To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

RALEIGH—Wake County's next superintendent continued introducing himself to the Triangle this weekend, meeting Saturday morning with leaders in the African-American community.

It was Tony Tata's last stop of a three-day tour, meeting with groups and touring schools before beginning the top job in the school system at the end of the month. On Saturday, he repeatedly stressed the importance of diversity.

“What you have with me is someone who absolutely values diversity,” said Tata. “The model for me is that you get the right kind of diversity in your professional and teaching core so you can have the right kind of role models, so these students see that diversity every day in their teachers and in their principals.”

But just having diversity in the school system's staff is not enough for the gathered group of elected, religious, and education leaders.

“We want to mix the staff, but let's not forget to mix the students too,” said Mary Yarborough, former Wake County teacher. “When you change diversity among students, it's a known fact we will go back to where we were 50 to 100 years ago. You cannot change diversity among students and have a good school setting.”

Tata's message on Saturday to the predominantly minority crowd at times differed from his message to other groups in the previous couple of days. Some feel Saturday's message was purposely constructed for the group.

“I think this message was certainly a different message and was catered to this group, as I'm sure he crafted his remarks to other groups,” said School Board Member Keith Sutton, who organized the community meeting.

In closing Saturday, Tata reiterated he will listen to all viewpoints, research data on student assignment and achievement, and make his own decisions, independent from the school board majority who hired him.

His first day as Wake County superintendent will be Jan. 31.