Board Picks Three Finalists For MPS Superintendent

Milwaukee Public Schools Office of School Administration, 5225 W. Vliet St. Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Public Schools.

On Friday, the Milwaukee school board held a special meeting where they announced the three finalists to become the district’s new superintendent. But before making that announcement, board president, Marva Herndon, paid tribute to interim superintendent, Eduardo Galvan, who selflessly stepped in to lead the district, never wanting to become the fulltime superintendent himself. Instead, Galvan wishes to return to his previous position as a regional leader.

“It is with his heavy hand, his heavy heart, his huge heart, that led us through this turmoil,” Herndon said. “We want to say a huge thank you.”

When asked what the board was looking for in a superintendent, the same words kept coming up from board members: “Academic achievement.” When board member Henry Leonard said “Strong leadership,” the newest board member, James Ferguson, quickly added, “Especially around academic achievement.”

Leonard also added, someone who can “make tough decisions to make sure we don’t fall back into bad patterns.”

The board feels that they have selected three candidates that match the qualities needed in the district:

Joshua Starr is managing partner of The Center for Model Schools and author of Equity-Based Leadership. Starr was superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland for four years, and previously superintendent of Stamford, Connecticut schools for six years. He began his teaching career as a special education teacher in Brooklyn moving up the ranks in the New York school system.

Although a native New Yorker, he has some roots in Wisconsin having graduated from UW-Madison with additional degrees from Brooklyn College and Harvard. His wife, daughter and son (soon to graduate) attended UW-Madison as well.

Starr left his past two jobs before his contract had ended. He left four months early from his Montgomery County Maryland four-year contract in 2015. No reason was publicly given, nor why he left Stamford, Connecticut six years earlier. However, both districts saw an influx of lower income schools with dropping proficiency and test scores, perhaps much of it beyond Starr’s control. Nevertheless, at the Montgomery County school district he did narrow the test score gap between whites and minorities and improved SAT scores, graduation rates and Advanced Placement classes.

One criticism is directed at his management style which was called “remote and dismissive” in one publication. He has applied for several other positions while currently employed, which raised the issue of his commitment to his district. Only two years into the job at Montgomery County, he was a finalist for a chancellor of New York and previously one of six finalists for superintendent in Milwaukee.

Still, he is seen as an innovator who may bring in new ideas into the district.

Brenda Cassellius has more high-level educational experiences than any of the three finalists. She was superintendent of the Boston Public Schools from 2019-2022, and before that, from 2010-2019, the Commissioner of Education for Minnesota, a cabinet position similar to Wisconsin’s state school superintendent.

Cassellius grew up in Minneapolis, becoming a teacher in 1990 and rising to an associate superintendent in Minneapolis. She received her PhD from Memphis and became the Academic Superintendent of Middle Schools in Memphis before moving on to the Minnesota Commissioner position in 2010. She applied for the job of superintendent in Memphis in 2023 but finally withdrew her name.

She is now chief executive officer for Fresh Energy, an advocacy group for clean, alternative energy headquartered in St. Paul. Her application to Milwaukee shows that she wants to get back into education. A job here doesn’t bring her back to Minneapolis, but it is a lot closer than Boston.

Cassellius’ time as Boston superintendent was “tumultuous,” as a story by Boston Magazine noted. When she was first appointed, the district had had five superintendents in the past decade. She was a single mom who once depended upon food stamps, an outsider from Minnesota coming to the wrestling mat of Boston politics. Finally, the board bought out the last year of her contract. But the Boston mayor, Michelle Wu, gave her high praise saying Boston was better off because of her leadership. Many wondered how she even lasted three years.

Andraé Townsel may require a leap of faith on the part of the school board and the public. After all, he is superintendent of Calvert County, Maryland for less than two years, a district of only 15,000 students, 10,000 white and 2,000 Black. The largest community in his district is Chesapeake Beach, with under 6,000 inhabitants.

Previously he was superintendent of Benton Harbor, Michigan beginning in 2020, a district of less than 1,500 students, 92.5% Black. As a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent he worked to turn troubled schools around in several districts. He was well-received in Benton Harbor

The Detroit native has won numerous awards and was nominated as Michigan’s Superintendent of the year. He attended the Urban Superintendents Academy of the American Association of School Administrators. He was quickly chosen as President-Elect of the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland.

He is seen as an up-and-coming superintendent. The major question might be whether is ready for a much larger urban district.

The next step is the candidates coming to Milwaukee. “We want you to come and meet these candidates in person,” said Herdon, urging the public to turn out.
The three finalists will visit schools on February 6 and 7. The community will hear from the candidates Thursday, February 6: first session from 1:00-3:45 p.m.; second session 5:30-8:15 p.m. The board hopes to announce the new superintendent as early as February 11.