In August 2018, the Dallas Observer asked Dr. Stephen F. Waddell, an experienced educator and leader in school innovation, for his take on Texas’ controversial new A-F grading system for public schools.

He answered with a thorough look at the A-F system, the issue of rank ordering students and schools that results from standardized testing and A-F accountability systems, and the need for community-based accountability in Texas public education.

Read the article.

Dr. Waddell was a founding member of the Public Education Visioning Institute and served as a member of its design team. The institute developed Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas, the visioning document that guides Mission: School Transformation.

Dr. Waddell participated in passing legislation that created the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium, which the Legislature and State Board of Education continues to look to for new state standards and accountability models. Throughout his 20 years as superintendent, Dr. Waddell served various sized districts, the last being Lewisville ISD. He retired from that position in 2015 after 36 years as a public educator.