The Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence is one of the highest honors ACSA bestows, so it’s only fitting this year’s honoree is Renee Whitson, superintendent of Exeter Public Schools.

Whitson said she was humbled by the award in light of the man it was named for, the former Oakland superintendent gunned down on the job by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

“Marcus Foster often encouraged others and reminded us we can change the lives of children, families and communities,” Whitson told the audience at the Nov. 6 awards ceremony. “My contributions fall significantly short of Marcus Foster’s and many of you in this room.”

When colleagues describe Whitson, they describe an education leader who is enthusiastic, dedicated and focused, combined with a deep sense of compassion and a lively intellect. She has led Exeter Public Schools for 14 years, setting high standards for herself, staff and students. Exeter is actually Whitson’s hometown, and she attended public schools there growing up.

A hands-on leader, Whitson visits each school site every month, walking the campuses and monitoring the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

“These monthly walks as well as my ‘drop in’ visits throughout the year keep me connected to the entire educational team and, most importantly, to kids,” Whitson said.

 “The specific purpose is to work collaboratively with the school site leadership team to monitor the implementation of best practices, to look for and celebrate the evidence of student learning; and, when needs are identified, to provide the resources and support required to ensure that every student is receiving the education he or she deserves,” Whitson said.

“On a personal level, I am energized by my time at school sites; it reminds me amid the multiple organizational and administrative demands of the superintendency why I am here and what is most important. It keeps first things first.”

Whitson also meets every six weeks with each principal in her schools to go over disaggregated data from benchmark assessments with the aim of looking to close the achievement gap.

“Our district, like many districts, has made a commitment to working as a professional learning community throughout all levels: at the site and district levels, by grade level and department, by course and by program,” Whitson said. “Thus, we work collaboratively on student learning as measured by results.”

At the beginning of the school year, each site leadership team presents the student performance data from the prior year; identifies the areas of greatest need and then presents essential actions to match those needs through the school improvement plan.

Whitson said the disaggregated data is analyzed in a number of ways to inform instruction and monitor the effectiveness of the curricular program, and most importantly, to allow the team to identify who is learning and who is not, and then to take appropriate actions to ensure that all students not only have access to learning, but to guarantee their success.

“This data review begins at the site level with review, discussion, and then the development of SMART goals based on student needs,” she said. “The site review and goal development is then presented by the principal to me, which provides for additional review and inquiry. The focus of our review moves from a schoolwide review to each individual student. While we celebrate the closing of the achievement and opportunity gap among our students, we are determined to eliminate this gap entirely through a commitment to our mission to guarantee ‘excellence and equality in education’ to every student.”

Despite the time demands of leading a school district, Whitson has still found time for community outreach through such activities as Read for Life, the Chamber of Commerce, the local Salvation Army and the 19th Congressional District Educational Advisory Council.

“I participate in community outreach because it provides me with opportunities to pass on the many blessings in my life,” Whitson said. “As quoted from the protagonist in ‘The Education of Little Tree,’ ‘When you come onto something good, pass it on!’”

Whitson said that community outreach programs that allow her to personally connect with the people served are ones that give her a great sense of satisfaction.

“However, if I were to select one community outreach that has been the most rewarding, it would be breaking the cycle of illiteracy through the grass-roots, family-based literacy program, Read for Life,” she said.

Read for Life works directly with families to provide the foundation for reading, beginning at birth, through service projects such as Books for Babies, teen parent programs, and direct mentoring and support to parents of at-risk babies.

“These outreach programs join me with other people who believe that, working together, we can improve the lives of others through the gifts of opportunity, support and hope as well as connect me to the families and children we serve,” Whitson said.

All this plus activities such as being a former ACSA region president, and honors such as being the first Tulare County Administrator of the Year Award winner, the ACSA Region 11 2003 Superintendent of the Year and the 2002 Exeter Woman of the Year, make Whitson a most deserving honoree for ACSA.

“To receive this state honor is incredibly humbling especially when this recognition is attached to the work and memory of Marcus Foster, a man who literally gave up his life for the betterment of children and the schools and communities in which they lived,” Whitson said.

“I am also thankful for a mom and dad who taught me about respect, responsibility and relationships; a husband and sons who encouraged me in my work; and an educational community of teachers, staff, administrators and board members who have allowed me to work beside them.”

And Whitson is especially gratified to receive this honor alongside Erasto Vega, the recipient of the Region 11 Every Student Succeeding Award.

“Erasto and his parents immigrated from Mexico when he was 7,” Whitson said. “When he started school in Exeter, Erasto knew no English. Yet, Erasto graduated from Exeter Union High School last year as the class valedictorian and is attending UC San Diego with a major in biomedical engineering. It is all of the ‘Erastos’ in our lives that are the true measure of our work!”