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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Litha Park time capsule donations due by Friday ... Ticket availability ... Toxicology tests shed no light on distance runner Todd Ragsdale's death ... Litha Park time capsule donations due by Friday ... Ticket availability ... Toxicology tests shed no light on distance runner Todd Ragsdale's death ... Q&A Hummel touts Ashland support Outgoing school district superintendent says management key for replacement Comment By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 Posted Jun. 28, 2016 at 5:46 PM By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 Posted Jun. 28, 2016 at 5:46 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Former Washington superintendent to replace Hummel • A wish list for Ashland schools' next superintendent • Ashland to hire interim superintendent • Ashland school board chairman says Superintendent Hummel will leave his mark... » Social News Jay Hummel's last official day as the Ashland School District superintendent is Thursday. Hummel on Monday talked with the Tidings about his three years on the job — he replaced Juli Di Chiro in July of 2013. Questions and answers have been edited for space. DT : What have these last few weeks been like for you? Hummel : I’ve been trying to do my best to make a smooth transition to the interim superintendent. I’ve met with Suzanne (Cusick) numerous times. I attended our end-of-the-year lead team administrative meetings. They’re two days and (Cusick) attended the first day, and we got most of our work done that day. DT : How did that go? Hummel : It went well. I think it’s a hard transition for everybody involved, just because having a new boss and handing the reins over in a smooth fashion, but that’s the sense I have from it at this point. DT : You were only here three years (since July 2013), but in that time quite a bit happened in Ashland — the district took measures to control class sizes, there was a chickenpox outbreak, some reshuffling of principals and the field project. What there any particular challenge in your time that you’re especially proud of having steered the district through? Hummel : I think the one thing that I’m most proud of is that with Ashland, a great deal of its strength is in its independence, both in its classrooms and schools, and I didn’t want to do anything to damage that, but I also have worked real hard to get the classrooms and schools to understand working together also has power, also has purpose. DT : Do you think they did that in your time, worked well together? Hummel : Well, I think near the end, yes. I think to begin with they were pretty independent and the district operated that well and still did quite well. I just knew that we could also do more together and I think near the end there are signs that the district is moving in that direction. DT : Why is that so important? Hummel : I think there’s an educational and an economic mandate to make the best use of the limited resources that we have and so any time you can get some synergy between two teachers or between two schools, between your operations and your academics side, all of those things result in better use of the resources we have and ultimately in the kids learning more. DT : What is the most important skill an Ashland superintendent must possess? Hummel : The ability to manage very articulate, educated interest groups — and a variety of interest groups. Between parents, the business community and the school board, staff, they’re all very intellectual here. It’s a very smart group, which is why it’s natural then that they don’t necessarily see it the same way. To be able to manage that wonderful asset takes a lot of patience. DT : What do you think you will remember most about working in Ashland? Hummel : The support of the community from the parents in the community, is just fabulous — with their time and with their money, with their influence. They believe in their schools and that’s memorable, because I think it’s rare in a lot of communities. DT : What’s your advice for the next superintendent? Hummel : I would just say advise (Cusick) or the next person to insist upon collaborative input and processes to make decisions. DT : So what’s next for you? Hummel : I still feel like I would like to continue in some capacity in this industry. Right now my family needs me here (in Idaho) and that’s it. That’s where I should be right now. They’ve sacrificed a lot over the years to help me in these jobs that take a lot of time and effort, and so I feel at this point I have an opportunity to give back, so to speak, and to make the right decision for my family. DT : When you say “continue in some capacity” what does that mean? Hummel : I think education has great opportunities to grow and expand, to innovate, create at this point, and I think within that there are some new possibilities. Joe Zavala is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 541-821-0829 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Zavala99. By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 Posted Jun. 28, 2016 at 5:46 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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