Let’s Get to Work: New MPS Superintendent Dr. Gregory Thornton

By Lori Fredrich — Dr. Gregory Thornton began his first day as Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools on July 1^st, marking the beginning of his two-year contract with the Board of School Directors.

And Dr. Thornton doesn’t appear to be wasting any time.  In fact, his first directive after being sworn into office was an emphatic, “Alright, let’s get to work.”

On his first day, the new superintendent took a tour of three MPS Summer School sites. Dr. Thornton’s first visit was to Greenfield Bilingual School where he spoke with parents, staff, students, and Principal Maria Sanchez.  Thornton asked questions about budgets and staffing levels, and quizzed a teacher about students’ reading scores. The questions continued during stops at Bethune Academy on Milwaukee’s northwest side, and at Bradley Tech High School, where Superintendent Thornton challenged one student to raise his grades from “C” to at least the level of a “B”.  Thornton also met with teachers union, top district administrators, and School Board members.

Dr. Thornton’s near-30 year career in education includes experience in the classroom as a teacher, and in school leadership as a principal at both the elementary and secondary levels.

He served previously as chief academic officer of The School District of Philadelphia and has held leadership positions in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools in North Carolina.  As the director of secondary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools, Thornton worked to develop initiatives to address issues of diversity and minority achievement and instructional leadership.

Prior to joining MPS, Thornton served as  Superintendent of Chester Upland School District in Chester, Pennsylvania, where his focus was on on raising student achievement, revising and upgrading the strategic plan, and monitoring progress. During his tenure, Thornton instituted a campaign to market the school district utilizing different methods to engage the community.

“What happens in urban schools is we start a bunch of things and (don’t) see them through.” says Thornton.

But, his vision for MPS includes an emphasis on follow-through. Thornton plans to make use of innovative programs including TEACH for America and New Leaders/New Schools.  He has set his sights on expanding the use of technology to reach MPS students, providing teachers with the tools they need to be successful, strengthening  the MPS comprehensive literacy plan, engaging parents in their children’s educations, connecting community business leaders with the educational community, and changing the overall face of leadership in MPS.

At a reception in May, Thornton put out an impassioned plea to the Milwaukee community – asking that they come together stand up for student achievement, teacher quality, and the arts.

Thornton’s sense of optimism about the potential of  a district that has been beaten down, criticized, and misunderstood by many even in the Milwaukee community is refreshing to say the least.   And it’s a real reminder that Milwaukee has the talent, wherewithal, and gumption to push public education in the direction in which it needs to go.

GUARANTEED, Thornton won’t get everything right.  But, one thing is certain — If MPS is to move forward, it won’t be just because we have a talented superintendent at the helm.  It will be because individuals come together and stand up for the ones who matter… the kids.

So, come on people.
Let’s stand up and get to work.

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By day, you’ll find Lori Fredrich roaming the hallowed halls of the College of Education at Marquette.  By night, she writes about local, seasonal food on her blog at Burp! Where Food Happens.