Atlanta Public Schools Names Carstarphen Sole Finalist for Superintendent Today (Superintendent's Statement)

The Austin Independent School District released the following statement from Superintendent Meria Carstarphen on being named as the sole finalist to lead Atlanta Public Schools:

Today, I was formally announced as the sole finalist for superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. The formal vote by the Atlanta school board is scheduled for April 14.

Five years ago, I fell in love with Austin and our school district. And, for five years, it has been a privilege to serve AISD and to be a champion for public education and Austin’s children. 

Together, we have achieved AISD’s best performance under the highest, toughest accountability standards in the state’s history.

As a school district, we have come together to support and help each other amid dwindling resources to serve our growing and incredibly diverse student body. As a community, we have become a national model, drawing attention for our work to challenge and reform educational systems to meet students where they are, while working to ensure they have a fighting chance to get to where they want to be—to achieve their greatest potential.

Although it will be difficult to consider leaving Austin, I know AISD would remain in the good hands and good care of our extraordinary educators, leaders and community—from our Board of Trustees and our front-line service providers to our civic leaders and families.

As a daughter of the Deep South, I have a personal draw to Atlanta and it’s deeply rooted in my own upbringing and personal experience in civil rights, having been born and raised in Selma, Alabama. I look forward to the opportunity to support the Atlanta community and rebuild the Atlanta Public Schools. I will always strive to be part of the solution for urban public education in our great country.

I plan on working with the AISD Board of Trustees during the next few weeks to develop a successful transition plan.