In the final round of public interviews for the next superintendent Wednesday night, Douglas County school board members found two contenders from within the state.
In one corner was Ron Lustig, 47, principal of Eldorado High School in Las Vegas. In the other corner, Elisabeth Noonan, 49, chief academic officer for Washoe County School District.
Lustig kicked things off my describing his leadership experience, including a nearly 10-year stint in the U.S. Coast Guard. As a senior petty officer, he said, he was responsible for the operations of "the largest and most complex Coast Guard base in the world," Governor's Island, N.Y.
"My leadership is transformational and has always surpassed what my job description has been," he said. "I became enamored with education, and feel it's incumbent on me to give back to the kids in the community."
After various teaching and administrative positions on both sides of the country, Lustig landed at Eldorado High School in 2007. He said that three years ago, the overcrowded school, with two separate campuses, had 3,300 students of which more than 52 percent were credit deficient.
Lustig said because of tagging and other gang problems, he focused first on making the school environment safe. Then, Lustig said, he set three main goals for himself and his staff: Increase performance in English, increase performance in math, and increase attendance.
"I don't believe in a top-down leader," he said. "My job is to train leaders and model leadership at every level."
Lustig said that in the first year of his tenure, the school made its greatest adequate yearly progress ever, as mandated by No Child Left Behind. Math scores went up 18 percent, and English scores went up 14 percent.
Unfortunately, he said, a new school in the area cut his enrollment and workforce in half. Nonetheless, Lustig and his team were able to reduce 10th-grade credit deficiency by 48 percent. He said that this year, the school has seen its highest attendance rates ever.
"It's very important to support self-efficacy," he said. "Students need to become responsible for their own learning."
Lustig said the role of superintendent is to be the instructional leader of the district and to enforce board policy, but also to guide that policy. When asked what he'd do in a situation for which there was no clear policy, Lustig responded, "I'd use 47 years worth of common sense and decision-making."
"The bottom line in my thought process is what's best for students," he said.
Board member Randy Green asked Lustig if he was at a disadvantage for not having served as an assistant superintendent.
"There's a need for honest, passionate leadership in this county," Lustig responded. "I may not come with the title, but I come with the experience and passion. In these times, who better to have as your leader than someone who has been in the trenches. These are turbulent time, desperate times, and whatever you decide now will have long-reaching repercussions."
Lustig said he's drawn to Douglas County's small-town, community feel. He said he's drawn to "what seems like a cutting-edge, visionary district on the edge of greatness."
"I'm happy where I'm at," he said. "When this opening was brought to my attention, it seemed like such a unique opportunity. The more I looked into it, the more I thought it would match my leadership style."
Noonan, 49, told board members she felt like she was coming home.
From 1991 to 1993, Noonan was assistant principal at Jacks Valley Elementary School. She later served as principal at three different elementary schools in Washoe County before being hired as that district's superintendent of elementary education in 2004.
Now, as chief academic officer, Noonan oversees instruction in 94 schools.
"I have been in a career for 27 years which makes me feel that every day I make a difference in the world," she said. "Eighty percent of the job is character. You have to have that rudder, that moral compass."
As proof of student achievement under her watch, Noonan pointed out some significant gains in the percentage of half- and full-day kindergartners testing at or above grade level. She also noted rises in third- and sixth-grade math proficiency. However, she raised concerns about Washoe's 56 percent graduation rate and how to better connect early education with the final turnout at the high school level.
"It doesn't matter how proud I am of kindergarten or second-grade results if this (graduation rate) is what we're ultimately responsible for in the community and we're not getting there," she said.
Noonan said America often gets a bad reputation for lagging test scores compared to other industrialized nations.
"It's not an accurate picture," she said.
She argued that other nations use testing to separate their students at a young age, sometimes as early as 12. Those who test well are moved on to higher education, but those who test poorly are not.
"I'm proud to live in a country where we leave the doors open for everyone," she said.
As superintendent, Noonan said, she'd be respectful of established rules, but would also advocate for changes in policy she felt detrimental to kids.
Board member Karen Chessell asked Noonan how'd she deal with "resistance to necessary changes."
"My role as superintendent is to do everything possible, physically, mentally, intellectually, to bring recommendations that are creative," Noonan said.
She said staff resents superintendents who make changes for the sake of impressing their board.
"In many employees' experiences, 'change' means being asked to do more," she said. "No one ever thinks it means taking something away."
Noonan said with most decisions, one group leaves happy and one group leaves upset. She said the superintendent is obligated to do what's right for kids despite the popularity or unpopularity of an initiative.
"You got to have a lot of backbone to be the superintendent," she said. "After listening to everyone, you're still the only person in front of the board making the recommendation."
Noonan said she respects leaders who own their decisions and don't point fingers.
"Ultimately, the buck has to stop somewhere, and if it's not with the superintendent, then I don't know where," she said.
In her closing remarks, Noonan said hiring a superintendent is about finding the right match.
"It's not about which resume is most impressive," she said. "The person has to match what you need."
Board members will meet 6 p.m. Monday in the district office to further narrow the finalist pool.
