Leslie Fausset - Chief of Staff
By Ursula KroemerTell us about your background and what brought you to San Diego City Schools.
My teaching career began in San Diego City Schools when I student taught at Birney Elementary in a first grade and then a 4-5-6 combination class at Carson Elementary. My earliest remembrances were the extensive amounts of planning needed. The students were truly wonderful, and I still have things they made and gave me.
Where did you go after Carson?
Poway was hiring at the time, and I was assigned to a classroom where the teacher was about to go on maternity leave. I taught first grade there for six years, while earning my Masters degree in Reading and Language Arts. I went from classroom teacher to reading specialist positions in two schools. One was a middle-class, suburban school. The other was more heavily impacted with more categorical funding and more significant numbers of English language learners. During that assignment, I was asked to assume the role of Project Coordinator, working with state and federally funded programs. I spent two years in that role and then became assistant principal at Black Mountain Middle School. I loved middle school and thoroughly enjoyed working with students that age. What do you remember about that first day? I remember thinking how BIG the school was compared to an elementary school and how big the students looked. I also remember thinking how impressive it was that there were so many parents on campus - all these young mothers all dressed up. Turns out, they were 8th grade girls dressed up in high heels, fancy clothes, and lots of make-up! That was only the first couple of days of school, by Friday, they looked like 8th grade girls again!
You said you just loved middle school. What made it so special for you?
Middle school can certainly be challenging. Once you understand that the students just want to fit in and find their place, working with them can become lots of fun. Middle schools are truly "caught in the middle" and trying so hard to grow up. They need structure, boundaries, support, guidance, friendship and understanding.
Where did you go from there?
In my second year as an assistant principal I was assigned as principal of our most impacted elementary school. It had the highest poverty level and highest population of English language learners in the district. It was one of the most rewarding jobs of my career.
After moving to a middle school principal position, I became director of Communication, Evaluation and Staff Development for the district, followed by service as an assistant and area superintendent, where I worked with schools and also coordinated communications, curriculum, pre-K programs, and before and after school programs for the district. It's been the greatest preparation for this position, in that I have some background reference for most aspects of this job.
In early 1998, Delaine Eastin, the Superintendent of Public Instruction for California, asked me to serve as her chief deputy superintendent. I worked for Delaine for almost five years and continued to support transition for two months with newly elected State Superintendent Jack O'Connell.
What was that like for you?
It is a position with enormous responsibility and intensity. Each day was filled with unexpected and unanticipated challenges. It was a great opportunity to learn the political process firsthand. Learning about how laws are written, how they get changed, how compromises are made, and how ultimately they get passed or not was an amazing learning opportunity.
Because I never relocated to Sacramento, I rented an apartment downtown and walked to work. I loved walking to work. It was seven blocks to the capitol and I walked through Capitol Park on the way. I really had a chance to experience the change in seasons, which is fabulous.
How do you think people perceive you? How do you show that you are a do-er?
I believe you have to communicate openly, honestly and respectfully. It is important to take the time to listen to both sides and always make the decisions in the best interest of children.
Our students always have to be our barometer at all times. We have to be focused like a laser on students and use their best interests to guide our decisions at all times.
How do you see San Diego City Schools right now?
San Diego City Schools is in an exciting and dynamic position. There certainly are challenges but there is much to celebrate. The biggest challenge for educational institutions is to find a way to build on our strengths and make incremental, continuous improvement changes. I don't think the sweeping, extreme changes have been helpful or productive. Additionally, San Diego represents many successes in the urban environment. We need to be honest about our weaknesses and find ways to build on successes to design and develop approaches and systems to better meet the needs of all students.
How do you see yourself facing this new role?
There are two things that brought me here. First I have met, gotten to know, and worked with a number of incredible folks who are doing amazing work. I watched how hard people are working to make a difference for students here and decided that I wanted to be a member of the team. Secondly, as educators we face a huge challenge in urban education. It's not like rural; it's not like suburban. It has its own, unique challenges and gifts. And during the next few years it will take all of our dedication, perseverance and patience to improve the systems to increase student achievement. I think I am very fortunate in that I never left a position because I didn't like the job. I have loved every job I have ever had in education. I don't know how many people can say, after a 30-year career, that they've loved every minute of their work. I am very fortunate and feel that it is a privilege to be working in City Schools.