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Interim Prince George's County schools superintendent William R. Hite Jr. knows firsthand the importance of having access to education.

The first in his family to go to college, Hite attributed some of his educational opportunities to his athletic ability — he played football while he attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

Since then, the focus of his career has been creating access to education and opportunity for all children, regardless of their background.

"This is about creating opportunity for students to make decisions about their lives beyond school," said Hite, 47.

Hite, who has been with the school system since June 2006 as deputy superintendent, took over the interim leadership position Dec. 1. Former superintendent John E. Deasy left the school system to work for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on education and world health.

In his interim role, Hite plans to "maintain the work" that the school system has done over the past several years, including expanding access to rigorous programs like Advanced Placement courses, which provide college-level classes to high school students; placing more highly qualified teachers in the county's low-income schools and continuing the overall improvement in academic achievement.

A system review

Hite, who has applied for the permanent superintendent position, said he would spend 90 to 100 days doing a comprehensive assessment of the school system — its programs, curriculum, infrastructure and governance — to make recommendations to the school board, if he is selected.

The school board has said it plans to conduct a search for a permanent superintendent and have the permanent choice in place by July 1. Hite is expected to remain as interim until then.

One proposal Hite plans to make is a "comprehensive look at secondary schooling" in the county. Hite wants school officials to determine what every graduate needs to know and then "backwards map" that to the sixth grade. For example, if a student wanted to become an engineer, the plan would determine what that student needed to do, beginning in the sixth grade, to accomplish the goal.

"I do think we have to begin talking about kids being prepared to enter a different world, which is going to require skill sets beyond the HSA," Hite said, referring to the High School Assessments, mandatory state exams that students must pass before getting their high school diploma, beginning with the class of 2009.

Hite's plans would include programs already set in motion for secondary schools such as the small learning communities — the creation of smaller schools within large high schools, a plan set to begin next year at four county high schools — and the College Summit program, which seeks to create a "college-going" culture in schools.

He also hopes to expand Financial Incentive Rewards for Supervisors and Teachers, a federally funded program that provides bonuses to principals and teachers who improve student performance, to include support staff employees.

Although Hite is determined to continue the work he began during Deasy's tenure, he will have fewer resources than his predecessor. Although the budget for the next fiscal year has not yet been released, the recession and high home foreclosure rate have already taken a toll on the school system's finances. This summer, the school board was forced to cut $14 million from the budget, and earlier this month, approved an additional $15 million in cuts, which has gone to the County Council for approval.

Rather than instituting across-the-board spending cuts, Hite's plan is to focus on a "performance-based budget" in which each item in the budget is assessed based on its return on investment in the form of academic achievement.

From airlines to education

Although he has worked in education for more than 20 years, Hite's career in education began in an unlikely place. After college, he went to work for a small airline in Virginia. His career took a completely different turn when he was asked to be a substitute teacher and football coach at a local high school.

"I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed providing for students' mentoring and coaching, and I thought that this is something that feels natural to me rather than trying to sell travel packages to travel agencies," Hite said.

Hite worked 18 years in Henrico County, Va., public schools, where his jobs included high school teacher, high school principal, middle school principal and director of middle school instruction. Before coming to Prince George's County, Hite served as assistant superintendent of schools in Cobb County, Ga., outside of Atlanta.

Hite met Deasy through a colleague, and the men both attended the Broad Superintendents Academy, a training program for superintendents in large, urban school systems, though not at the same time.

Hite said even before he moved to Prince George's, he had always been interested in the county. Before coming to work here, he saw the county's schools as a "system that could do much better" and an example of the work he wanted to do in education.

As for his future career plans, Hite, a Richmond, Va., native, said he is committed to the county. He said living in Prince George's allows him to be close to his family in Richmond and in the Washington, D.C., area. Hite, who lives in the county, has two children, one in high school and one in college. His wife works for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

School board chairwoman Verjeana M. Jacobs (At-large) expressed support for Hite after Deasy announced his departure, but said the board would take a look at all qualified candidates.

"We're just trying to ensure due diligence," Jacobs said Oct. 30. "We like Dr. Hite. I know there's a lot of support for him. And we recognize that and we agree with the support for him."

Superintendent turnover has plagued the county in the past. Deasy and his predecessor, Andre J. Hornsby, stayed for only about two years each. Since 1991, the county has had six permanent or interim superintendents whose tenure has been four years or less.

Many education activists have urged the school board to find a successor who will remain long term with the school system. Hite said he intends to do just that if selected.

"We are very happy here, and we intend to make this our home, if asked," Hite said.

E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.