STORY & PHOTOS BY JOSEPH BROWN | |
T he superintendent of a school district is usually a force that ’ s felt but not seen . Kind of like the Wizard of Oz , a superintendent is behind a curtain granting wishes and changing the culture of an organization that oftentimes serves as the largest employer in a community . Their presence may not feel integral to the success and
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and negative words and that had spilled out into the community ,”
Sheppard said about the culture when he arrived in Huntsville in January
2018 . “ Changing the culture had to be job No . 1 . You have got to change the expectations and viewpoint of the adults first , and then the kids will follow .”
Since Sheppard ’ s arrival in Huntsville , the city ’ s lone public school district
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culture of a district until a change in leadership rocks the status quo . |
has seen drastic improvements — raising its state accountability score |
And no one rocks the status quo for the positive more than Huntsville |
from a failing mark to a ‘ C ’. And if it wasn ’ t for a pause in scoring due to |
ISD Superintendent Dr . Scott Sheppard , who was recently voted as 2021 |
COVID-19 , district leaders believe that Huntsville ISD would now be rated |
Walker County Boss of the Year . |
as a ‘ B ’ district . |
“ Huntsville ISD had become a downward spiral of negative thoughts | |