RUSD hires Madison HS principal as Deputy Supt.

Alan G. Harris has been named Deputy Superintendent of the Racine Unified School District. He replaces Dr. Jackson Parker, the retired interim deputy superintendent.

Harris, who was selected by Supt. James Shaw, is principal of Madison East High School in Madison.

A statement from RUSD says:

For more than fifteen years, he has worked in education, including serving as a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school level in both California and Wisconsin. Mr. Harris is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His Ph.D. dissertation is focused on school districts that have successfully closed achievement gaps and promoted excellence for all students. Mr. Harris will officially begin his work with the Racine Unified School District on Oct. 1. His prorated salary, based on an annual salary of $119,268, will be $89,451 for the 2009-2010 school year.

As Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Harris will lead a team of administrators focused on school reform to achieve the goals of the North Star in reading, writing, and mathematics achievement. He will assist and support all staff in identifying, developing, and improving the teaching and learning skills necessary to improve education in Racine. His specific responsibilities are to improve professional development, to assist principals, teachers, and all staff in analyzing data, and to establish a data warehouse that integrates achievement and management data.

“I am excited about Mr. Harris joining our staff. I know his experience in diverse urban districts will bring new ideas to the district that will serve the students and staff of the district well. I know Mr. Harris is excited about the North Star and know from his past accomplishments that he is committed to excellence for all students,” Shaw said. Together with administrators, teachers, staff, and community leaders, he will identify and develop research-based strategies that effectively close achievement gaps in Racine.

The appointment of Mr. Harris is part of a reorganization of the Administrative Service Center and the combining of several vacant positions including Chief Academic Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Administrator of Professional Development, Executive Director of Information Technology, and the Interim Deputy Superintendent position. Responsibilities have also been modified for Area Superintendents Dona Sens, Dr. Bethel Cager, and Brian Colbert, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jeff Weiss. The revised assignments for these administrators include the development of tutoring programs, school security, the expansion of rigorous IB and AP curriculum, and instructional coaching for teachers and other staff.