Finishing the job
PUSD Superintendent vows to act quickly and be accountable in implementing reforms
By Edwin Diaz 08/28/2008
Every Pasadena Unified School District student we have the privilege to teach has the potential — defined as “a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed” — to achieve academic success, regardless of background or circumstances. Our call as educators, parents, civic leaders and citizens is to ensure that each student receives the instruction, support and resources needed to realize that potential. We are to feed their intellectual curiosity, encourage critical thinking, develop innate artistic, athletic and cerebral capabilities, build their technical skills, and prepare them for the 21st-century workforce.
PUSD has tremendous potential to transcend the challenges facing urban public schools nationwide. Examples of instructional excellence and stellar student achievement exist throughout our district. With the rich business, educational and cultural assets of the community, energy and expertise of our leadership team, and pace of academic improvement, PUSD students are uniquely positioned to lead the state’s academic progress. In 2008, we must galvanize our educational, human and community resources to convert that potential into reality.
There are schools that have mastered best practices in sustaining high levels of student achievement, closing achievement gaps among students or jumpstarting lagging performances. Our challenge now is scaling up the excellence that now occurs at certain schools, in certain instructional areas or among certain students, and replicating it at all schools — to accelerate improvement for all students.
Principals have been evaluating students’ scores to identify areas to celebrate or correct. They are developing and sharing strategies to improve performance among all students, while decreasing disparities between individual students, grades and schools.
We are also implementing several initiatives designed to boost middle and high school student achievement. John Muir High School students will now attend one of four career-themed academies: Media, Arts and Entertainment, Engineering and Environmental Science, Business and Entrepreneurship and the Freshman Success Academy. Muir teachers recently completed a summer training institute on strategies and best instruction practices, incorporating career and technical education into a college-prep curriculum built on teamwork and collaboration.
PUSD’s three stand-alone middle schools will begin implementing reforms to support and engage sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. Students will attend classes on block schedules that increase their time in core academic classes, while offering more enrichment and electives. The College and Career Initiative, sponsored by community higher education and business leaders, is developing a district-wide approach to better prepare secondary students for success.
As we improve education programs, the new Office of Child Welfare, Attendance and Safety will also work to reduce drop-outs, expand alternative educational opportunities for struggling students and launch a truancy reduction program.
While our primary focus is instructional improvement, we will also support student learning by investing in our infrastructure. The bond proposal on the November ballot is an important component of our overall plan to improve the educational experience at all schools. The bond will provide sorely needed funding to ensure a safe, orderly environment on our campuses, provide facilities and technology to support instruction, enhance opportunities for kids to participate in activities and expand opportunities to share facilities with civic and community partners.
This year, I hope to strengthen connections with families and engage the broader community in support of our students. Many offices have been relocated to provide enhanced access, privacy and a more inviting atmosphere for families, community members and staff.
Although I am excited about the changes underway, I realize PUSD has introduced numerous initiatives in the past, with varying success. Implementation and accountability are critical to ensure that we finish what we’ve started. Throughout the organization, expectations will be established, performances evaluated and individuals held accountable for results.
Our to-do list is long, but it is critical that we maintain momentum in all of these areas to ensure a high-quality educational experience for every student. We must adopt an attitude of urgency to capitalize on the unique opportunities that exist right now, because the risk of losing another class of students is too high, while the reward of changing even one child’s future is too great.
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