KNOW YOUR ENEMIES: Oakland's Tony Smith heading to Chicago for family health reasons
Oakland schools superintendent Tony Smith, who has long been a leader of corporate "school reform," this week surprised the city by telling the press that he will be resigning his Oakland post June 30 and moving to Chicago for "family reasons."
Here is the report:
Oakland schools supt. Tony Smith (above) is heading to Chicago.Oakland school superintendent stuns district with resignation
Oakland’s school Superintendent Tony Smith announced Friday he will leave the job in June, an out-of-the-blue resignation that shocked staff and school board members.
Smith said his family would be moving to Chicago to be closer to his wife’s parents.
“Kathleen’s father was recently hospitalized and is in poor health,” he told The Chronicle prior to his public announcement. “We have decided to move to Chicago to be closer to family so that we can be there to help and so that the kids can spend time with their grandparents.”
His last day is June 30.
Smith notified school board members of the decision Thursday night in a closed session meeting.
Board members said Smith’s announcement was a surprise, but it will not disrupt the ongoing efforts to address the needs of low-income and minority students.
”I want to emphasize it wasn’t expected, but it also is not a crisis,” said board member Jody London. “I think there are people who really want to be in Oakland and work with us on this initiative.”
Smith was named superintendent in 2009 as Oakland Unified was attempting to address the financial disarray that led to a state takeover in 2003.
”I feel very privileged to have been part of bringing quality and stability back to Oakland Pubic Schools,” Smith said in a statement. “The decision to leave at this time is very difficult.”
He had two years left on his current contract.
