Though Patti Lopez has made a career in the Tucson Unified School District, she opened, and concluded, Tuesday's candidate forum with the opinion that as superintendent she would not be a continuation of the past.
"I don't feel part of the old guard," she told the audience of nearly 100 gathered inside the auditorium of Catalina Magnet High School. "I'm inventive, open and creative."
Lopez is one of four candidates vying to become the next superintendent of Tucson's largest school district.
Repeatedly, she said that as a leader, she is transparent in her decision-making, open to different perspectives and demonstrated an understanding of the complexities of education today.
She answered questions submitted to a moderator, ranging from the general, like improving middle-school student achievement and whether she is open to dialogue with students, to the specific, like if she is familiar with the school-closure process that occurred in Denver.
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Lopez said many of the current issues of concern — proposed school closures, a projected budget deficit of at least $15 million, instruction for English-language learners, decreased enrollment and school accountability — are not new. Many of her suggested improvements, like academic reviews of all departments, including TUSD's Ethnic Studies, maintaining small class sizes at underperforming schools, and teacher retention, are already under way, she noted.
"She was articulate and passionate," said Katrina Smits, who supervises student teachers.
"I like her opinions and ideas," said Wesley Narro, 18, of Tucson Magnet High School, who remembers Lopez promoting higher education at local conferences.
Lopez began working in TUSD in 1971 as a classroom teacher. After five years in the classroom, Lopez became a curriculum specialist and later a language-enrichment teacher. Following a one-year study leave at Harvard University, she became TUSD's ombudsperson.
From 1986 to 1993, Lopez was director of Title 1, federal funding for students from low-income families, and from 1993 to 1999 she was director of organizational development. Lopez was a regional superintendent for four years. After working one year for Amphitheater Public Schools, Lopez returned to TUSD as a deputy superintendent in 2004.
TUSD's governing board will appoint a new superintendent next month. The position has been advertised with a salary of up to $230,000 and a benefits package of up to $50,000.
On StarNet: We've invited the superintendent finalists to hold live chats with our Web site users. Go to azstarnet.com/ education for more details.
Forums with finalists
TUSD has scheduled public forums for each of the four candidates seeking the district's superintendent post. Each forum will be held at Catalina Magnet High School, 3645 E. Pima St., from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The remaining forums:
Today: Delfino Alemán, an area superintendent from San Diego.
Monday: Elizabeth Celania-Fagen, an associate superintendent from Iowa.
