Birmingham Board of Education Poised to Vote on Superintendent Dr. Sullivan’s Future Amidst Strong Performance Evaluation

Exciting Times Ahead for Birmingham Schools as Dr. Sullivan’s Future Hangs in the Balance

Birmingham, Alabama – The Birmingham Board of Education has an important decision to make tonight, as they prepare to vote on a proposed three-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan. This vote is the next step following a recent performance evaluation that highlighted his growth and achievements since he took the reins in August 2020.

A Look Back at Dr. Sullivan’s Tenure

Dr. Sullivan’s time as superintendent hasn’t been without its challenges, but he has also implemented a number of initiatives to boost educational outcomes in the district. The evaluation, which was led by Board Member Mary Boehm, focused on several data-driven goals that were developed with input from a Harvard-affiliated group. These goals are measured through what they call Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which fall into four main categories: student success, team excellence, stakeholder trust, and systems and planning.

The most heavily weighted category – student success – had nine specific goals. Dr. Sullivan is commended for hitting the mark on seven of these! Overall, he received a stunning KPI score of 3.85 out of 4, placing him squarely in the “Above Expectations” category. Board members also evaluated him based on nine competencies such as leadership and district culture, scoring an average of 2.91 out of 4, enough to meet their expectations.

The combined score from both sections resulted in an impressive 3.57 out of 4, which again suggests performance in the “Above Expectations” range. After the evaluation was laid out, board members expressed their approval with a hearty round of applause!

Words of Appreciation

In response to this recognition, Dr. Sullivan extended his heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the evaluation process. Board President Jason Meadows, representing District 9, particularly highlighted the rigorous evaluation method. What stood out was the clear inclusion of academic performance in the KPIs—something that isn’t a requirement for school boards across the state.

“Dr. Sullivan faces more scrutiny than many other superintendents in Alabama,” Meadows pointed out. He was quick to cite a significant increase in literacy rates within the district, jumping from 50 to 81 percent, as proof of Dr. Sullivan’s positive impact.

Looking Ahead

However, there’s also a sense of realism about the ongoing challenges. Meadows mentioned, “We have a long way to go. A long way to go. But there’s a lot of hard work going on.” And indeed there is! Recent reports indicate that reading and math scores have shown significant improvement under Dr. Sullivan’s leadership.

Adding to the excitement, on November 18, Dr. Sullivan will co-teach a class at Harvard University! The course will feature a case study focused on the positive strides Birmingham City Schools is making. Talk about making waves!

The Big Decision

As the Birmingham Board of Education prepares to make a significant decision tonight, many in the community are hopeful for Dr. Sullivan’s continued leadership. Will he secure his position for the next three years? The answer lies in the hands of the very board members who applauded him just days ago.

Stay tuned, Birmingham! Whatever the outcome, one thing’s for sure— education in our city is on the move!