Tulsa Public Schools Adding New Administrative Positions

Major changes are headed to Green Country's largest school district. Tulsa Public Schools will start the school year with an entirely new group of leaders.

When students head back to class, in the coming days and weeks, they may notice some new faces. TPS is has come up with seven new Instructional Leadership Director positions to help support principals, which in turn is expected to help students.

Superintendent Keith Ballard said improving student achievement is the district's top priority, though it's not always easy.

"It's tough work when 85 percent of your kids come from backgrounds of poverty, but it's doable work," Ballard said.

To help the district provide top-notch education, Ballard enlisted an outside consulting firm to study TPS's administrative structure. The firm compared Tulsa schools to schools across the country, similar in size.

"Last year, we had an elementary superintendent, who supervised 55 schools. You can't get to 55 schools, you can't work in detail with the principals that you need to work with," Ballard said.

To fix the problem, the consultant suggested hiring Instructional Leadership Directors, or ILDs, to augment the elementary and secondary superintendent positions.

Ballard said the ILDs will oversee between eight and 11 schools.

TPS Board of Education Vice President Leigh Goodson said the ILDs will work directly with school principals, to help lighten the workload.

"Making sure the teachers are prepared and making sure that we have a streamline curriculum that is actually delivering results and achievement for our students," Goodson said.

8/7/2013 Related Story: TPS Superintendent Vouches For New Deputy, Despite Some Controversy

The ILDs will report to the newly hired Deputy Superintendent Kim Dyce.

The board approved her hire during Wednesday night's meeting.

Goodson said the board has been studying Dyce's application for about two weeks and has met with her twice.

"She had a sterling record in Rochester, she worked on school closings, reassignments, had all the experience we were looking for," Ballard said.

The superintendent said they've also hired a director of student and constituent services to provide parents with a go-to person for any questions they might have.

Ballard said two of the ILD positions will be paid for by donor funds. As for the other five, he says there will be an increase, but not significant.