WJCC Reorganizes Administrative Roles

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, September 22, 2011

Williamsburg-James City County Schools Superintendent Steven Constantino announced Wednesday several organizational changes that alter the responsibilities of administrators.

All kindergarten-12th grade principals, along with the Coordinator for GED and Adult Education and the Coordinator for Health and Physical Education, will report to Dianna Lindsay, the Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services. The Senior Director for Multicultural Affairs, the Supervisor for Guidance and Counseling, the Supervisor for Career Technical Education and Business Partnerships and the coordinators for music, world languages and art will also report to Lindsay.

Regina Yitbarek, currently overseeing elementary education, will assume the new role of Senior Director for Student Learning and Accountability, which will also report to Lindsay. She will assume responsibility for the coordinators of science, the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and social studies. She will also continue to oversee assessment, federal programs, instructional technology, the Early Childhood program, gifted education and the coordinators for math and reading.

The Senior Director for Specialized Educational Services and the Senior Director for Human Resources will report directly to the superintendent. Finally, the Scott Burckbuchler’s position of Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services will be retitled Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations.

Constantino outlined the changes and reasoning in a document called, “Superintendent’s Goals 2011-2014: A Call to Action,” which he said reflects input he’s received from citizens and stakeholders, the results of a climate survey, visits to schools and data analysis. “All of these communications have helped us arrive at some new ideas and a fresh opportunity for continuous improvement,” he said in a press release (read it here).

He said the changes will help the division achieve better alignment; more continuity and consistency with the use of data teams and learning communities; redesign assessment and testing practices; enhance creativity and inspiration in teachers; make a stronger commitment to reading and literacy; create a division-wide plan for professional learning; and take a more focused approach to accountability.

“By having the Senior Directors for Specialized Educational Services and Human Resources report directly to the superintendent, my hope is that it will help Dr. Lindsay as she takes on her new duties, and that Dr. Burckbuchler will be able to concentrate more on financial issues, which will continue to require all the skills he has brought to this challenge in the future,” Constantino said. “One of the key responsibilities of any leader is to assess how well the organization is functioning, and to promote continuous improvement. In my judgment, these changes help WJCC become Virginia’s premier school division.”

WJCC reorganized its leadership roles in May 2010, under the leadership of then-Acting Superintendent Burckbuchler. The structure was adjusted to have the division led by a superintendent, assistant superintendent and three senior directors for human resources, operations and finance. Burckbuchler eliminated his previous position as Assistant Superintendent of Finance at that time.

In October 2010, Burckbuchler proposed further streamlining, folding several separate offices into two main departments: Academic and Student Services and Administrative Services. Those changes took effect Jan. 1, and at that time, he assumed the new role of Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services.