What comes next for former CMS Superintendent Ann Clark? Here’s part of the answer

Recently-retired Superintendent Ann Clark will spend this school year talking to educators across America about race, poverty and educational inequality, the NYC Leadership Academy announced Tuesday.

Clark retired from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in June after 34 years with the district and 2 1/2 as superintendent. She has been named a superintendent-in-residence at the New York-based nonprofit group that provides leadership consulting to districts across the country.

Clark will be joined by Valeria Silva, former superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools in Minnesota. Both will share what they learned about ways that school districts can inadvertently hold back the most disadvantaged students and how educators can start to undo those practices, the group said in a news release.

“Ann and Valeria have been longtime leaders in the critical and difficult work of ensuring schools are offering an equitable and excellent education to students, regardless of race or culture, economic background or learning needs,” Leadership Academy President and CEO Irma Zardoya said. “We and the districts we work with have so much to learn from them, and we are honored to have them on our team.”

Clark couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, but the announcement is unlikely to settle the question of what comes next for her. The academy post is part-time and allows her to remain in Charlotte, where she has said she intends to keep working with children and families.

In August, Clark said she has an overseas trip planned for late fall, and she expects to “take a more official step” after that.

This story was originally published September 26, 2017 at 4:28 PM with the headline "What comes next for former CMS Superintendent Ann Clark? Here’s part of the answer."