By William C. Singleton III
Journal contributor
Hoover City School Superintendent Andy Craig received an “excellent” rating on his most recent evaluation.
The Alabama Association of School Boards released his evaluation at the June 9 Hoover school board meeting.
Craig was graded on 11 categories related to his job responsibility. He was graded by board members, administrators and principals in all of those categories and graded by community members in all but three of the categories.
Craig’s job evaluation involved the five-member board, central office staff, principals, Hoover residents and Mayor Gary Ivey.
The rating scale included 1 for unsatisfactory, 2 for below standard, 3 for standard, 4 for above standard and 5 for exemplary.
The community was not allowed to score Craig in the areas of chief executive officer, personnel management or professional responsibilities because those duties lie outside the community’s experience, said Susan Salter, AASB director of leadership development.
Craig rated highest in his management of technology with an average score of 4.5 and his management of the school system’s facilities (4.4). He received his lowest average scores in community relations and communication and interpersonal relations (3.7).
“As you will see, this is an excellent evaluation,” Salter said. “There are mostly fours from all four groups” evaluating the superintendent.
Craig’s “technology and financial skills are regarded very highly, and communication is an area for some potential growth,” Salter said.
Craig said he wanted to further review the evaluation but agreed the assessment yielded areas he could work on.
School board president Donna Frazier called it a “very good evaluation.”
“And I appreciate all that you do for the schools,” Frazier said.
In scores from individual groups, the highest average score the board gave Craig was in the category management of technology (4.7), and its lowest score for him was in community relations (3.3).
The community’s high score was in management of technology and management of facilities (4.2), and its lowest score was in communication and interpersonal relations (3.2).
But Salter cautioned that scoring in the threes isn’t bad.
“In education, we have the mindset that a 3–meeting expectation–is not sufficient,” she said. “Let me say, if you’re meeting expectations that is not a poor score.”
To view a copy of the 2014 superintendent’s evaluation, visit www.hoovercityschools.net and click the “news” link.
