A Message From the Superintendent
New Goals for a New School Year! Dr. Barbara Sargent The beginning of every school year creates an opportunity to develop new goals. Of course, our primary commitment is to have a safe, healthy, and uninterrupted 2021-22 school year. The district also has a Strategic Plan that guides our decision-making in the areas of academics, students’ social and emotional experiences, and professional learning. At the September 23rd Board of Education meeting, these key goals were presented and approved for this school year. 1. Our district will create an innovative and rigorous educational experience in a borderless learning community that produces creative students who are problem solvers and self-directed individuals. • Revise and implement new curriculum in Literacy, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. • Continue our support for a 1:1 Chromebook initiative for students in Grades 5-12. • Continue to increase STEM opportunities at all grade levels. • Maintain the expansion of the district Strings program with the goal of providing strings instruction at the middle schools by September 2022. • Nurture the district’s partnership with NJIT with the prospect of expanding our students’ exposure to college-level instruction through additional courses. • Support the Transition Program special education students with work-readiness training. 2. All students will receive social and emotional support to become adaptable, confident citizens who embody selfawareness and strong interpersonal skills, capable of responsible decision-making and managing their emotions and behaviors. 8 l Parsippany Focus Magazine
• Initiate a comprehensive review of SEL and mental health programs for a middle and high school population. • Develop leadership and student voice opportunities at all schools. • Provide the necessary support to welcome all students back to classes in September 2021 and support children’s social-emotional well-being. • Guide all students to be independent learners. • Monitor, review, and revise the new School-Based Therapeutic Program. 3. Our community of adult learners will be fully engaged in professional growth experiences which enable them to continuously hone their craft and maximize student achievement. • Build the professional capacity of adult learners through collaborative and job-embedded professional learning. • Support the Danielson Teacher Evaluation Pilot and identify a single model for implementation district-wide in 2022-23. • Implement District Technology Plan, including providing equity and access to low-income and ESL students. We’re grateful to the many hearts and minds that are working on these exciting initiatives. Teachers, school leaders, and university partners are enriching the school experience for all Parsippany students. Together with our supportive parent community, dedicated staff members, intelligent school leaders, and thoughtful Board of Education members, we are creating an educational experience that produces creative, self-directed, and purposeful students. The full presentation of the 2021-22 District Goals can be viewed at https://www.pthsd.k12.nj.us/
www.parsippanyfocus.news
November 2021
