If I bring everybody in, they'll get the message that they're ready to go back out and say, 'This is the hill we're going after,' ... I'm a good listener and I value the things employees and parents would want to say to me.

I'm 59. If I'm ever going to do this again, do it now,

Art, music -- all those things that we all know contribute to the full development of a young person and can actually accelerate gains in academic areas -- we can't just put those aside,

What people may be surprised about my leadership style is everything doesn't begin and end with me. I believe in empowering a team to do the work, ... If people have a legitimate need, they don't need to come to me to fund it.

The pattern that you will find in the people I appoint is they have extraordinary people skills,

I think this is an issue of healing and making sure everybody feels good about a shared vision for the future. I think that's very important. That's what I intend to do.

There is a just a lot of buzz around charters here it's as if charters are the only option for change, ... Other ways could be explored.

My first and most important goal is to accelerate gains in student performance. We have to roll up our sleeves. We have to redouble our efforts.