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School Committee members and residents are expected to grill Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Victoria L. Greer about her job performance at a Tuesday meeting amid mounting disapproval of her leadership among parents.
The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting includes the midpoint update on an annual evaluation for Greer, who received a “needs improvement” rating on her annual school committee evaluation in July.
The meeting comes at a delicate time for Greer, who has not yet served three full years but has already alienated many parents. Recent criticism — expressed in interviews with The Crimson and a host of emails on a CPS parents listserv — has centered around her handling of allegations of poor transparency and a toxic workplace environment at the Graham & Parks Elementary School.
In the July evaluation, some School Committee members echoed these concerns in individual written comments obtained by The Crimson.
Fred Fantini, then a School Committee member, wrote that certain hiring processes had gone poorly, “creating significant questions about how the Superintendent will be able to continue working with parents, community groups, and staff effectively making them believe they can work as partners in support of their schools and children.”
Committee member David J. Weinstein wrote in his evaluation that “Dr. Greer’s management style has been perceived as very top down, not building engagement from educators and caregivers.”
According to Greer’s contract, which lasts through June 30, 2025, School Committee members must notify Greer if they would like to terminate or renegotiate her contract by June 30. Otherwise, her contract will automatically extend until June 30, 2026.
Tuesday’s meeting will feature a self-evaluation presentation from Greer, followed by questions from School Committee members and an opportunity for open comment on Greer’s leadership. It will not feature a scored report from the School Committee members as the annual evaluation did.
According to CPS spokesperson Sujata Wycoff, this process is “consistent with years past.”
The meeting is likely to include discussion of parent complaints around Graham & Parks Elementary School, whose principal, Kathleen M. Smith, has been accused of fostering a toxic workplace environment and failing to communicate with parents.
In January, CPS engaged a law firm to conduct a “thorough review” into the allegations, but in interviews some parents have continued to question Greer’s response to the concerns about Smith.
Two Graham & Parks parents said they felt that Greer, who hired Smith, bore ultimate responsibility for the situation at the elementary school and suggested that the School Committee needs to intervene.
Wycoff declined to comment, citing the ongoing review.
In an interview, School Committee member Elizabeth C.P. Hudson said the superintendent and the School Committee must work together to “define what success looks like.”
In particular, she cited student performance and engagement as an important area of measurement for Greer’s progress that was not included in the summer evaluation.
“That’s my bottom line, end of the day,” she added. “Either we’re moving closer towards that goal, or we’re moving farther away.”
According to Hudson, improving student academic performance requires better instruction which involves more support for educators from Greer and the district.
“You don’t get better instruction without better supporting your educators,” she said.
Hudson encouraged parents and staff to attend Tuesday’s meeting and provide public comment.
“It’s us asking, imposing upon your time, asking you to educate us about your perspective and your experience, but I think that’s important,” Hudson said. “So I would encourage people to come from across the schools and from across roles.”
“One’s performance evaluation should never be a surprise, if you have a good relationship and good lines of communication,” Hudson said.
—Staff writer Darcy G Lin can be reached at darcy.lin@thecrimson.com.
—Staff writer Emily T. Schwartz can be reached at emily.schwartz@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @EmilySchwartz37.
