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Millard House II Backs Out of TPS Superintendent Search

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The Tulsa School Board released the following statement this morning:

Millard House II, a candidate for the district’s next superintendent, informed the board today of his decision to withdraw from the search process. 

In a note to the TPS Board this morning, Mr. House said: 

“After much consultation with my family and close colleagues, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my candidacy for the superintendent position with Tulsa Public Schools.  I am deeply appreciative for being considered as a finalist and want to thank the TPS board and those involved in the process.  The timing is simply not right for me.  I am committed to making a difference in urban education and intend to continue my leadership journey more aggressively than ever.  I have a strong affinity for public urban school districts and addressing the unique issues and opportunities they face.  In my view, our country’s economic future will be determined in large measure by our abilities as communities to build strong public urban school districts, taking into account ethnic and language diversity, socioeconomics and immigrant populations.  I for one believe we can build model urban school districts by building strong relationships and capacity within the ranks of our administrators, teachers, parents, students and community leaders with a single-minded focus on doing what is best for students to ensure that they are indeed college and career ready.   I wish only the best for the next superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools and I stand ready to always offer support to a district and city that I have come to admire and love over the years.” 

 

TPS Board President Ruth Ann Fate said, “We sincerely appreciate Millard and his participation in the process.   We respect his personal decision to withdraw and we wish him well in his career.   He was a consummate professional throughout the process and we are confident he has a promising future in public education leadership ahead of him.” 

The TPS board had recently narrowed the candidates to two finalists, Mr. House and Dr. Deborah Gist, who currently serves as Commissioner of Education for the Rhode Island Department of Education.  Mr. House previously served as Deputy Superintendent at TPS, and has since served as Chief Operating Officer at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, NC, and Executive Director of the nonprofit leadership development organization New Leaders.