The students in an alternative high school in East St. Louis inspired Jim McIntyre when he was their teacher and continue to inspire him today as an administrator in the Boston public school system.
McIntyre, 40, spoke late Wednesday afternoon at Monona Terrace to a crowd of around 50 people at the second of three public meet-and-greet sessions for the final candidates vying for the job of Madison school superintendent.
"Teaching in East St. Louis was a life-changing experience," McIntyre explained.
"Many of my students were children who lived under very, very difficult circumstances. When you were able to eliminate some of the distractions they faced and get them engaged in school, they were smart, talented students," he said.
But for some, the odds were so difficult, and their lives so daunting that hope was hard to maintain.
"My brightest student, my best student, took his own life because he just didn't see any future. It's with me every day," McIntyre said.
McIntyre, 40, is currently the chief operating officer of the Boston public school system, which has an operating budget of about $800 million. Before becoming chief operating officer about two years ago, McIntyre was budget director of the district, which serves about 57,000 students, for 8 years.
He says he tries to bring a student-centered focus to his job managing facilities, food service, safety, transportation and all other aspects of his job.
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