughts?

"I am a product of public education, it runs pretty deep," Nerad said. "We have an opportunity in schools not only to teach kids well but to develop them as people ... I'm highly committed to ensuring that all kids have good outcomes."

"I do have ideas and I view myself as a contemporary student of education, but I don't have all the answers," Nerad added. "But I try to approach things with all the humility I can."

Check out Birmingham Schools Superintendent Search 2012 for more on Birmingham Public Schools' search for a new superintendent this spring and summer.


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