Former Broward educator Frances Haithcock gets top state post

By Akilah Johnson | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

December 20, 2007

    A longtime Broward County educator, who resigned seven years ago to work in North Carolina, will return to Florida as the head of the state's public education system.

     Frances Haithcock, 64, will become Florida's chancellor of kindergarten through 12th-grade education on Jan. 1, the state Department of Education said Wednesday.

     "Frances began her educational career in Florida and has a unique understanding of the challenges we face," Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith said in a statement.

     Haithcock joined Broward schools in 1964. She has served as associate superintendent of instruction, north area superintendent and principal at Taravella High in Coral Springs. She was named deputy superintendent of education programs in 1994.

Under her leadership, the district raised graduation requirements, rewrote the curriculum and set specific standards for what students are expected to know in each grade.

     She resigned in 2000 after being passed over for the superintendent post, which went to Frank Till.

     Haithcock accepted a job as associate superintendent for educational services for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district in North Carolina and eventually served as that district's interim superintendent. Most recently, she served as senior director of EXCELerator Schools for The College Board in New York.

     A native of North Carolina, Haithcock received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a master of education degree from Florida Atlantic University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Miami.

     She will replace Cheri Yecke.