Up To The Challenge Deer Park’S School Superintendent Brings Energy And Ideas To The Job

Glenys Hill hasn’t run into spare time in years.

The superintendent of the Deer Park School District was so busy recently that she drew a blank when asked her wedding date.

“Oh gosh,” Hill said. “That was, uh, four . . . , yeah, fours years ago. Oh gosh, I feel bad, I can’t remember right now. I can’t remember the date.”

Hill can be forgiven. A year-round, 60-plus hour work week would probably rob most people of long-term memory skills.

Hill, 51, is in her fifth year as the superintendent of the Deer Park Public School District. The Portland-native was an assistant superintendent at Deer Park and Riverside districts before taking the helm at Deer Park.

She has two sons from a previous marriage and a stepdaughter from her marriage to Roger Rada, who is the central office director for Central Valley School District.

Hill undoubtedly has her hands full.

“It’s really a challenge balancing work and home. (Roger) is usually out of the house in the morning when I’m there and I’m usually gone in the evening when he’s home.

“We talk a lot on cellular phones,” she said. “The children are older and self-sufficient, but we still like to sit down at least once a week to have dinner,” she said.

The couple’s cellular phone bill may hit an all-time high soon. Rada has taken a superintendent position in the Nestucca Valley School District in the northwest corner of Oregon next school year.

Hill said she plans to stay as Deer Park’s superintendent. It’s something she’s prepared for all her life.

“I want this district to be the best that it can,” she said.

Hill earned her doctorate from Washington State University, a master’s from the University of California at Berkeley and undergraduate degree from Portland State University.

Her background and qualifications have put her in a position few women in the state can claim.

According to the state superintendent of public instruction, just 14 percent of the state’s school superintendents are women - 39 of 296 school districts. Hill is the only one in Spokane County.

She’s in an elite group, but Hill confessed that being a female superintendent is seldom on her mind.

“I never really think about it. I don’t really look at it from a very personal standpoint. My concern is ‘How effective am I?”’

Hill gives herself a B.

“It’s not an A because I see so many things I could have done,” she said. “I take pride in trying to work with all kinds of people. But there are times when I feel I can’t resolve some problems.”

Hill describes her management style as collaborative and “very willing to take some risks.”

“We haven’t done anything radical,” she said. “I think (the school district) has worked within the community.”

And worked with each other. At Hill’s insistence.

In July, Deer Park teachers and administrators overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract which took effect at the beginning of the school year.

Unlike previous years, the majority of the contract’s provisions were approved before the school year ended.

During negotiations, teachers and administrators met for two overnight retreats - a rare occurrence, said Hill.

Keith Reilly, the lead negotiator for the Deer Park Education Association, said contract discussions were “far reaching. Everything in the contract was open for discussion,” Reilly said.

He said the retreats were valuable.

“They did what hours of meetings could not accomplish. There were less time constraints, so we could discuss issues very thoroughly.”

Former Deer Park School Board President Mary Baker said Deer Park is lucky to have Hill as a superintendent.

“She has opened up the district in a lot of ways,” Baker said. “It was starting to happen a little before she came, and Glenys kind of took it and I think has done a wonderful job.”

Baker credits Hill for opening up the hiring process in the district and establishing a trust between the school board and the district.

She believes that trust is what persuaded voters to pass a bond measure three years ago. Prior to 1995, district voters hadn’t passed a bond since 1977.

“The feeling about the district with the staff and community has really improved,” Baker said, crediting Hill.

“She lets people be really involved, and not just tokenly. She isn’t one who demands to take the power.”

Hill said she values the expertise of those around her.

“I don’t take myself so seriously, so I’m not worried about failing,” she said. “I’ll try anything if it’s legal and going to get some people involved.”

Right now, the district’s biggest undertaking is school remodeling and converting Deer Park Junior High to Deer Park Middle School next year.

And this year, Deer Park Elementary School moved to a tri-mester school year from the past semester setup. Hill says it’s been a smooth transition.

“It’s the seemingly small changes that are huge, but I think we’re pleased with the work that we did,” she said.

And Hill said the district is also rolling up its sleeves regarding the new statewide assessment tests.

Last year, fourth-graders statewide scored an average 22 percentile in math; 48 percentile in reading; 42 percentile in writing; and 62 percentile in listening.

In Deer Park, the scores were 13.5 percentile in math; 33.3 percentile in reading; 27.7 percentile in writing; and 61.7 percentile in listening.

“We’re very ready to be held accountable, but I’m nervous about the implications,” she said. “We will have students who will fly through these tests with no problems.

“Some others will struggle,” she said. “I am worried about a possible two-tiered system that could be created - those who pass and those who don’t.

“What about the special education and more at-risk kids? We haven’t answered how we’re going to address that,” she said.

Hill added that there are student characteristics and qualities that tests won’t reveal.

“I hope we don’t fall into a situation where we just look at them for just measurable learning,” she said. “It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that they’re just kids.

“It forces us to look really hard at ourselves, but we’re looking forward to the challenge,” she said.