The Plain Dealer
January 19, 1967
'iiiiiiiiM HEIGHTS CHIEF ^^^
| Gerhardt Reaches School Top in 3 Years
By ALBIN A. GORISEK
Frank Gerhardt, who will take over as superintendent
of Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools in July,
says the top job was not in his plans when he joined the
system.
But other educators are not surprised that the 41-year-
old dynamo has been tapped for the post after only three
years with the system.
rle will succeed Dr.
Theos I. Anderson, who will
become superintendent of
schools in Grosse Pointe,
Mich. He was with the system only six years and last
year was given a new five-
year contract.
Dr. Theos I. Anderson
GERHARDT DECLINES
CREDIT for overhauling
many school programs in
Heights schools. Instead he
says his role was a secondary one, that Dr. Anderson headed up most of them.
"We complemented one
another," Gerhardt says.
"We worked very well together. It was an excellent
team.,,
But Gerhardt, as assistant superintendent, put through
a host of curriculum innovations. These ranged from social
inquiry classes in m9st grades, through a junior high
humanities course to creative problem solving in
elementary classes.
He was active on the Human Relations Advisory Committee that last month had its written policy adopted by
the board of education.
HE IS PROUDEST of what he calls "task forces,"
committees of teachers,, supervisors, experts, people outside the system and, sometimes, students. They look into
an aspect of education for improvement. He has 35 task
forces in operation now; by month's end there will be six
more.
The approach is called the "instructional leadership
plan" and has attracted national attention.
The plan eliminates the usual supervisors in central
offices. Instead there are five curriculum "generalists" to
help teachers plan and carry out curriculum changes.
And supervising each of the innovations is Gerhardt.
He admits he finds it hard to be desk-bound.
HE PREFERS TO TRAVEL from school to school,
visiting principals, supervisors and classes. He is likely to
dine at different schools, rather than at restaurants or at
home.
"I take my paper work home and do it there," he
said.
His days are so filled he has little spare time, at the
office or at home. An interview yesterday with a ^reporter
was sandwiched in between a conference with guidance
counselors and another with the Noble School faculty.
CHIEF'S FAMILY—Frank Gerhardt with his
wife Eleanor, son, Kurk, 7, and daughter,
Paula, 12. p,ain Dealer photo (Richard T. Conway)
Last night he spoke to the Milliken School PTA. He has
given 30 such speeches this school year. "But during vacation time, I devote all my time to my family/■ he said.
Last summer they went camping to Cape Cod. He and his
wife, Eleanor, and their two children live in a duplex at
2355 S. Overlook Road, Cleveland Heights.
Gerhardt said he and the board have not yet discussed
his salary or contract. He now makes $18,000 a year. Dr.
Anderson earned $26,000.
DR. ANDERSON SAID he would make about $6,000
more in Grosse Pointe, a luxury suburb of Detroit. Fringe*
benefits of the new job include a house, a car, a gardener
and hospitalization.
Dr. Anderson, 49, joined the Heights system in 1961.
He previously headed the Teaneck, N.J., schools.
