Articles by the Superintendent

What does student success look like?  From our own school experience, most of us understand and remember the feeling of satisfaction that accompanies an “A” or the disappointment and lump in our throat when a dreaded “F” is revealed on our completed assignment. Grades are a mainstay of American public schools. Classroom grades help identify student growth and performance over time in a given subject area. Report cards communicate a student’s academic progress and performance based on descriptions of state curriculum standards. While report cards have long served as the primary measure of student progress, growing research reminds us that education encompasses the development of the whole child.

Foundational experiences are among the key building blocks of success in life. Similar to building a house, the type and strength of the foundation can significantly influence our future. My nine-year-old grandson’s enthusiasm for golf camp this summer has prompted me to reflect on my own journey and some of the summertime experiences that were far more significant to my future than I could have ever realized while living them.

In our modern era of instantaneous information sharing and increasingly questionable news sources, it can be challenging to distinguish between the true and the fabricated. As humans, we are often drawn to the more sensational headlines that grab our attention. Public schools can be a common subject of sensationalism in the news and on social media. While I cannot speak for or defend every school system in our nation or our state, I can help to shed some light on common misconceptions related to Whitfield County Schools and other districts in our area. 

For better or worse, our society has changed in ways we could have never predicted before the COVID-19 pandemic. One negative change in schools is a diminished perception of the importance of regular attendance and punctuality to student growth and achievement. Chronic absenteeism is a growing concern nationwide. Unfortunately, our community is not immune. While some absences due to illness or family emergencies are unavoidable, students often miss school for preventable reasons. Whether it’s a late start to the morning, a family trip, or a pattern of disengagement, each missed day significantly impacts a student’s learning.

Smartphones and social media are significant components of our daily lives. While technology offers incredible benefits such as instant communication, access to information, and educational resources, it also presents challenges that parents and educators must navigate carefully. In schools, we see firsthand the advantages and concerns that are the natural results of engagement with these tools.