April 6, 2005

 

WISD Superintendent named Texas School Business Magazine
Educator of the Month

Deborah Cron Meets Superintendent Challenges with Competence, Caring
As seen in Texas School Business Magazine / March 2005 / Volume L1 /  Number 5
 

When asked to describe the leadership qualities of Deborah Cron, phrases like grace under fire, instructional leader, indefatigable worker, empathic leader, one who has high expectations, and simply, one classy lady have been said of this truly inspiring educator.  For the past 32 years, students and staff alike have benefited from the drive and dedication that Cron has exemplified.  Deborah Cron believes that children have the right to learn in an enriched academic environment and she believes in the people who strive to create a safe atmosphere for learning.

A graduate of South Garland High School, Cron began her career as a high school English teacher at North Garland High School.  Spending the next 29 years in Garland, Cron discovered early on that her leadership skills would quickly lead her into an administrative role in the Garland Independent School District.  Former Garland superintendent, Jill Shugart, who Cron worked with for many years says, “Deborah is a wonderful blend of competence and caring.  She thrives on challenge.  Her expectations for students and staff are exceeded only by her expectations for herself.” 

Cron’s high expectations for students and staff began during her days in the classroom.  Former 11^th Grade English student, Kevin Autrey, says, “I personally give credit to Dr. Deborah Cron for helping to shape the person I am today.  In addition to the standard 11^th Grade English fare served up in her classroom, she illustrated the beauty and mystery of literature in its many forms - from the classics to the unconventional, her real influence on me, however, was to open my eyes to the power, self-examination, and even the healing that a person can realize through the process of committing our thoughts to paper.  How do you thank someone for that?” 

Upon leaving the classroom in 1981, Cron became the assistant principal for South Garland High School and a year later director of communications.  The next four years would prove to be invaluable training ground for learning to work with community leaders and the media.  In 1986, Cron moved into the curriculum arena where she would lead the Garland ISD instructional program that would result in eight “Exemplary” campuses and 14 “Recognized” campuses and a “Recognized” rating for the district. 

“Deborah is a masterful instructional leader.  She is equally adept at working with principals and teachers in schools with sub-populations whose academic performance needs improvement and with schools that have a high concentration of academically talented/gifted children who need to be challenged and enriched,” says Shugart.

Cron’s strong sense of family and service to others is inspiring.  “Deborah is an indefatigable worker.  I was repeatedly amazed at the long hours she put in for the district, while balancing her family, civic, and church life.  She managed the largest division in Garland ISD when her three children were all young.  Yet, she never missed their ballgames or other school activities.  All three of them have become teachers, a fact that testifies to her ability to inspire her own children as well as her students,” says Shugart.

In 2001, Cron accepted the top spot in Weatherford ISD.  In addition to her district responsibilities, Dr. Cron quickly got involved with the community as a champion for children by serving on various organizations that support children and their families.  Known for walking the talk, Cron is active in the WISD Education Foundation and the Freedom House Board of Directors, a safe haven for abused mothers and their children.  She quickly became an active participant in her church and the Weatherford Rotary Club. 

Past-President of the WISD Education Foundation and Chairman of Weatherford National Bank, Doyle Lee, says, “Deborah is such an approachable person.  She has the ability to work closely with the business community and still be such a powerful influence on our kids.  That’s a critical package in a superintendent.”

Cron launched various new initiatives that are moving the district forward toward greater levels of student achievement.  When asked what will make the difference, Cron says, “I believe in people.  I believe that the vast majority of individuals want to do a good job and be a part of a successful team.  With motivation, training, and resources, they will succeed.”

Coming to a small school district, rich in the traditions of a small community had its challenges, especially when the decision to close 60-year-old schools had to be made.  Cron had an empathetic understanding of the emotional impact that closing two small Works Projects Administration (WPA) schools would have on the community.  Reunion Receptions were held at both schools to allow fellow school mates and teachers to gather at these WPA facilities a final time.  The attendance was hugely successful and provided a remarkable time for longtime members of the community to come together and share memories.

The Leadership Team in Weatherford ISD has embraced Cron and her philosophy for moving the district forward.  Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations, Joe Schultz, says, “Dr. Cron is the most genuine person I have ever worked for.  She brings out the best in everybody and most of the time they don’t even realize she has that impact.” 

Darryl Cross, assistant superintendent for curriculum, adds, “Dr. Cron has that special ability to blend the commitment and modeling of strong principles and high standards with a caring and supportive approach in leading her team.  She’s one classy lady!  Her belief in continuous improvement sustains a culture of learning for students and staff in Weatherford.  She is truly a role model for all of us who strive to improve our ability to lead.” 

Certainly one of the most powerful leadership qualities of Cron is that she never asks more of her team than she would do herself.  Shugart reflects, “I particularly remember a series of events in Garland.  We had a system in place for several years where teachers had an opportunity to evaluate their principals.  Although the results were intended for improvement and certainly not for punitive purposes, the system threatened some principals.  Deborah simply took steps to subject herself and the rest of her top administrative staff to take the exact same type of evaluation.  The opposition almost evaporated when it became clear that ‘the leader’ could take her share of constructive criticism.”

The campus leadership of the Weatherford ISD soon agreed that there was something very special in Cron.  Principals agree that, “Dr. Cron has a strong sense of fairness which propels her to inspire others.  She thinks only the best of others.  The result is the building of a strong team that has great potential to make magical things happen for all students.  Her leadership in the implementation of continuous improvement has been masterful; it is exciting to visualize where we will be in five years.”

It is that sense of fairness that drives Cron to reach out to every employee for input to improve the system.  Cron created an opportunity for teachers to come together and share concerns and triumphs with her.  The Superintendent’s Circle is a group that consists of a teacher from each campus who meet once each six weeks for breakfast before school begins.  This serves as a circle of communication and allows teachers to provide input about those issues that affect them.  Cron also supports the district’s paraprofessionals by serving as a keynote speaker or breakout session presenter at the Texas Educational Support Association (TESA) annual conferences each year.

The Weatherford ISD Administrative Team has embarked on the Malcolm Baldridge Performance Excellence Program.  Cron says, “We have the right people and aligned curriculum in place that will help our students to succeed.   With the right processes, we can create an educational environment that will move students towards academic excellence.”  Teachers and paraprofessionals are being trained this year in the Continuous Improvement process.  Under the TAKS accountability system, Weatherford ISD has seen significant improvement since the first administration of the test in 2003; five of the 12 campuses received a “Recognized” rating from the Texas Education Agency for 2004. 

Weatherford ISD continues to do the right things for children.  Cron has implemented the Bilingual Program in elementary schools.  She is participating in the Leadership Succession Planning developed by the Texas Secondary Schools Principals and is leading the implementation in the district under the direction of Dr. Phillip Schlechty and Dr. George Thompson.  Cron currently sits on Commissioner Shirley Neely’s Steering Committee, a group of 60 superintendents in Texas selected to provide input.

Deborah Cron has the curriculum background and leadership qualities that will move Weatherford ISD forward.  She believes firmly in lifelong learning and empowers those around her to build upon their strengths and talents.  She has the support and respect of the community, faculty, and staff to do the right things for young people.