Aspire for higher student success with
As a principal in a high school with a large, diverse student population, high parental and community expectations and the constant pressure of high-stakes testing, I understand the challenges of motivating faculty and students. As a career educator and parent, I also understand the value of going beyond the knowledge-based testing to assure our kids are college and career ready. That’s why I want to recommend DECA as a tool that has worked extremely well for me, my faculty and our community. Throughout my more than 25 years as a teacher and administrator, I have advised and supported co-curricula student activities like DECA because of their value in motivating students and engaging parents and the community. The opportunity these activities offer the students to connect with the school while extending the classroom and creating advocates in the community is often the intangible difference between a good school and a great education. DECA has been a part of the co-curricula offerings for over 65 years, serving more than 5,000 high schools in 50 states and nine countries each year. Like all aspects of education, DECA reformed its programs to reflect the changing priorities of education and evolving needs of the global economy, thus best preparing its members to be college and career ready. DECA has done an incredible job by restructuring its learning programs, including competitive events, leadership programs and online challenges, to tie directly to national curriculum standards. DECA has also expanded its curriculum connection beyond marketing and entrepreneurship to include finance, hospitality and management. In addition, DECA has created incredible new partnerships with the business community and colleges and embedded 21st Century Skills like creativity, problem solving, self-direction, social responsibility and technology fluency directly into student programs. Please take a few minutes and review the enclosed DVD and support materials. You will like what you see. If you think DECA is a good fit for your school, meet with your faculty teaching marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and business management and help them establish a chapter.
MEET PAUL WARDINSKI
> 15 years of service as principal > 11 years of service as a teacher > Fairfax County Public Schools Principal of the Year Nominee, 2009 > BETA Administrator of the Year, 2002 > VAME State of Virginia Teacher of the Year, 1996
ABOUT WEST SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
> Grades 9-12 > 2300+ students > 220 faculty and staff
Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about DECA. Watch our short 5-minute DVD that showcases how DECA supports academic achievement and improves the student experience. <www.deca.org/about/
Paul A. Wardinski Principal, West Springfield High School Springfield, Virginia 2 D E C A | WWW. D E C A .O R G
DECA activities are endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.