Superintendents create guide for school goals
By From staff reports
Published in News on January 20, 2015 1:46 PM
School superintendents across the state, including Wayne County Public Schools' interim, Dr. Sandra McCullen, "made history" recently by creating a guide to enhance K-12 education in North Carolina.
At a Jan. 13 gathering at the Raleigh Convention Center, Mrs. McCullen and local superintendents from around the state announced the N.C. "Guide to Strengthening Our Public Schools," which included specific strategies for achieving the goals.
"Local school superintendents in North Carolina made history this week when they stood united to unveil their vision and leadership document on how North Carolina can strengthen its public schools," state Superintendent Dr. June Atkinson said. "I applaud this leadership and support the identified focus areas, especially related to prepared graduates, digital learning, human capital and funding our public schools at a higher level."
While every school district has its own unique challenges and strengths, Mrs. Atkinson said that all public schools will benefit by banding together on behalf of the 1.5 million students in the state.
During the meeting, Dr. Mark Edwards, NCSSA president and superintendent of Mooresville Graded Schools, said the resource represents the shared vision and leadership of all 115 local superintendents who participated in its development.
"This guide is much more than a set of legislative priorities," he said. "This reflects a concerted effort by all N.C. superintendents to outline a long-term vision of where our schools need to go and identify a path to get us there."
Collaboration on the guide took place during the fall and winter of 2014 and was completed in early January. It contains six key student-centered goals for strengthening public education as well as steps superintendents are urging lawmakers and other state leaders to take to accomplish them.
"This guide provides an attainable framework that can transform our state's education system and improve the quality of life for students graduating from North Carolina public schools," Mrs. McCullen said. "I am hopeful that the guide's priorities and long-range goals will be embraced by state leaders, policy makers and the general public, as it will take their collaboration and support to make this education framework a reality for our schools and communities."
The guide will be distributed to lawmakers when the General Assembly long session begins this month.
A copy of the document will also be posted on the district's website, www.waynecountyschools.org.