Opinions on Dr. Crawford Lewis? (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: real estate market, elementary schools, live)

[equinox63]

Any opinions on the Dekalb County Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis?

And what are some good APS schools south of Grady High? If any?

Where do the children of the families that are populating all these gentrifying intown areas attend public high school, or do they ALL go to private school?

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by equinox63

Any opinions on the Dekalb County Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis?

I could write a book on your first question, but I won't. He is a fairly decent human being, but that doesn't make him a good Superintendent. He has been with the system over 30 years, the entire time the system has been in decline pretty much and though not responsible for the entire decline, he is responsible for keeping many of the people that are.

In parts of S. DeKalb (McNair, Avondale, Clarkston, etc) there is a total denial among their school board representatives about how bad the schools are. It is though, as this friend of mine who is very involved in DCSS often says, they have memories of old times when those schools were truly great -- and have no idea it is 2008. Watch a few DCSS board meetings and you will see what I mean. Some of this ties Dr. Lewis' hands -- but some doesn't.

This election will see 5 new board members (if anyone in DeKalb wants voting advice PM me) unfortunately with two exceptions the other three were pretty decent board members who will most likely (though there is some danger) be replaced by decent board members. If some really bad candidates are elected, we can expect DeKalb to be Clayton within two years.

The real change must come in two years when the worst of the bunch is up for reelection. that election has the ability to be really positive for DCSS.

The biggest challenge for DeKalb comes because of the culture of the parents. Dekalb is certainly inheriting many of the poor people that once lived/moved to the City of Atlanta schools. While many poor people make fine parents, research shows that children of intergenerational poverty are the hardest to educate. On top of that you have the widely documented cultural problem with this generation of students simply not valuing education and coming from parents who don't either.

I can't imagine that Dr. Lewis won't retire in two years or so. The question is what kind of school board will we have to pick his successor.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by equinox63

And what are some good APS schools south of Grady High? If any?

Where do the children of the families that are populating all these gentrifying intown areas attend public high school, or do they ALL go to private school?

I think most of those families have young children and aren't close to high school yet. I can remember within the last 15 years when no one went to Inman Middle, Sutton Middle or Grady. That has really changed, if you want an historical perspective.

Same with Riverwood High School in Sandy Springs, so yes I expect that over time you will see the same parents who worked so hard to change the elementary schools do the same at the middle and high school as well.

Plus, once the real estate market picks up again, you can expect much of the redevelopment of Atlanta to continue which will change the population anyway.