Sanders drops plan to teach class at UT

1/15/2002

A few days after deciding to teach a graduate course at the University of Toledo this semester, Eugene Sanders, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, has changed his mind.

“I want to focus my attention and my efforts on the proficiency test improvements and general academic issue of the district. Upon reflection, I thought that my energies and effort would be better served in that arena,” he said.

In the second year of Dr. Sanders' three-year contract, the district remains in “academic emergency” because of low proficiency test scores, poor attendance, and a high drop-out rate.

He pledged during the 2000 operating levy campaign that the district would improve enough to meet state standards and reach the “continuous improvement designation.” Dr. Sanders said yesterday that some of his cabinet staff had “expressed some concern” about the workload associated with teaching a university course during the spring term that started this week.

“They feel that we're moving in the right direction and felt that we wanted just to have all of our energy and effort moving in the right direction. I appreciated their comments,” he said.

Linda Murphy, interim dean of the University of Toledo's college of education, said a faculty member would teach the one-night-a-week class, Developing Effective Learning Environments.

“We're really disappointed but I understand,” she said. The university will delay his adjunct faculty appointment.

Dr. Sanders was a professor at Bowling Green State University when he joined Toledo Public Schools in August, 2000.