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The day's schedule for Dr. Pamela Brown included visits to a few city schools, an interview with the Buffalo School Board, and speaking with the media at Buffalo City Hall.
Brown, who's currently working at the Center for Educational Leadership and Technology in Marlborough, Mass., says she's impressed with the district's partnerships, the District Parent Coordinating Council, the facilities, and use of technology.
"So, I think that there's a great foundation here in Buffalo Public Schools that I would really like to be instrumental in working with the staff to build on," Brown says.
Brown says her dream would be to build a model, urban school district in Buffalo. She also says she wants a district with all students performing at high levels, no achievement gaps, and "innovative programs that really prepare students for the global economy in which we live."
If hired, Brown says she's begin that process by conducting "listening tours" at some, or perhaps, all of the schools to get input from the teachers, principals, and students.
Besides her role as an administrator, Brown also served as teacher early in her career, she says.
Brown has over 30 years of experience in public education -- having worked in places like Philadelphia and Charlotte. When asked why she would come to Buffalo, she believes her goal of turning around a low-performing district -- and developing it into a model -- would be easier in a district smaller than the ones in which she's previously worked.
She was also asked about increasing the graduation rate and reducing the rate of student drop outs.
"There's no question that I would come here with a sense of urgency in terms of really improving both of those," she says.
Brown was also asked about the biggest challenge facing the district , and she replied saying she would first focus on improving student achievement. The other candidates -- interim superintendent Amber Dixon and Dr. Edward Newsome -- said the very same thing in their meetings with the media.
Brown currently serves as senior research and planning associate for the Leadership and Technology Center. Prior to that role, Brown served as assistant superitendent and chief academic officer for the Philadelphia School District and also served in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district of North Carolina. Brown also spent time in Los Angeles and Richmond, Va.
The current interim superintendent Amber Dixon and Dr. Edward Newsome from Baltimore County, Md. have already interviewed for the position. The decision could come this week.