May Newsletter from the Superintendent
What Skills are Necessary?

I recall reading an article in Education Week some time ago that addressed an important question. What should schools be doing to prepare our students for post-secondary education, the military or the work force? According to the research cited by authors in the article, employers and college personnel share similar opinions about what knowledge and skills are necessary for success. In general, both felt that some form of college preparatory course of study for high school students was a good ticket.

In the job market, we are going to be needing 20-30% more students for careers in Science, Technology and Engineering, so Math and Science are key courses for college preparedness. Our schools must be preparing our students for post-secondary education. In the New Prague Area Schools, we are creating higher expectations for our children as we prepare them for careers that don't exist today. As a system we a placing great emphasis on recruiting exceptional teachers to our district. Putting excellent educators in the classroom significantly improves student achievement.

Aside from academic prowess, other skills were also viewed as crucial to success in a college or career. Researchers reported employers value qualities such as problem-solving abilities, analytical proficiency, and inter-personal savvy in their employees. Is anything else needed for success in college or in a career? Well, in addition to academic skills, good work habits are critical. These habits include showing up to work on time, being reliable, trustworthy, presentable, and communicative.

A wise college professor once suggested to me that there is a difference between schooling and education. Schooling is the teaching and learning that takes place in school. Education is the teaching and learning that takes place not only in school, but also in life. In particular, personal qualities for success - e.g., a positive work ethic, ability to work with others, punctuality, honesty, etc. - are taught not only by schools but also by families, churches, various agencies, and others in the community. In other words, a collaborative effort is vital for the current and future success of our students.

Teacher Appreciation Week

The week of May 3-9 was National Teacher Appreciation Week. I want to publicly thank our outstanding staff for the work they do with our students on a daily basis. I want to encourage all of you to take a moment to thank a teacher for the wonderful things they do for the sake of our future - our students.

Reflections on My First Year

As I near the end of my first year as your Superintendent of Schools, it has been an honor to lead this system and I cherish the opportunity to hold the position. Even though we are in challenging times in public education, I remain passionate and enthusiastic about our district and my job is to continue to inspire hope. I can best do that by focusing on the positive, leading our system from good to great. I believe our work is vital and honorable as we prepare the next generation of Americans to lead our world.