Key Inquiry Questions Guiding My First 100 Days 

Throughout this period, I will be guided by several central questions: 

• What structures are currently driving, or limiting, instructional coherence? 
• Where is leadership strongest? Where is support most needed? 
• What expectations are clear, and where is ambiguity creating inconsistency? 
• How effectively is data used to inform decision-making? 
• What adult behaviors most directly impact student outcomes? 
• Where do governance and operational roles need clearer alignment? 

These questions reflect a posture of disciplined inquiry rather than premature prescription.

Visible Presence in Every School 

During my first 100 days, I will visit every school in Norfolk, prioritizing meaningful time in classrooms. 

School visits will focus on: 

• Classroom instruction and student engagement 
• Literacy practices and alignment 
• School culture and expectations 
• Leadership support needs 

These visits are intended to affirm strengths, deepen understanding, and build relationships — not to evaluate or condemn.

Structured Community and Influencer Engagement

Engagement will be organized, balanced, and ongoing. 

Meetings will include: 

• Civic leagues and neighborhood associations 
• PTA leadership and parent organizations 
• Teacher associations 
• Faith-based leaders 
• Higher education partners 
• Business and chamber leadership 
• Youth-serving organizations 
• Public education advocacy groups 
• Philanthropic and foundation partners 
• Media leadership 

Listening will continue across all phases. Themes will be synthesized internally and later summarized publicly to inform strategic alignment. 

Cabinet Alignment and Stability

Engagement will be organized, balanced, and ongoing. 

Meetings will include: 

• Conduct individual Cabinet meetings. 
• Clarify immediate operational priorities. 
• Assess leadership vacancies and coverage. 
• Establish weekly executive leadership cadence. 
• Reinforce unified leadership expectations. 

Strong central alignment supports school-level success. 

Strategic Plan Clarity Review 

• Review the current strategic plan for focus, measurability, and alignment. 
• Identify areas requiring tighter coherence. 
• Clarify priority areas that should anchor future direction. 
• Develop a recommended process and timeline for codifying a refreshed strategic plan. 

The goal is disciplined focus, not reinvention.

Literacy and Graduation Landscape Review

Literacy and graduation serve as early lenses for system alignment. 

During this phase, I will: 

• Review K–12 literacy alignment and data trends. 
• Examine graduation trends and early warning indicators. 
• Meet with instructional leaders and high school teams. 
• Identify strengths to build upon and structural gaps in alignment. 

This review positions the division for sustained improvement through coherent systems rather than immediate initiative shifts. 

Establish Superintendent Advisory Groups

Based on themes gathered during initial listening, I will formally establish: 

• Student Advisory Council 
• Teacher Advisory Council 
• Community Advisory Council 
• Leadership Advisory Council (civic, military, faith-based, business) 

These groups will provide structured, ongoing input and strengthen transparency and trust. 

Listening remains continuous.

Instructional Coherence and Alignment 

• Identify areas where instructional expectations require greater clarity. 
• Align leadership messaging around academic priorities. 
• Clarify consistency expectations across schools. 
• Reinforce teacher support structures. 

Accountability and Data Use

• Establish disciplined data review cadence. 
• Clarify expectations for progress monitoring. 
• Align Board reporting with meaningful indicators. 
• Introduce consistent dashboards where appropriate. 

Accountability will be clear, fair, and growth-oriented. 

Positioning for Strategic Codification

By Day 100, we will be positioned to: 

• Clarify priority areas requiring measurable focus. 
• Align leadership and governance around disciplined strategic direction. 
• Establish a clear process and timeline for codifying a refreshed strategic plan. 
• Ensure literacy, graduation, instructional coherence, and accountability are addressed through a coherent, division-wide framework. 

The strongest measurable commitments will emerge through the strategic planning process, grounded in listening, alignment, and shared ownership.

Early Process Milestones (First 100 Days)

• Governance norms clarified and aligned. 
• Communication cadence established. 
• Every school visited. 
• Principal support framework drafted. 
• Literacy and graduation landscape synthesis completed. 
• Advisory groups launched. 
• Data review cadence implemented. 
• Strategic planning refresh timeline introduced. 
• Public summary of listening themes shared. 

This tracker will continue to expand and be categorized by:

• Board-recommended contacts
• Engagement status
• Key themes
• Follow-up actions