The Superintendent's Welcome Address

(September 4, 2007--Riverhead, NY) THANK YOU, MRS. GASSERT AND ALL OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEES. YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS DISTRICT AND LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN APPARENT TO ME FROM OUR FIRST MEETING IN MARCH, 2007. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH RIVERHEAD’S MOST IMPORTANT TREASURE, ITS CHILDREN. I HAVE ACCEPTED THIS SUPERINTENDENCY RECOGNIZING THAT ATTACHED TO THIS POSITION IS A SACRED TRUST. I COMMIT TO YOU AND TO THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, TO WORK TIRELESSLY ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN AND ALWAYS WITH THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR MANY YEARS TO COME AND HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS THE “TEAM OF 8”! THANK YOU!

I HAVE ASKED THAT OUR ENTIRE STAFF ASSEMBLE HERE TODAY FOR, EVERYONE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS AUDIENCE, IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS SACRED TRUST. FROM OUR BUS DRIVERS AND MECHANICS WHO ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE PROTECTED TRAVEL OF OUR YOUNGSTERS, TO OUR SECURITY WHO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, OUR CLERICAL STAFF WHO, AS WE ALL KNOW, ARE THE WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS, TO OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF WHO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, TO OUR MONITORS, AIDES, AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS WHO SUPPLY OUR YOUNGSTERS AND TEACHERS WITH AN UNENDING LIST OF SERVICES, TO OUR CAFETERIA STAFF WHO NOURISH OUR CHILDREN AND TO OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A MOST AWESOME TASK, THE FUTURE OF AMERICA; THE EDUCATION OUR CHILDREN.

EACH ONE OF US PLAYS A PART IN THIS EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. WHETHER OUR JOB IS DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOM, OR PROVIDING A SUPPORT SERVICE THAT ENABLES OUR CLASSROOMS TO HUM WITH THE SPINNNING OF INTELLECTUAL GROWTH, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP, AND SOCIAL AWARENESS, WE ARE ALL, EACH ONE OF US, IMPORTANT TO PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

THESE PAST TWO MONTHS, I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SO MANY OF YOU. I AM TRULY AMAZED THAT NEARLY 400 STAFF MEMBERS CAME IN FOR BAGELS AND CONVERSATION. THESE WERE VERY WORTHWHILE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID IT GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH ME THE MANY POSITIVE ELEMENTS OF THE DISTRICT BUT IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, YOUR NEEDS, AND YOUR DREAMS. DURING THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL AS SO MANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS, I HAVE SPOKEN TO TEACHERS WHO GO WELL BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY TO GIVE THEIR STUDENTS EXTRA HELP, WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE TRULY PART OF THE NOBLEST PROFESSION OF THEM ALL. I HAVE TALKED TO CUSTODIANS WHO TAKE PRIDE IN KEEPING THE SCHOOLS IN THE KIND OF SHAPE (AND I QUOTE) THAT WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY OWN KIDS. I HAVE WITNESSED SECRETARIES WHO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP A PARENT, A STUDENT, (AND YES, THE SUPERINTENDENT) EVEN WHEN THEY ARE BUSY WITH THEIR IMPORTANT WORK. YES, IT IS VERY CLEAR I AM WORKING WITH A SPECIAL STAFF; A DEDICATED AND CARING GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS.

AS WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER, I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE RIDE THE BLUE WAVE TO CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS… REGARDLESS OF WHERE OUR STUDENTS COME FROM, REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, REGARDLESS OF THE WEALTH OR POVERTY OF THEIR FAMILY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE FROM A SINGLE PARENT OR TWO PARENT FAMILY, REGARDLESS IF THEY WERE BORN IN AMERICA OR HAVE RECENTLY IMMIGRATED…OUR SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, NOT A SEGMENT OF THE YOUNGSTERS WE SERVE, BUT EVERY INDIVIDUAL CHILD. WE ARE SUCCESSFUL WHEN OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, ATHLETICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. A TALL ORDER, SOME MIGHT SAY, BUT CERTAINLY AN ADMIRABLE GOAL THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED.

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, AS PROFESSIONALS WE REALIZE THAT TEACHING HAS EVOLVED FROM AN ART TO A SCIENCE. THEREFORE, WE MUST EXAMINE RECENT AND SOME TRIED AND TRUE RESEARCH TO GUIDE OUR DECISIONS.

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS RESEARCH HAS 11 SIGNIFICANT ELEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL. DON’T WORRY…I AM NOT GOING THROUGH ALL OF THEM BUT I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON THREE AS PART OF OUR MOVEMENT TO RIDE THE BLUE WAVE TO SUCCESS….

#1 ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN DETERMINED AS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS GREAT. LEADERS THAT HAVE VISION, GOALS, AND SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THEIR TIME IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESS, ARE CHARACTERISTICS ATTRIBUTED TO EFFECTIVE LEADERS. OUR ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND DIRECTORS, HAVE IMMERSED THEMSELVES IN HONING THEIR LEADERSHIP AND INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS. WE HAVE SPENT TWO INTENSIVE DAYS, ON SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING AND SUPPORTING THE DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION. I AM IMPRESSED WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT, HONESTY, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AS WE EXPECT ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONALS TO BE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR GROWTH, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL BE CONTINUE TO PARTAKE IN INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

A SECOND ELEMENT OF THE EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS RESEARCH IS TEACHER AND STAFF EFFECTIVENESS. IN JAMES STRONG BOOK, QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, HE STATES THAT “SIMPLY PUT, TEACHER SUCCESS EQUALS STUDENT SUCCESS. THE ONE CLEAR ABIDING HALLMARK OF EFFECTIVE TEACHING IS STUDENT LEARNING …… NOTHING; ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS HAPPENED IN EDUCATION UNTIL IT HAS HAPPENED TO A STUDENT.”

HE ASSERTS THAT EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, AND FOR THAT MATTER EVERYONE WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH OUR CHILDREN-- THE STAFF THAT INSTILL CONFIDENCE AND CREATIVITY IN ALL STUDENTS, CULTIVATE EACH CHILD’S ABILITY TO PERSIST, CONCENTRATE, AND HAVE A DESIRE TO LEARN, AND LOVE AND CARE FOR EVERY CHILD, EVEN THE HARD TO LOVE, THESE ARE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. HE CONTINUES BY STATING THAT THOSE TEACHERS, WHO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS, ARE TRULY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS. AS AN EXAMPLE, YOUR WORK THROUGH THE TEACHERS’ COLLEGE INITIATIVE THIS SUMMER (and, yes, it is here to stay!) IS A TESTAMENT TO THE KIND OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR QUEST FOR SUCCESS. AS WE WORK TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS, WE WILL CREATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT ADDRESSES YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP RICH AND WORKABLE CURRICULA, AND COOPERATIVELY BUILD COLLABORATIVE TEAMS IN EACH SCHOOL. CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AMONG ALL OF US WILL BE ESSENTIAL.THEREFORE, I WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH YOU IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR CLASSROOMS, IN OUR OFFICES, SO THAT THROUGH OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, A COMMON SET OF STRATEGIES WILL EMERGE THAT WILL GUARANTEE SUCCESS FOR ALL CHILDREN.

LET THERE BE NO DOUBT, “THE SINGLE GREATEST DETERMINANT OF LEARNING IS NOT SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS OR FUNDING LEVEL.
IT IS INSTRUCTION.”

LASTLY, IS THE NEED FOR SHORT AND LONG RANGE PLANNING. AS PROFESSIONALS, WE NEED TO EXAMINE OUR DATA, SEE WHERE WE ARE, DETERMINE WHERE WE WANT TO GO, UTILIZE A DISTRICT PLAN FOCUSED ON OUR GOALS, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE.

TO BEGIN THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE TWO PRIMARY GOALS—

THE FIRST IS TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. I HAVE ASKED OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO WORK WITH YOU, SIDE BY SIDE, TO DEVELOP OBJECTIVES FOR EVERY GRADE LEVEL AND SUBJECT AREA THAT WILL BE OUR BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS.

OUR SECOND GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF OUR DISTRICT AND SCHOOLS.

OUR BEST PLAN IS SITTING IN THIS AUDITORIUM-- BEFORE ME ARE 1,000 AMBASSADORS OF GOOD WILL…EACH WORD WE SAY ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, EACH ACTION WE ENGAGE IN, REFLECTS WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE ABOUT AND SPEAKS TO WHERE OUR CHILDREN LEARN…..WE MUST TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, AND LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW, HOW GOOD WE REALLY ARE…..

IN CLOSING, I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IF WE CHOOSE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM,.. WITH OUR CHILDREN AT THE CENTER OF OUR DECISIONS, WE WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE…AND RIDE THE BLUE WAVE TO SUCCESS…………

WE ARE BEGINNING THIS YEAR WITH A MISSION, CREATED BY A COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THIS STATEMENT ENCOMPASSES OUR PURPOSE, OUR BUSINESS, AND OUR VALUES.

IT IS THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS….

THE MISSION OF THE RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH IS TO INSPIRE AND ACADEMICALLY EMPOWER ALL STUDENTS TO BECOME TOMORROW’S LEADERS BY:

DEVELOPING THEIR UNIQUE GIFTS AND POTENTIAL;
PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS INTEGRITY, CREATIVITY, AND RESPECT;

AND,

ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS BECOME SUCCESSFUL, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS IN A GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

I INVITE ALL OF YOU DREAMERS TO JOIN US, AS A TEAM, IN SHAKING THE NATION…..FOR TOGETHER, WE CAN AND WE WILL, CATCH THE BLUE WAVE TO SUCCESS, FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU

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