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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > August > 05 > Entry
Dayton schools name new deputy superintendent
Lori Ward
Kurt Stanic, city schools interim superintendent, reorganized the central office Tuesday, Aug. 5, by naming a new deputy superintendent and eliminating six unfilled central office jobs.
Stanic named Lori Ward to replace Debra Brathwaite as his chief deputy. Brathwaite left to join former Dayton superintendent Percy Mack as deputy superintendent for him in Columbia, S.C.
Ward came to the district for a career change to be an elementary school math teacher in 1995 after working in systems engineering management for IBM. She became the district’s chief information officer in 1999 and was promoted to chief of business operations earlier this year.
Brathwaite’s duties heading the academic operations will shift to Jane McGee Rafal, who moves from executive director of elementary education to chief academic officer. Rafal and Ward will report to Stanic along with assistant superintendents Jonathan Brown and Rebecca Lowry.
Stanic also announced the elimination of three open administrator jobs — director of early childhood education, executive director of school operations and associate superintendent of humanities. Three open central office clerical jobs also were cuts — a financial clerk, an accounting clerk and an administrative assistant.
“We are streamlining the central office,” Stanic said.
Classes begins Monday in Dayton. Teachers report today for Stanic’s convocation address at 9 a.m. at the University of Dayton Arena.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Concerned Mom of 3
August 10, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
I have a lot of confidence in Dayton’s new superintendent… I think he will weed out a lot of the “dead wood” in the district. (My kids and I are counting on it.) I believe DPS will be a better place to work and learn because of him. The changes he has made thus far are remarkable. I continue to like what I see happening in DPS.By retiredteacher
August 10, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Mary Manuel and others downtown need to go. How many people were cut from the Human Resource Department? I think, none and what does Gaskins still need 3 people for staff development? Shouldn’t cuts be equal across the whole district? The district needs money for transportation of high school students. With the closing of Colonel White,there are now no high schools in North Dayton. Meadowdale is so far out, it is not even in the city. We have given kids a perfect reason not to come to school — no money for a bus pass. If a bus pass cost $225 for 9 months and the district gets over $5,000 from the state for every enrolled student, doesn’t it make sense to buy kids a bus pass?By BJ
August 10, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
To Concerned; Marlea Jordan-Gaskins must have set you up with a postion and salary you sure didn’t deserve or you are one of a very, very few friends she has. I HAD to sit in a few meetings with this woman and she is one of the most arragrant,know it all,and unprofessional individuals I have met from the DPS system. As for Mary Manual; put the woman on a school bus where she belongs and maybe she won’t have time to meddle in the District’s business. And, Lord have mercy,take that van away from her or give every employee a vehicle and free gas,maintence & insurance. WOW what a nice pay increase. The woman can’t drive and uses the van for personal use. Put Ol, Mary the cow out to pasture.By null
August 9, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
Back to Lori Ward … She is my favorite adm. because when she has asked me to work on a project with her, she takes the time to give the “big picture” and tell me what part she is doing. I can do a better job. COGRATS! LoriBy Richard
August 9, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
I dissagree that Dr. Gaskins is the least respected administrator in the district. Yes she personnally makes our Individual Personal Development Plan more difficult than any other school district in the state, she unfairly evaluates the principals that she supervises, imposses irrelavant professional development, and treats people like “crap”, the administrator most disliked and disrespected by all district staff is the human resource director, Ed Sweetnich. Now there is a real “0”! And yes, “Mary, Mary Contrary Mary”is well past her time of effectiveness. All of those who were afraid or intimidated by her are gone.By To Concerned:
August 8, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Dr. Gaskins has little respect for teachers and as stated, talks down (and at) everyone she meets through a fake, judgmental smile. She interrupts people and speaks “authoritatively” on subjects of which she clearly has no knowledge. She doesn’t really listen—and listening is terribly important! Real LISTENING! Many teachers had hoped that she would take her leave as well.By Laura
August 7, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Concerned: Only someone who hasn’t been at the receiving end of Dr. Gaskins trivial tirades would think she should have been offered a higher position. The fact that she is probably the most disliked and least respected administrator may have something to do with not getting a more influential postition. As “old teach” said, she has no people skills and treats others like they are subhuman. NO matter how hard you supposedly work or care about the district, treating people the way she does will eventually come back to get you.By Fed Up
August 7, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
Well, there’s a new sheriff in DPS and his name is Dr. Stanic!!!! I was very impressed with what he said at the convacation (on the news). I think he will do a great job cleaning up this district. Trimming the fat, especially at the top. He has already save the district 2.2 million dollars by getting RID of all those people who were hired under the “old buddy system”. Past superintendents were know for hiring their friends and giving them made up jobs and big FAT salaries. A lot of these jobs didn’t benefit the district at all. Kudos to you Dr. Stanic. I will be a supporter of the levy as you continue to fix the district’s problems. I can only imagine all the bus passes the that could have been purchased for the high school students with all the money wasted by Mary Manuel being able to have a board owned van for her personal use. She should be ashamed of being so selfish. She is only out for herself. Put her to work in a classroom or on a bus and I garguarantee you she will quit!! Take that van away IMMEDIATELY, AND YOU WILL GET MY VOTE AND MANY MORE!!By BJ
August 7, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
WOW! What a great team the District will have this year. Hopefully the Board will uphold decisions made by thise amazing talented group. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Lori Ward when she was in “Information Services”. What a wonderful, responsible lady Lori is. Not afraid to get down into the “nitty-gritty” of things. Now let’s see if they: “The Dream Team of DPS” has the courage to place Ms. Mary Manuell where she truly belongs…..out the door. We sure don’t need the “Sacred Cow” any longer.By Parent of 3
August 6, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
I feel it is only fair to give some due credit to the current Board of Education of DPS. I am excited about what I see happening and I know you played a huge role in bringing about these needed changes. I for one want to take a moment and tell you so far I am more impressed than I have been in awhile. Appears you have made a good choice with Stanic and I am sure you are playing a role in the reorg of the admin roles. Kudos!By KT
August 6, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
I have got to give Dr. Stanic credit. He has picked the best of the best to assist him in running the district. He must be a very perceptive man. I wish all of the administrators the best of luck this year. You are a great team!By Old Teach
August 6, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
To “Concerned”, probably because she has zero people skills, and talks down to everyone. Wow, maybe a new day is finally dawning!By Mary
August 6, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this
I was pleased to see that Lori Ward started outside the education field. That perspective should make her a needed and rare resource of diverse backgrounds influencing what goes on in education.By Concerned
August 5, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
What happened to Dr. Marlea Jordan-Gaskins, in all of this! Dr. Gaskins has not only been a lifelong educator of Dayton Public Schools and Daytonian, she has stuck up for the District in many ways, and is a natural and trained educator. Her expertise is warranted. Dr. Gaskins has the responsibility of high school principals, counselors, assistant high school principals, curriculum specialist, and professional development for the school district. How could Dayton Public not consider her for an Associate Superintendent’s position (at least)! As hard as she works!