Note to the Chesterfield Schools Community

Recently the Chesterfield Observer contacted me about an article they decided to write regarding inappropriate student behavior at dances. I want to share with you the statement I sent the Chesterfield Observer for inclusion in their article:

“I am very disturbed by the inappropriate behavior of some of our students, and we are taking further actions to promote proper behavior and decorum at all school activities. My staff discussed with you in a number of previous conversations that our schools have been facing this issue for the past several years, as have many other school divisions across the country. As mentioned earlier this month, I have directed our principals to put together a new plan to address inappropriate student behavior at dances. We must work in partnership with the community in an effort to offset some of the negative influences of this generation’s entertainment world on our students. Schools are a reflection of our society and the communities we serve, but the type of dancing reported at some of our schools will not be tolerated. It is inappropriate and goes against the core values for which this school division and community stand. We will continue to work to ensure that this type of behavior does not cast a negative perception of the great majority of students whose behavior is acceptable.”

Thank you to the Chesterfield Schools Community

I would like to share with you a brief statement I released last week after the Chesterfield County School Board unanimously approved my new four-year contract. I was not able to attend the School Board meeting as I was in Lynchburg last week participating in the Virginia Association of School Superintendent’s legislative conference where I serve as the co-chair.

It is truly an honor to work with such a dedicated school board and the many talented team members of Chesterfield schools. I am proud of the accomplishments of our students, teachers and school system employees, and the support of our parents and the community. This long-term commitment by our School Board will ensure stability and continuous progress of our collaborative work over the next four years.

To view a copy of my statement, please visit http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/superintendent/files/statement.pdf.

Professional development for CCPS staff

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has written an article about our PD 360 Professional Development On-Demand program, which gives teachers and staff members the flexibility to take classes at times that are convenient to them, and they can access the system from school or home. Take a moment to review the article for more information about our ongoing professional development opportunities.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/chesterfield.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-06-0015.html

Educating a Diverse Community

The increasing needs of a changing student enrollment provide us with the challenge of continually adapting our educational environment to best serve all students. Our strategic plan for continuous improvement, known as The Design for Excellence, is built to meet that challenge and support academic excellence for all students. As part of our initiative to provide opportunities for all students in Chesterfield, last week Chesterfield County Public Schools Board members held a public engagement session inviting the public to participate in a conversation about educating a diverse community of learners. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has written an article about the session, providing insight about our efforts from our School Board Chair Dianne Pettitt, as well as opinions and suggestions from others who attended.

I invite you to review this article to learn more about our objectives:http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-30-0097.html You can also view the new "Educating a Diverse Community" publication posted on our web site: http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/news/files/Educating%20a%20Diverse%20Community.pdf