Superintendent’s Corner
This month
marks a significant week: American Education Week from November 12 – 18. The
theme this year – Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility - is particularly
relevant to me and I hope to all who read this letter. Great public school
systems don’t exist without significant effort and collaboration. Great public
school systems, like the one your children attend here in Brevard County,
require a commitment from a wide range of individuals, including students, parents,
teachers, administrators, staff, Board Members, community partners, business
partners, and volunteers. Working together to make our public schools excellent
is an endless but exciting task.
Right now
is the most exciting time for your son or daughter to be a student at one of
Brevard’s schools. Our Facilities Department is in the midst of a significant $890
million seven-year plan that includes the construction of new schools, upgrades
and renovations to all of our older buildings, and the addition of special facilities
such as theaters, sports complexes, and new classrooms. The district’s
Educational Technology department is rapidly changing our schools – both new
and old – into information-driven environments that utilize the latest
technologies. The district’s curriculum is rich with options including choice
schools at the elementary level, a wide range of career-oriented programs
throughout the district, and numerous dual enrollment program options that let
students earn college credit while still in public school. Best of all, your
children are being educated by a dedicated, highly professional team of 5,000 great
teachers.
This district
is intent on giving our students the necessary skills for them to be as
successful as possible when they leave our public school system. When students
leave high school they need a solid foundation in the areas of academic,
social, and workplace skills needed for the next step in their lives. We want
to ensure that every student will graduate from high school prepared to enter
and be successful in the workplace, in further career education, and/or in
postsecondary degree opportunities. That is why the Brevard School Board is
committed, as am I, to creating Secondary Schools of National Prominence (SSNP)
in Brevard. The process to create SSNP has been established as a priority goal in
our district and is currently well under way.
As we
approach American Education Week, I encourage you to acknowledge some of the
special days during that week.
·
Tuesday, November 14: Invite
Parents to School Day.
I would like to encourage parents to spend part of the day on November 14
visiting their children at their respective schools. Someone asked me recently
what advice I would give to parents to help their children succeed in today’s
educational environment. I said, “Make education an important value in your
home.” It’s a proven fact that children whose parents are involved in their
child’s education are more successful students. Get involved in your child’s
school life. Visit the school they attend. Experience their school day
environment. Meet their teachers and school staff members. See who their
classmates are. I guarantee you will enjoy the time you spend and your child
will appreciate your interest.
·
Wednesday, November 15: Education
Support Professionals Day. We know that teachers play extremely important roles in students’
educational success. But on this day, take a minute to thank or recognize all
the support professionals that also make an important contribution to students’
educational environment. Such support professionals include secretaries,
maintenance employees, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, crossing guards, and
others who provide invaluable services to schools and students.
·
Friday, November 17: Teachers are our greatest asset.
Take a few minutes and write your child’s teacher(s) a note of thanks. What a
wonderful way to end American Education Week and it cost you nothing to
implement.
Brevard Public
Schools is a system that I am extremely proud to lead. I hope you feel a sense
of pride and responsibility in helping Brevard Public Schools continue on its
track of excellence. This system is not just poised to be First in