Superintendent
A Letter from the Superintendent
While much in our quickly changing world is still coming into focus, one thing is certain: we are preparing the first 21st Century Generation.
Given this daunting task, I've challenged our staff to consider how they might increase efficiencies in their work and use technology to ramp up instruction.
At the classroom level, innovative programs like X-Track and C-Train demonstrate new ways of engaging students in learning that is both relevant to their lives and intrinsically rewarding. In every corner of our district is a teacher who knows how to reach even the most challenging student.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a moving picture must be worth ten thousand. To share what success looks like, administrators will be visiting classrooms throughout the year toting nifty Flip video cameras to capture the best instruction in action.
At a district-wide level, efficiencies of scale in staffing and transportation at South Education Center inform how we might make better use of resources in the north area of our district. Against a backdrop of economic conditions that requires belt-tightening measures, the North Area Facilities Study analyzes our use of space and future enrollment projections. While enrollment projections vary by district and student need, we know projections for special education services continue to rise.
Thankfully, we have a strategic plan to prioritize our work. This roadmap recognizes that changing needs require changing systems of communication, measurement and service.
As we implement the plan, we have identified three pilot districts to begin the process of establishing "Conditions of Satisfaction." These Conditions help us tailor our services, guide our service delivery and accurately measure our ability to deliver. The pilots will serve as a model for scaling up the work to other member districts.
At a regional level, I'm personally looking forward to putting efficiencies of scale to work with our 13 member superintendents by mining the "brain trust" of this talented group. Our collective goal will be to find regional approaches to address shared challenges such as student mobility and the mental health needs of children. By approaching these issues together we will take a big step toward realizing two realities: the differences among the member districts and the power of them working together.
With an impressive list of accomplishments serving as examples, setting priorities and sharpening our focus, we are certain to make strides. Let's make this year's journey remarkable.
Sandra Lewandowski
Superintendent