THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701090429
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 29 lines
School Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. has earned a feather in his cap and recognition for the city school system: He has been elected president of the Large City Schools' Superintendents Association for the 1997-98 school year.
The group, a forum of 67 superintendents of the largest school districts in the United States and Canada, promotes professional development and exchanges ideas about education issues facing urban schools. It takes positions on national policies and legislation that affect schoolchildren in urban America.
As president, Nichols, 52, said Wednesday he hopes to create a national dialogue among superintendents and mayors to highlight educational needs and the importance of ``keeping politics out of education.'' In addition, he said, he hopes to focus attention on the need to set high academic standards and raise expectations for students.
``Whether you live in Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee or Norfolk, we all face many of the same issues and challenges in our schools today,'' said Nichols, who has been superintendent in Norfolk since 1993. ``This organization is a way we can share ideas and learn from the experience of other systems.''
The group, sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators, meets twice a year. It met in Norfolk two years ago.