By Scot A. Graden, CIO Advisor
I have been reading and viewing a great deal about the state of public education over the last several months. It is not a pretty picture; however, there is a reality that does not seem to be discussed. As educators we want to improve our schools. In my district, we are focused on building a strong foundation by implementing new research findings related to literacy. We are investigating how mobile technology and blended learning can revolutionize students’ school experience. We are building partnerships with businesses, foundations, and local higher education institutions. In the face of cutbacks and limited resources we are focused on making the district a place where our staff love to work and our students love to learn.
As we pursue these goals one thing is clear—we can’t do it alone. We need the support of the community. We know that strengthening the relationship between our community and our school will result in increased student success. As the school year winds down, I strongly encourage you to engage. Many of us are feeling the wear of the school year, but now is the time to reach out to a colleague, a parent, a principal. Now is a great time to think critically about how your initiatives worked for the current year. Working together, we can help each student reach his or her full potential.
Scot Graden is superintendent of Saline Area Schools in southeast Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @SuperScot
