Dr. Dale Marsden, superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, has been named a national Education Leader To Learn From by Education Week for his exemplary leadership in school safety.
One of only a dozen exceptional leaders to receive this honor, Education Week recognized Marsden for his vision and commitment to enhancing school safety in the wake of the December 2, 2015, terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center and the April 10, 2017, shooting at North Park Elementary School. Education Week editors selected Marsden from a pool of hundreds of nominees from readers, staff reporters and other education writers, state school administrator groups, and experts in the K–12 field.
“These 12 leaders are single-minded about finding solutions and trying new approaches, all in pursuit of excellence for the students, teachers, and communities they serve,” said Lesli A. Maxwell, assistant managing editor at Education Week. “Too often, stories about the hard work and successes of these K–12 public servants don’t get told.”
Marsden will be honored at a special Leaders To Learn From event April 11-12 in Washington, D.C., where district leaders and educators from across the country will celebrate and learn from his success. Marsden is the only California school leader to earn the honor this year.
In the wake of the December 2016 terrorist attack that killed 14 people at the Inland Regional Center, Marsden set the tone for building a culture of safety across the District. And, that focus increased after the April 2017 shooting that claimed the lives of a North Park Elementary School teacher and student.
Under Marsden’s leadership, the District has embraced a positive discipline approach to student misbehavior that favors discussion and problem-solving. In the last five years, arrests and citations dropped 59 percent, expulsions declined by 58 percent, and suspensions fell 26 percent. Those infractions declined among all groups of students, even those who traditionally suffer disproportionate rates of discipline, such as African-American students. Student test scores are rising, too, and the high school graduation rate reached 86 percent in 2016, higher than the national average, and up from 74 percent four years earlier. Those trends held true for every group of students, even those who have tended to lag behind their peers, such as English-learners and students with disabilities.
Humbled by the national honor, Marsden attributes his success to the vital partnerships he has forged with stakeholders, especially students, families, and employees.
“Educational excellence is enacted through the establishment of safe and caring environments that include the voices of all stakeholders,” Marsden said. “I’m fortunate to work in a community where we strive to make hope happen for the students and families we serve.”
Read more about Marsden’s recognition at https://leaders.edweek.org/profile/dale-marsden-superintendent-school-climate-safety/?intc=ltlfcarous.
-mtgmtgmtg-