(upbeat music) - Welcome to Forum 360 for a Zoom edition to our global outlook with a local view.

I'm Leslie Ungar, your host today.

Some of our audience may remember when education was just the three R's, reading, writing, and rithmetic.

History and geography were added for good measure.

It seems like for the next 100 years since the one-room schoolhouse, education didn't change that much.

Then in rapid succession, the free Lunch Program, desegregation, Title I, Title IX, No Student Left Behind, Common Core and STEM.

I remember the day Governor DeWine closed the schools in March, 2020, and just like that education changed again.

To help us understand these changes in a broad sense and how they affect Northeast Ohio, we welcome Christine Fowler Mack.

The new superintendent of Akron Public Schools.

Welcome to Forum 360.

- Thank you so much.

It's a pleasure to be here with you Leslie.

- Thank you.

So my first question is if we were to go back and meet an elementary school age Christine, would we have found a student who first of all, liked school?

Were you one of the kids that actually liked school?

- I was.

I was one of the kids that actually loved school.

So I was a child who played school when school was not even in session.

And so school was a very happy place for me.

- Now, when did you know that you were gonna go into education?

- Now, that's another story because I actually did not know I was going into education, I would say until well into my sophomore year of being in college.

Because I initially thought I was gonna pursue another career.

And it wasn't until I had a conversation with my family that they said, "I think you're running away from something that you love and that you're actually great at which is education."

And so I decided to take some courses and the rest is history.

- Now, what was the other career you thought you were gonna go into?

- I thought I was going to be an engineer.

And I had gone through coursework in with civil engineering.

But then when I, and I think I was more impressed with the title of it and in the big sense, and it wasn't until I really explored more experiences, more internships, and really realized that that really wasn't a nice fit for what I loved.

- Now you're in education but my next question is, I've had the opportunity to interview several professional athletes.

And I always ask, when did they really know or think about going pro?

And the answer is very different with different people.

So my question to you is when did you know that you wanted to go into administration versus stay in the classroom?

- And it's interesting.

I cannot say that necessarily I mapped out the pathway to administration, but I always seem to be tapped and offered opportunities to lead.

So I've been very fortunate to have a range of mentors and cheerleaders around the way that really continue to talk about the ability to reach even more students from different levels in the organization.

So it was well into about my seventh year as being a teacher when right here in Akron, I was encouraged to try my hand at being an assistant principal.

So that was my first forte into administration.

- Now, before I go into education, I wanted to ask you because you have a pretty well known family, you grew up in a pretty well-known family, so tell us in a sentence or two, what is it like to grow up where perhaps like everyone knew who you were?

So was that a blessing, a curse or both?

- It's a blessing.

I have always embraced my upbringing because I think it's surrounded me with a broader set of family.

So I had my church family with me always, who I knew was rooting for my success, praying for me, pushing me to be my best.

I had my school family and then the broader community.

So it just felt like I was blessed to have a very diverse but broad set of family members, but it also taught me a lot about service.

And so it nurtured me into understanding that part of my family's heritage and responsibility was service.

So I think from a very young age, I grew up with a greater attentiveness to the community around me of persons needs and valuing all people.

And in having high expectations for me and for what could be done when you work with others.

- So that leads me to my next question.

The superintendent is the top executive in a school district.

Now, when I Googled it, Google is like my best friend, and when I Googled it, it explained that the superintendent implements board vision.

So how much of what is done in a school district is board vision and how much is superintendent vision?

- Yeah, so the board does set ultimately the visionary goals through its policy.

And if you think of it in terms of the superintendent being that artists that brings life to it, through the members of the educational community.

So through working with teachers, leaders, principals, things of that nature.

So I think it's an artful dance, but ultimately the goals, the objectives, the top level vision is set by the board and then I have the ability to bring life to that.

So it's the art of the, how we'll get there, which there has to be some vision in that as well.

- Yes.

Yes.

Now what are some strengths that you can identify in Akron Public School system that you would wanna build upon to help move the district forward?

- Wow!

There are many strengths.

I think first and foremost, it is a student-oriented system.

And so when you really think about what the work is in an environment like this, it takes off the plate some of what some systems go through of just even trying to get clear about priorities.

So the fact that our students are the focus, the fact that we are preparing them for their future.

So one of the other strengths is that there is an articulation of what a student experience should look like from kindergarten through getting that, the post-secondary having them graduate and then prepared for their next journey, whether that be enlisting, employment, education, or going right into the career pathway.

So I think the strength of having an articulated point of view about our graduate and about being prepared for the future is a strength.

I think in terms of having students first in this environment, I feel like that's a strength.

And then this organization does a really good work with developing teachers and leaders.

And so there is one of the things I think persons who are other educators would say about us is, you have great professional development, you have a really strong people in terms of our curriculum, our technology pieces.

And so there's a real strength in our senior leadership.

- Now, how do you help, whether it's central office or it's building principles, how do you help leaders accept, and make the required changes that are gonna be necessary as education like so many other professions keeps changing?

How do you help people make change?

- I think part of it is staying really in tune to the changing landscape of our community.

So not being so focused in the here and now that we are also watching the trends.

And so I think we do a nice job of being very focused in the present, but keeping our eye on the horizon to understand kind of what's changing and what it might mean for our students, our staff and or the organization in general.

Then I think we again develop people really well.

So we do a nice job at feedback, of having more personalized plans for all involved, both for students, but also for staff members as well in the organization.

- Now, when you talk about looking forward, I have to look back for a moment and ask your observation on two things.

- Sure.

- I found out kind of accidentally and as an executive coach having a female superintendent as a client, that one of the last old boys clubs, is superintendents.

I mean like you gotta be old and you gotta be white pretty much and that's really one of the last old boys clubs.

So I know you don't pick superintendents, but as you look to the future, what would you wanna see happen with superintendents?

There's 600 and some school districts in Ohio.

- Yes.

- Let's just say very, very few African-American superintendents, fewer female African-American superintendents and not a great number of female, superintendents.

How does that change?

- No I believe that so, and I think it changes with being, the state being more intentional about the definitions of leadership and making sure that we are being inclusive.

I think it's up to us in the profession to make sure that we're talent seeking, that we're always looking for others like myself who were tapped and persons encourage me to aspire to greater levels of leadership.

And then really developed me into being able to sit in the seat today.

So the mentoring that took place, things of that nature, but I do think it's a call to action that we're not even seeing just in our profession, but in many professions.

But this is our moment because in this year I do believe that Ohio, this is one of the highest number of female superintendents that has been in the state.

There are a lot more newer superintendents after the pandemic anyway, to be able to assume the seat for the first time.

So this is our chance to, not only as I sit in this seat today, I always say that I'm sitting here for the young children of tomorrow that can see themselves, whether they be a female or some other representative of some other culture or perspective, things of that nature, that we continue to diversify.

- And when you do go to a school, say a elementary school, does it resonate with elementary school children that they're seeing a female as a superintendent?

That they're seeing a minority as a superintendent?

Does that resonate with them?

- Absolutely.

So as I've been out and about to the schools, actually it's heartwarming to see students' reaction to me in this role.

And I don't take it for granted, but it is kind of like this, wow, you really are sitting in that seat, where people are reaching out to say, either you look like me, because you are female, you look like me because you are a woman of color.

You are probably understanding my experience because although you're older, you still have some level of connection.

So it's just the ability also to be an alum and to be serving as well that you are an alum of this district.

I'm able to connect with our students and our staff numbers on just a lot of levels.

And so it hasn't gone unnoticed and I do appreciate that.

- Today, we are talking with the new superintendent of Akron Public Schools, Christine Fowler Mack.

Before I turn to the COVID, which I have to turn to in just a moment, but before I do, COVID aside, what are some of the major issues that face education today?

First, I'll go with education today.

- And I would say education today, we are still in a transition, we're transforming.

So we were forced into really a state of quick response.

And I think the field did a nice job.

We were highly collaborative and very responsive in our respective places to what the needs are of our students and families.

But we also learned a lot.

So we saw a lot, we saw very closely the different levels of need even just the having access to education in a virtual environment, showed the difference of who had already the supports in place, the technology, the broadband access things of that nature and who didn't.

So we're still in a state of trying to respond to all that we learned in education while we're still being held accountable for having students meet or exceed high standards.

And so that continues to be a challenge and not only a challenge, just because of what we must do for our students, but what we must do for the staff that work with students.

And so really developing our staff who, when they were trained, they weren't trained to function like we're functioning today, to be able to seamlessly work virtually or in person, and really personalized towards the needs of our students.

So that continues to be a challenge.

- How will a student be different when they graduate from Akron Public Schools with Christine Fowler Mack as superintendent than they would have been before or with someone else?

- Absolutely.

- How will they be different?

- Yes.

I think we are...

They will be different, I think with myself and our team, because we have gotten clearer about what that graduate looks like.

And so therefore the types of experiences that that student needs to have before them, and therefore then the types of communication, the types of planning and development that we need to do with their families, with those students and so I really expect a very curious, a very confident type of learner to emerge from the Akron Public Schools on my watch.

That they will have had a range of experiences with college and or in the career world where they will feel much more ready to step into and to accept the number of options that sit before them.

- Now, students and families have always had options of catholic schools, private schools, they've always had options, so really charter schools are just one more option.

But how does one encourage parents to trust public schools over other options?

- And so I would say, I would use the phrase, I want parents to trust our schools.

And so we want to be a viable choice for our families.

And so what we want them to do is to be informed, first of all, because oftentimes persons make decisions about schools based on other people's experiences and or rumors, or maybe even real experiences, but that happened a long time ago.

So I engage with people often that talk about their experience and then they're making decisions for their children today.

And so I will often ask, have you gone into that building, met with those teachers, understood, done some research to really understand the number of opportunities that exist for yourself?

So this notion of be informed, really do first-hand research.

And I think in doing that firsthand research and experiencing our school culture and seeing our results of what our graduates are doing, I have every confidence we will be a strong contender because I don't think many other schools or school types can stack up to the numbers of opportunities that we can make available for young people here in the city of Akron.

- Now, when you say, be informed, that that gives me a way to kind of change to COVID and vaccination, my favorite topic in the entire world.

Be informed.

You're a parent, you're a mother, you may have to make a decision about getting a vaccine for you, for your daughter.

What do you think Ohio, if you were governor of Ohio, what would you do for the 22/23 school year when it came to vaccine mandates?

- What would I do when it came to?

- Vaccine mandates,.

What would you do for next school year?

If you were governor, you looked out a year from now, six months, nine months, whenever it's gonna be, when we start school, what would you do on January one, 2022, what would you do if your magic wand worked and you could do whatever you wanted to, what would you do about vaccine mandate?

- Well, if my magic wand worked, I still believe in the power and potential of choice with good information.

So I do understand the steps that I think our government has taken, and in this regard, our governor in particular, 'cause I feel like he's been thoughtful.

And so if I waved the magic wand, I would know more in a detailed way who isn't vaccinated so that we could work with those families to better understand how to, it might be that some of their choice has to do with information.

Some of it might have to do with access, but just to make sure the challenge is it really, we need to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all children.

And so even when someone exercises their right not to be vaccinated, that also has an impact on the others who have.

So I would continue to work with, I think we're gaining some ground with every given day, with every effort, with every touch, we are getting more people that are able, we're getting them vaccinated.

And I just think we have to really stay at it.

The stakes are high and it matters a lot.

- I was at Fairlawn when the polio vaccine came out and they gave a to us in school.

They just lined us up and gave a to us in school.

If you're a crystal ball worked, do you see COVID vaccine being the same as small pox or measles or polio?

Do you see it being a requirement to public education?

- I do, I think as we go along, when we think about the range of vaccinations that must occur for children to be in school, I do think in the future, this will be one of them.

I think because of the recency of the experience and the fact that it was, things have been politicized on a lot of different levels, it's hard for us to kind of cut through it and just to think about in terms of our health, what is best for children.

So I'm hopeful that we'll get to that place.

- How can a superintendent that is not, on a day-to-day basis with a student, how can a superintendent affect a student's life?

- Well, I think you do, because I think, again, our board, for instance, you know, sets policy, our superintendent develop strategy, our schools implement that.

So I do think through ensuring the strategies, the priorities, the accountabilities, and the feedback loops that those are strong.

I think we can touch lives.

And hopefully with persons like me, our feedback loops include engaging regularly with leaders, with teachers, with support staff in general, and with students to make sure that student voice is elevated, respected, and included.

- I'm gonna ask you some questions.

I'm gonna ask for two, three word answers.

My first one's actually, you get four words and then you get two or three after that.

How would you describe you in four words?

- I would describe me as curious, systems thinker, student-led, and I don't know, centered.

- And you have that in common with the new CEO of GOJO, because she's also from Cleveland and I've never met anyone as centered or balanced in my life as she.

- Absolutely.

- So you two have to get together for a very balanced yes.

- I met her family members and so I'm looking forward to meeting her, yes.

- Now in a couple words, what do you listen to as you drive to work or drive home, what do you listen to?

- I listen to music music as a part-- - Favorites?

What is your favorites?

- Oh my goodness.

My favorites.

I like jazz.

I like contemporary music.

I like classical.

I also listen to talk radio at times and just looking to perspectives.

- In a couple words, your proudest memory in education.

- Was walking across the stage at Akron U receiving my masters and being hugged by my father on the stage because he was allowed to be a part of that.

- And in one or two words, your proudest moment as a mom.

- Was seeing the confidence develop in my children as the result of their educational experience.

Seeing them being supported and confident.

- And the very most important question to most people in Northeast Ohio, are you a Swenson's or Skyway person?

- Swenson's.

(both laughing) They're in Cleveland now too.

- The superintendent is the top executive in their school district.

Christine Fowler Mack implements the school board's vision by making decisions about educational programs, spending, staff facilities and hiring principals, all while being a role model to young female students in classrooms, across the city and beyond.

It may be safe to say that it is not often when a school board president invokes the words of Stevie Wonder to introduce the new superintendent.

Our guests today proves that you actually can go home again, especially when you go home as the CEO of your city's public school system.

We thank our guest today, Christine Fowler Mack, and add our best wishes to her tenure.

I'm Leslie Ungar.

Thank you for joining us today on Forum 360 for your global outlook, with a local view.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Forum 360 is brought to you by John S and James L. Knight Foundation, the Akron Community Foundation, Hudson Community Television, the Rubber City Radio Group, Shaw Jewish Community Center of Akron, Blue Green, Electric Impulse Communications and Forum 360 supporters.