Michele D. Evans-Gardell, Ph.D., Superintendent
Updated 10/29/07
Welcome to the Canton City School District
Our district is faced with many wonderful opportunities this year. Thanks to Senator Kirk Schuring, we have been involved with the Auditor of State’s Office in a performance audit process. We have had a team of auditors in our district since August looking at every aspect of our district and validating some of the things we are doing and making recommendations in other areas of ways we can be more efficient and effective. This process is on-going and we have the opportunity to implement recommendations along the way.
Some of you may recall that last spring, our Board of Education asked the administration to reduce expenditures and to begin with the reduction of central office administration. Before I officially took office in July, the Board empowered me as the incoming superintendent, to implement a restructuring plan for central office in order to reduce the number of administrators and to operate more efficiently. We did so and our reductions were validated recently through the performance audit. We are operating with fewer central office administrators than our peer districts. The team which remains at central office is tremendous. They are outstanding educators with a desire to support and serve our buildings and district. Although there are fewer of us, I believe we will be more efficient and effective in supporting and improving instruction and relationships in our district.
As Superintendent, I have three major goals:
1) Increase student achievement;
2) Increase the graduation rate;
3) Be the first urban district to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP/federal accountability system) AND reach a state rating of “Effective.”
While we are proud of achieving a state rating of “Continuous Improvement” (only five of the eight urban districts are rated in “Continuous Improvement”), we know our student achievement is not where we would like to see it. We are committed to examining, discussing and moving forward in improving instruction for all of our students. We have a great advantage in this work with our on-going affiliation with Harvard University. A district/community team returned to Harvard this past summer to continue the discussion. Our teachers’ union and our administration look forward to moving this work forward and will do so with the support of a large community committee which has helped us examine and define what a twenty-first century education looks like for the current and future students of the Canton City Schools. We are also pleased to be one of seven districts selected in the state to work with Dr. Richard Elmore, Harvard professor, in implementing a model for looking at classroom instruction based upon how doctors look at patients during medical rounds. This is exciting work and we were honored to be informed recently of our acceptance into this project.
Although our graduation rate has been a strength of the district, we are not satisfied that approximately 25% of our students are not graduating. With the assistance of a working team of district personnel and community members, we are examining barriers to graduating and how the district and community can respond to eliminate these barriers for our students and future Canton citizens. In order for our city to prosper, we must supply an educated workforce.
I believe we can and will meet federal achievement goals (Adequate Yearly Progress) and I believe we can be the first urban district to be rated as “Effective.” With the belief that we can and will improve instruction and achievement for ever student, every day in every classroom, I believe we WILL make a difference in the lives of our students and in the future of our community. Thank you for your on-going support, encouragement and feedback as we move our district and our city forward.
Sincerely,
Michele D. Evans-Gardell, Ph.D.
