Finalist for top CCISD job talks ideas
Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees voted unanimously Nov. 9 to name Eric Williams as its lone finalist to lead the 42,000student school district. Minutes after the announcement was posted on Facebook, a vocal group of parents from Williams’ current district in Loudoun County, Va., began posting claims that Williams would close CCISD schools because of COVID-19 and implement so-called “critical race theory” into local schools. The CCISD board has said it stands by its decision to name Williams sole finalist.
Williams sat down with Chronicle education reporter Shelby Webb during his first public visit to Clear Creek ISD on Wednesday
to talk about the social media backlash to his potential move to the district and his vision for local schools. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Tell us about the racial issues and racial equity audit in Loudoun County Public Schools.
A: First of all, the historical context is important for where Loudoun is, because Loudoun County is not CCISD, and CCISD is not Loudoun County. So, when the Supreme Court set forth the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, the Supreme Court decision mandating integration, that set off the era of massive resistance in Virginia. There was resistance to integration, so schools were not integrated in Loudoun County until two federal court orders in the late ’60s.
That context has left wounds today, and sadly over the last couple of Martin Luther King days, the KKK has distributed recruitment flyers on the doorsteps of residences, including in neighborhoods that are predominately African American. There have been instances of racial slurs, and so all of that provides context.
What my role as superintendent is is trying to help create a shared vision around issues relating to inclusion. The equity audit we did as a district was really designed to help build an understanding of opportunities for including inclusiveness and its benefits. One thing I like a lot about CCISD is its emphasis on inclusion in the strategic plan.
Q: How do you envision working with Clear Creek ISD’s school board?
A: I love the fact that in CCISD the board and superintendent are intentional about using the phrase “the team of eight.” The seven trustees have a separate governance role that includes setting the strategic direction, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with them on a variety of issues.
Q: What are youmost proud of from your time in Loudoun County Public Schools?
A: I am proud of promoting a joy of teaching and learning, and not just focusing on test prep. I am very impressed with the fact that CCISD is intentional about saying, “Hey, we want our students to have high quality learning experiences, and a byproduct of that would be success on state tests, but our focus is not on preparing for state tests.” For me, I’m proud of encouraging teachers to give themselves permission to return to instructional approaches that they know help create joy of teaching and learning.
Q: How did you do that in Loudoun County?
A: One thing is really working with principals and teachers to personalize learning, recognizing students have individual learning pathways. This connects directly with CCISD’s emphasis on helping students identify and nurture their unique talents and strengths, so that personalized touch can help contribute to joy.
Q: Loudoun County campuses have remained closed for in-person instruction to themajority of students. Why is that, and what would your approach to COVID-19 closures be here?
A: I am not going to come in and close schools. I know CCISD has made clear that any school closure decisions are going to be
based on directives from public health officials and the state, so I’m not going to come in and change that. Again, Virginia is not Texas, and the context there is different.
Just last night I set forth a recommendation to the board (in Loudoun County) regarding next steps for implementation for in-person learning, particularly as COVID-19 rates go up. The board decided to have a much more cautious approach from a public health standpoint.
I had recommended that instead of certain public health data automatically triggering a closure, we would instead look at all data, as recommended by public health officials, including whether or not there’s transmission in the schools rather than automatically closing schools. So, on a very close vote last night — it was a majority but not it was not unanimous — the board decided to stop in-person learning if transmission rates reach a certain level. That’s an example of context. The community is at a different place in Loudoun County in terms of very diverse opinions about how schools should operate in the pandemic, and that diversity of opinion is also reflected in the school board.
Q: Some Loudoun County parents have sent warnings to those in Clear Creek ISD that you will implement “critical race theory” and institute affirmative action in local magnet programs. What is your response?
A: I have heard the term “critical race theory” more since my
identification as a sole finalist than I have in my entire life. We have not adopted critical race theory; I would not be bringing critical race theory here. Speaking more broadly, I’m not bringing specific programs or approaches to CCISD. I will be working to sustain and build on the excellence of CCISD.
Also, a few specifics in terms of critical race theory: A small number of people have criticized the use of materials from an organization called Teaching Tolerance, and those are optional resources the state identifies for all teachers in Virginia. We pass along that as an optional resource for teachers, just like we do for other state optional resources.
One other example on critical race theory: There’s been reference to the professional development. An expectation of our school board was for every teacher to participate in professional learning related to equity, and that professional learning includes looking at achievement data and seeing achievement gaps between different groups, and then talking about ways to meet individual student needs to improve outcomes for all students. So, that’s the equity training that some people have criticized. The board communicated that expectation, and we proceeded with implementing that.
Q: What was your reaction to the socialmedia backlash?
A: I totally get passionate opinions about kids’ education. Kids only get one shot at a K-12 education and for a parent their child is perhaps the most precious part of their life. So, I understand passionately felt opinions.
Q: Loudoun County is nearly twice the size as Clear Creek ISD, and youmay be leaving money on the table by coming here. What made you want to make the change?
A: I’m incredibly attracted to CCISD for several reasons. It’s a high performing district with high expectations for continuous improvement. The emphasis on innovation is also attractive, and it’s a perfect sized district. I’ve been superintendent of a 12,000student district and an 82,000student district, and so a 42,000student school district is just the right size. It also would be an incredible honor to be superintendent of a school district in which the NASA JSC is based, that’s another attractive thing.
I would also mention the level of community partnerships and the emphasis on wanting a superintendent who will be very engaged in the community. I feed off those interactions, so that’s also attractive.
Q: If you’re officially hired as superintendent, what would your first 90 days look like?
A: As I think about first 90 days, I think about listen and learn and connecting. I’m going to be out and about, I’m going to be visiting schools, observing teaching and learning, seeing student activities — athletic events, performing arts. But I’m also going to be meeting with a variety of community groups. Some of it will be general sessions, listen-and-learn sessions, and ask-the-superintendent questions. Others will be with specific groups, like parent groups or business leaders.
I’ve already had the opportunity to meet this week with PTA leaders, so I would want to be continuing to do that, because in order to sustain and build on the excellence, I need to take the time to listen and learn about the district.