Friday, September 04, 2015

Ridder on Newsmakers: We are analyzing the leadership in this district

Interim Superintendent Norm Ridder is going through the process of analyzing the leadership in the Joplin R-8 School District.

In a wide-ranging interview for KGCS' Newsmakers program with Judy Stiles, Ridder said he is looking  at the strengths of the district's leaders and their "ability to listen."

About his own approach, Ridder said, "Humble leadership listens. You can't have anybody coming in to control and thinking they have all the answers. They don't. The community has the answers."

Continuing what he has said in other venues, including recent board of education meetings, Ridder said a lot of work needs to be done in the district and "we need to be very focused on our teacher and how we can support them."

On other subjects, Ridder offered the following thoughts:

Technology- "Technology is a tool. The human person is the best tool for learning."

Local Control- "Public education has been a victim."  Ridder noted that schools have problems with state and federal control. "It needs to be local."

Education- At the end of the school day, Ridder said, "The teacher should be vibrant. The kids should be exhausted."



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