The 2008/2009 school year is off to a great start. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to serve as Superintendent for the last year, and appreciate all of the support I have received from parents, faculty, staff and the community.
During the past year we, along with our School Board and the Alliance for World Class Education, developed a long-range
Strategic Plan that will govern the work of our school district during the next four years. It spells out the board's vision, mission, core beliefs and commitments. It also details six goals and specific measurable strategies to reach them. During the development process of the plan, the community was heavily involved, which will be very important in the future as we work with the public to help us reach our goals.
Last month, our district was approved to receive full
district accreditation by the Quality Assurance Review Team from the AdvancED/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This is a major accomplishment for Duval County Public Schools. In the past, all of our schools were individually accredited. District accreditation validates how well all the parts of our education system – the district, school and classroom – work together to meet the needs of our students. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teachers, administration, parents and district staff. Our School Board also deserves credit for helping to create a climate of respect, and for keeping our focus on academic achievement.
This year, we have put a greater emphasis on more effectively supporting our 31 Turnaround Schools, which are those schools that received a state school grade designation of F as measured by the FCAT, or whose school performance has dropped dramatically in one or more targeted areas during the previous school year. We will continue to provide additional resources and professional development opportunities to these schools so they are guided on the path toward long-term success.
It has been a great first year as Superintendent. I am blessed to work with wonderful teachers, administrators, faculty and district staff, as well as students who all have tremendous potential. What we need to focus on now is making sure we are integrating our curriculum effectively and engaging the public to help us, as well as joining together to make sure our strategic plan is a truly operational plan that meets the goals and aspirations of this community.
Thank you for supporting Duval County Public Schools.
