Tom Ammiano – A Choice For Superintendent Of Schools
Who will be San Francisco’s next Superintendent of Schools?
Arlene Ackerman will shortly pick up her $375,000 traveling money and she’s out of here. Call it political dish or informal discussions, the talk has begun about her successor. With the school system in crisis, the next person taking charge will face some awesome challenges. If successful, the person can transform the learning process. Failure could all but destroy San Francisco’s public school system. Tom Ammiano, I submit, is the most qualified person to become the next Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District.
Tom Ammiano reflects a 30 year evolution which has given San Francisco a character and culture unlike anywhere in the world. Much of what sparked this change began in the mid 70’s. Those driving these forces were united by a shared commitment to create a city, and a world, where people were authentic, honest and could live openly with pride and respect.
It was a time when young activists found themselves working with the likes of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. Michael Hennessey became sheriff and law enforcement has never been the same. Rev. Cecil Williams transformed Glide from a dying Tenderloin church into a nationally recognized center for hope, love and justice.
In 1977, diversity emerged on the Board of Supervisors with district elections. From the Castro came Harvey Milk. His call to “come out” was heard in churches, downtown office buildings, union hiring halls and in almost every walk of life.
The cathedral of entertainment was a converted funeral home in the Mission. Called the “Valencia Rose,” every night was fresh and filled with the unexpected. Names, almost all unknown at the time, included Whoopi Goldberg, Lea DeLaria and Tom Ammiano.
A schoolteacher by day, Ammiano’s appearance at the Valencia Rose gave him a public identity in a city moving through unchartered waters of social change. With humor his sense of reason and perspective was providing the moral foundation for a new kind of community.
From his position as schoolteacher and part time entertainer, Tom Ammiano became a candidate for the Board of Education. Not only did he win, he was the highest vote getter. He would also become President of the Board of Education.
His identity as an entertainer became eclipsed by his role as elected official. He ran and won a seat on the Board of Supervisors. His write-in challenge to Mayor Willie Brown was unprecedented. Though not winning, he built a coalition which transformed the political landscape of San Francisco. The following year, district elections resulted in a change of historic dimensions on the Board of Supervisors. Credit (or blame depending on your perspective) for this goes to Tom Ammiano.
Thirty years is a long, a very long time, to be at the forefront of change. Most times his life is reviewed with a wide brush describing wide, sweeping accomplishments. Not usually seen are the less spectacular, many times boring, day-to-day tasks facing all elected officials.
It is those many meetings, conferences, listening to constituents and many minor, sometimes technical, decisions which give a deep knowledge of the city. Ammiano has experienced and understands the political, community and educational dynamics of San Francisco like few others.
In fact, he may be the only one with such in-depth experience. Certainly he is the only person with sufficient knowledge of San Francisco politics to keep it out of the school district.
San Francisco’s schools need Tom Ammiano far more than he needs them.
When I suggested the possibility, the response was, “Why would want Tom Ammiano want the job?” The fact is I don’t know if he does want the job. I have never talked to him about it. That, notwithstanding, I believe he is the best person for the job.
I also know the San Francisco Unified School District needs some real serious help.
I find our local public school system remarkably similar to the levee system surrounding New Orleans. Both appear to be drowning in an environment which is stagnant, lacking direction, self-destructive and where too many are unclear whether to stay and build or escape, run and never come back.
That many young people leave school facing a real world lacking sufficient communication skills to complete an employment application is a tragic reality. Lacking the ability to simply read, a culture of young people is emerging that know more about getting into jail than enrolling in college.
San Francisco is like no city in the world. The political landscape is as much a minefield as an incubator. Bringing someone in from out of town, no matter how talented, just isn’t the answer at this time.
At this time, the best answer is Tom Ammiano. This former schoolteacher, former President and member of the Board of Education and a member and former President of the Board of Supervisors would be an awesome leader of San Francisco’s school system.
