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January 2007
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 Getting to Know You: Angela Bass Leads Baldrige Continuous Improvement 
Malcolm Baldrige, U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the 1980’s, was a visionary in leading the quality improvement of major
companies to make them more customer-focused, competitive and productive. He believed that the prosperity and long-term
strength of the nation depends upon continuous improvement. His sound approach has been employed by some of the most
successful organizations in the world: Toyota, Jet Blue and even Sharp Healthcare here in San Diego. This year, working
with Sharp as its private sector partner, the San Diego Unified School District is embarking on this systematic effort
to improve the quality of services it provides to more than 132,000 students. Angela Bass, executive director, Baldrige
Education Criteria for Performance Education, is a former teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and 27-year
veteran of the district. She spent a few minutes with the Staff Bulletin sharing her insights about how this effort
can benefit our schools, employees, community, and, most of all, every young person we educate.
Crucial to the future of the San Diego Unified School District are what happens between every teacher and student and what every employee contributes to their success. That’s why the Baldrige National Quality Program is being launched this year here in California’s second largest school system. Tell us what this effort is all about. We are all responsible for continuous improvement. Each of us must be accountable for what we do to help the district attain its five key goals: to accelerate gains in student performance; provide safe, orderly, well-maintained schools; strengthen parent, community, business and higher education support; boost employee morale, and secure adequate funding of our schools. It’s important that all district departments, offices and employees see the connection between what they do and what happens for students in our schools. We all care, but we also need to be aligned and working together to support our students and schools. We have committed, dedicated, great people who have the best interests of this district and the students we serve at heart. But we do not work in isolation. We must be well organized, efficient, data driven and totally supportive of schools to attain our mission. I’m really passionate about that. If we come here every day prepared to give the best service we can to our internal and external customers, we are going to change and grow. We’re already beginning to see and feel the changes and we will see the results. It’s the combination of the steps that we take together--and everyone’s commitment--that will accelerate our students’ performance. What are your impressions of the district? I have been in San Diego Unified for 27 years, and I think it is a great place to work. The people here are dedicated and committed to making a difference for children. What are you most looking forward to this year? I see this year as an opportunity to focus on the way we serve our school community through learning systems, such as Baldrige. We’re building knowledge though this continuous improvement model and transferring the standard of excellence through the entire organization. I want to be part of a team of outstanding employees whose collective effort will provide every child a world-class education. I look forward to supporting the mission of the district with relentless pursuit of improving customer satisfaction with all of our major stakeholders: our students, parents, community and all district employees. Tell us what motivates you to pursue these ambitious improvements? As our nation was being designed by our forefathers, they clearly laid out a plan for all of America’s children to receive quality public education. When every child is educated well, that means reading and writing well, having a conceptual understanding of mathematics and science, learning history with a global perspective. It means having opportunities to think critically, to share your ideas and thoughts openly, and to learn in an open, receptive environment where you can analyze, reflect and develop the necessary thinking skills to be a well-informed, contributing member of our society. When we embrace the cultural diversity of who we are as a nation, then we can become a better, more pluralistic and powerful society that recognizes the gift in all children and values the contributions of each child. Who has influenced you the most and why? I have been blessed with many influential people in my life. Both of my parents had a significant impact on who I am today. Betty Baird, my sixth grade teacher, helped me through the sudden death of my mother. Bill Hammaker, my eighth grade English teacher expanded my literature reading to include many internationally renowned authors who looked like me. But the most significant person who showed me how to serve a community and love mankind was my great grandmother, Joanna Payne Green. Born in 1890 in Natchez, Mississippi, she lived to be 95. She had a fourth grade education. She provided domestic care for a family then worked in a hospital kitchen for many years. During the Depression, she kept African American families alive by saving all the excess food from her work to feed the less fortunate. Sometimes it was scraps of bread, sometimes a bit of meat and vegetables. Many a time on Fridays it was just a fish head. They would boil that fish head to make a broth and feed the family. She fed from five to 15 families each night for more than 10 years. She understood that her purpose in life was to serve others. Some of those she helped later became accomplished as doctors, lawyers and contributing members of society. The impact of what she did continues to touch lives today. She taught me the true essence of character, integrity, care and commitment. I named my daughter Joanna in honor of her. Angela Bass has served here as a classroom teacher, race and human relations facilitator, staff developer, resource teacher, curriculum writer, vice principal, principal and assistant superintendent. She was president of the San Diego Unified School District Elementary Principals and the Association of African American Educators. Enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of San Diego, she is an adjunct professor at USD and an Eli Broad Urban Superintendents Academy Fellow. She has led eight learning communities in the district; 18 of 21 schools under her leadership have continued to meet or exceed their API targets. Born in Kittery, Maine to an Air Force family, she grew up in New Hampshire, Colorado, Libya, California, Florida and Hawaii. She earned her BA at San Francisco State and her MA from United States International University. Married to Wendell Bass, former principal of Lincoln High School, she has two children and one granddaughter. << Features |
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Staff Bulletin is published monthly for employees of the San Diego Unified School District. Send news items and classified ads to: Staff Bulletin Education Center, Room 2145 phone: (619)725-5578; fax: (619)725-5576 e-mail: communications@sandi.net |
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