Tagged: Tony Tata

Wake County’s new school superintendent takes office officially today. Tony Tata takes the reins of a school system facing major challenges.

Tata’s background is already well-known to those who pay attention to the Wake Schools. He’s a retired brigadier general with less than two years experience in education, hired by a deeply divided school board. He made positive impressions even on his detractors during a series of formal and informal events earlier this month. And even with a looming budget crisis, Tata will likely be judged on the issue of student assignment.

Tony Tata is spending more time in the Triangle today. The retired brigadier general is the new superintendent in Wake County.

Wake County has a new School Superintendent. Anthony Tata was confirmed Thursdaynight in a 4-to-2 vote by the Wake County School Board.

Tata is not your every day public school administrator. He’s a West Point graduate and former brigadier general who writes Tom-Clancy style thrillers. Most recently, he was Chief Operating Officer at the Washington DC schools, in charge of purchasing and operations. The year and a half he spent in that job is his only experience in education.

The Wake County School Board is apparently on the verge of hiring a new superintendent. Donna Haargens has served in the position as an interim since the spring.