Fulton County’s New Superintendent of Schools, Jeff Rose, Ed.D., Addresses the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber

Members and guests of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber had the opportunity to hear from Fulton County’s new Superintendent of Schools, Jeff Rose, Ed.D., at the monthly Chamber luncheon earlier this month. The audience included principals and administrators from Sandy Springs’ 11 public schools, who also staffed information tables in the reception area prior to the luncheon. Dr. Rose, who has been on the job for just over three months, offered his views on the school system’s challenges and opportunities, and discussed why community and business involvement is crucial for successfully preparing students to join today’s workforce.

In his new job, Dr. Rose is charged with the leadership, administration and management of nearly 96,000 students, 101 public schools, over 10,500 employees and a $952 million general fund budget. “Ours is a complex business,” he told the audience. “Obviously, we’re in the education business. But we’re also in the transportation business, food service, building maintenance, construction and most important, the people business. I like to say it’s not rocket science. The business of education is much more complex than that.”

Acknowledging his recent move to metro Atlanta from Oregon, Dr. Rose said “As a leader, I am a learner first. I am learning the climate and culture of my new home and have been amazed at the dramatic differences between Fulton County’s various communities. Geographically, the county stretches a good distance, and I’ve found that people in one area are not always aware of the challenges faced in another part of the county. I’m on a steep learning curve, but I believe we have an incredible opportunity to improve.”

Dr. Rose began his educational career as a fourth and fifth grade teacher and eventually became a school principal. “As a principal, I learned the value of collective wisdom, and soon realized that successful collaboration doesn’t end at the walls of the school. We must invite and accept the help of the greater community in order to succeed. This includes parents, businesses, the faith-based community and patrons who may not even have children in the school system. Speaking to you, as business leaders, I believe investing in our educational system pays huge dividends as we graduate students who are prepared to take their place in our workforce.”

Dr. Rose is currently focusing on three priorities. First, he wants to asses and improve the school system’s strategic plan. “A good strategic plan represents our culture and climate and defines what Fulton County wants to be known for. We want and need input from the entire community during the planning process.”

Second, he has identified the need for improved communication between the school system and its various audiences. Dr. Rose said part of this process is determining how to strengthen two-way communication and find better ways for educators to listen to the community. Finally, Dr. Rose plans to examine how better to improve and support Fulton County’s charter system.

The afternoon included a brief recap of several existing programs that encourage the business community to support public education as Dr. Rose discussed. For several years, the Sandy Springs Chamber has managed “Principal for a Day” and “CEO for a Day” programs to give educators and business leaders a close-up look at the challenges their counterparts face, in order to build partnerships and foster dialogue about how business and education can work together. Also, the non-profit organization, Sandy Springs Education Force, designs and implements free supplemental programs to engage, support and encourage local economically disadvantaged public school students to excel academically, finish high school and then continue to vocational training or college.

About the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber

The Chamber was formed in 2008 to serve businesses in the City of Sandy Springs and the north Perimeter area. With leadership from an elected Board of Directors, and working in partnership with city government, the Chamber’s mission is to maximize the business success of its members, strengthen the competitiveness of the Sandy Springs business community and enhance economic prosperity of the area. Ongoing initiatives include workforce and economic development, business education, community service and networking opportunities for members. Tom Mahaffey is president of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber. www.sandyspringsperimeterchamber.com

Photo by Kyle Valencia, www.valenciaproductions.com