Anita Bordeaux says she spent many summers as a teen participating in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. So the opportunity to help launch an all-girls charter school here, which put to use her extensive background in start-up school management, was dream opportunity.
"I've always been fascinated by organizational development," she said. "When you're starting a school, you have to think about every detail from tables and chairs to recruiting teachers."
Trained in the Edison Schools' education management organization, Ms. Bordeaux had a well-rounded background in teaching, administration, start-up school management and strategic planning.
That educational expertise won her the position of executive director of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy over 70 other applicants.
"Anita is a seasoned educator with a sound understanding and steadfast commitment to the mission of public charter schools," said Edna Varner, search committee chairwoman, in a news release.
Q. How did you learn about the CGLA position?
A. At Harlem Success Academy, I was being trained to open a new school. But I left because I didn't feel the culture of the school was a good fit for me or the children. There was a lot of test-prep pressure that I didn't feel was best for children.
I was being considered for a job in the Bronx and another in Cleveland, Ohio, where they were doing a turnaround of the traditional public school system. I got an e-mail from the CGLA search firm, which had found my resume on a charter school job website.
Q. What do you see as CGLA's strengths?
A. That the people who are there want to be there. The charter model is very well done and well-researched. You don't have to wonder what to do, it's there.
Also, we have a very supportive board. They don't want to control everything, they want to support, which is a tribute to the type of people here in Chattanooga.
Q. What are your immediate goals?
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisc.Occupation: Executive director of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.Education: Master's degree from Michigan State University.Career: Teacher/academy director of Milwaukee Academy of Science; academy director of Charles R. Drew Charter School; education specialist, Consortium of Catholic Academies; leadership resident, Harlem Success Academy Charter School.Family: Youngest of five siblings, single.Hobbies: Traveling, listening to jazz, reading. "I love going to jazz festivals and I will travel to them."Last book read: "The Shock Doctrine, the Rise of Disaster Capitalism," by Naomi Klein
A. The implementation of the little pieces in the charter plan. It sounds easy to start a school, but it's not. It takes a lot of hard work, so the little things not in place aren't because people don't want them there, they simply didn't have time to do it.
This summer, I want to bring in students to inform me what they want to see in the halls to make the school more welcoming.
Q. What has been the biggest culture shock moving to the South from New York City?
A. The lack of traffic and movement of people is the biggest shock because I'm so accustomed to a faster pace.
As a single person, I loved New York because literally at any time of day I could go out and find other people out. You could eat dinner at 2 in the morning and there would be people around you.
Here, some nights I sit on my porch at 8 p.m. and there's nobody outside. That's not a bad thing, just a different thing.