Welcome Back! I hope you have had a restful yet fun-filled summer vacation. As we prepare for the opening of school, I hope each of you is ready to “teach and learn” together. Keep in mind that “teaching and learning” all begin when a student first steps on a school bus each morning and continues through lunch and ends when the child is returned home. We all participate in “teaching and learning”!
As you may surmise, I am extremely motivated about the coming year. We’ve implemented many positive changes in this school system and as a result are seeing an increase in student enrollment in our schools. But make no mistake about it; our focus at this time is on the heart of our work – “teaching and learning” – and what you can expect for the coming year.
First, I want to thank each of you for all of the accomplishments that we made in the previous year. Your work and dedication to the children of this district was fantastic and we have much to be proud of. The Avoyelles Parish Public School System is an outstanding school system and our communities are a great place to raise a child. Your expertise, compassion, and commitment have been the catalyst for this. To build from where we are, the District Leadership Team and I have set the following strategic goals for the 2009-2010 school year:
- Improving Teacher Quality (Quinpoint)
- Upgrading our School Facilities (QSCB)
- Instilling Public Trust in our System (Public Awareness Campaign)
- Making employee pay competitive with the surrounding parishes
Further, as we plan long-range for the next five years, our focus on teaching and learning and our investment in a comprehensive professional development plan will be built around the following areas:
- Literacy: teaching students how to read, write, listen, speak, and process in all content areas K-12 with integrated differentiation and response to intervention strategies.
- STEM/CTE: with funding through the Rapides Foundation we’ll focus on teaching students the skills, concepts, and connections in science, technology, engineering, and math both within and across content areas K-12.
Additionally, I am committed to improving our working relationship, listening more, and being more responsive to addressing your needs. I HAVE HEARD YOU! As such, I will be instituting the following structures to more effectively empower and support two-way communication:
- Superintendent’s Council: A group that meets monthly to discuss district issues with an open agenda. This group will be composed of teachers and support personnel from each site, business leaders from the community, some will be volunteers, and an administrator or two from my leadership team. The purpose is to openly discuss district issues in a respectful manner, share concerns, and work together to solve them.
- Weekly Walk-Thru's: As part of my weekly instructional visits to schools, I will make time available for school personnel to speak with me when I am in their building to provide for the opportunity to talk with me on any subject that they want. The principals will inform faculty/staff of the dates of my visits and will provide me with an area to meet such as the library or conference room.
- Teacher Involvement: I would like to involve teachers more in the strategic initiatives of the district, increasing teacher participation in School Committee presentations and dialogue. Enhanced teacher involvement is a winner for everyone.
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! I am proud to be the Superintendent of Schools and I know we will continue to increase student achievement because we have the best teachers, staff, and administrators that our industry has to offer working for the Avoyelles Parish Public Schools. Thank you for all that you have done and all that you will do for our students. Together we will all move forward, exceed expectations, and have some fun in the process.