When I started this year as your new Superintendent, I
shared that I would be spending my first months, Listening, Learning,
Communicating, Planning and Collaborating with stakeholders throughout the
community. I have done just that. I have spoken individually to
over 100 stakeholders; visited every campus and classroom; attended
professional development, leadership meetings, and family events; met with
students, family members, and members of our community. While each person
had his or her personal experience and opinions, a consistent pattern emerged
from what I heard and learned.
Across the various stakeholder groups there was a strong belief that:
1) Union Elementary
School District is on the right track
2) The district provides many supports and
collaborates to help others succeed
3) Positive Behavior Intervention and Support is
helping improve student behaviors
4) Leadership is strong and supportive
5) Curriculum maps are a good tool and refinements
keep making them stronger
6) We value the small community with welcome feel
What I hear we need to continue to improve upon was:
1) We need increased
academic expectations for all of our students
2) Retain high quality staff
3) We need new/refreshed materials for Science, SS, Writing,
Math, Literacy
4) Professional development is great; AND we still
need time to prepare and plan
5) Provide more support for handling behaviorally
challenging students
6) Retain our students
7) Improve Communication
What I did not hear was:
• Concern about overall
direction
• Understanding of our
shared mission, vision, goals, strategic plan
• Celebrations about
students making growth or high achievement
So
what’s happening to move us forward?
Currently…
• Schools aligned their
School Integrated Action Plans (IAP) to District-wide goals.
• Monitoring student
progress and IAP implementation at quarterly benchmarks
• Continuing PBIS
implementation with focus on Tier 2 and 3 interventions.
• Examining Special
Education service model and designing plan to increase student achievement
Soon…
• In January, begin
2020-2025 strategic planning process with stakeholders to bring District into
alignment with shared vision, mission, goals with focus on students and student
needs
• Use strategic planning
process to put students into the center of conversations and design the system
to get the outcomes our students need and community desires
• Build out robust
communication strategy
• Seek additional
competitive grant funds to supplement programs and supports
In Closing…
Thank you for the important part you play in the Union
community, for your dedication, and for helping us create the conditions to
help our students learn each day, so that ultimately our students will succeed
both academically and behaviorally. Achievement today for an exceptional
tomorrow!
I look forward to engaging with you further in the creation
of our 2025 vision for students and encourage your participation. Should you
have any input or questions about what I have shared, please feel free to reach
out to me. Have a wonderful Holiday Season, Merry Christmas, and a Joyous New
Year.
Warm Regards,
Ms. Morris