Reed Welcomes New Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent

Patch Staff Report

Via a news release, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has applauded the selection of Dr. Meria Carstarphen to lead the Atlanta Public Schools system as its new superintendent, following a national search.

Reed believes that in addition to providing a quality education and expanding opportunities for Atlanta’s children, a leading K-12 educational system is vital to attracting and retaining businesses to the city, and maintaining a quality-of-life essential to a healthy residential base.

He has also said that the system must be led by a dynamic, experienced leader, and offered the City of Atlanta’s assistance and support during the search. Mayor Reed appointed former Chief Operating Duriya Farooqui, who took a position in the private sector at the end of January, as a member of the APS Superintendent Search Committee.

Carstarphen, the superintendent in the Austin (Texas) Independent School District since 2009, has been praised for building a system that emphasizes a holistic educational approach - rather than a culture of testing- while also increasing graduation rates and lowering dropout rates.

“I believe we have found a proven, visionary leader in Dr. Carstarphen, who has consistently produced verifiable, concrete results,” Reed said in a statement. “I will do everything in my power to support her in our collective efforts to make the Atlanta Public Schools system the best in the nation. Our children, and our city, deserve nothing less.”

Reed also praised the work of the search committee, offering his personal thanks to Ms. Farooqui, Atlanta Public Schools Board Chair Courtney D. English and retired IBM executive Ann Cramer, who chaired the committee.

“These committee members gave countless hours of their personal time towards finding a new leader for our system, of the first caliber,” Reed said. “I’m grateful for their service, and look forward to seeing the children of the Atlanta Public Schools system benefit from the results of their excellent work.”