Times Union: Duval schools administrator resigning six months into job

[Patricia M. McBride]

She was hired to improve public image of schools.

 

Posted: December 22, 2010 - 3:05pm

 

By Mary Kelli Palka

A high-level Duval County Public Schools administrator hired six months ago to improve the district’s public image is resigning.

Bonnie Upright submitted her letter of resignation Wednesday. Her last day as chief of strategic partnerships will be Jan. 14.

Upright and Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals said her departure was a mutual decision and that it wasn’t a good fit.

Pratt-Dannals said he wanted someone to change the community’s conversation about public schools. When district leaders discussed early last year hiring someone to help deal with the school system’s image problem, they hoped changing the public’s negative and at times inaccurate perceptions would help encourage more community engagement.

Upright was appointed to the $128,000-a-year job in July to oversee the district’s community and family engagement office, communications office and intergovernmental affairs. She had previously worked as a public relations consultant.

Pratt-Dannals said he knew from the beginning it would be a challenge for any person to meet everything in the job description.

“It was a tall order finding someone who could do it,” Pratt-Dannals said.

He said Upright did a good job but had hoped to find more businesses to work with the schools by now.

Pratt-Dannals said he would fill the position if he can find the right person.

In addition to working to build business relationships, Upright said she helped make the background process for volunteers more efficient and expanded the Principal for the Day program, where community members spent the day in the shoes of a school leader.

Upright said she hopes that the community will continue to help the schools.

“Instead of tearing down the system and public education, we need folks to build it up,” she said.

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