|
|
by
Anthony Amato |
June
6, 2007 |
Year-End
Wrap-Up from Head of Schools
An 89.04 percent graduation rate is just one
of many positive strides this year
It’s
amazing how quickly summer is approaching and to see the school
year come to an end. I remember the first day I began my journey
here in Kansas City. I could see from my office window how the
city was thriving and booming. I remember meeting all the new
teachers and students, knowing that each of us appeared to be
filled with excitement and nervousness.
The new Sprint Arena complex, one of the many construction projects
“rising from the ground” forming what will be the
city’s new landscape, is and will be a stunning addition
to our downtown. I enjoy watching change and positive growth;
however it was creating traffic challenges for “me”
the new guy in town. Once, I found a route to my new office,
I found myself having to find a new one. Life in this new city
was just taking shape – like the changes in the District.
Little did I know that while I was working at building the foundation
of my new team, the Sprint complex was taking shape at about
the same pace. Each day that I hired a new executive member,
instituted a new program or gathered test results, I would look
out my window and marvel at the speed and ease it seem to take
for one or more cranes to place a metal beam or put in a window.
This constant view reminds me of the amount of time, energy
and care one takes when constructing a strong foundation.
Our District has much to be proud of – such as many of
our students who are graduating from high school and beginning
a new chapter in their lives. I commend our teachers, students,
and administration for such a productive school year. The initiatives
that were presented at the beginning of the school year were
new and unfamiliar, but our teachers, students, and staff rolled
up their sleeves and dove right in. The results have been remarkable:
• Since implementing Success For All (SFA) program, grades
PreK-8, currently, 47 percent of students are reading at or
above grade level – meaning we have surpassed our goal.
• We set out to increase in the graduation rate by implementing
a program called Save Our Seniors. The goal for this year was
to ensure no less than 78 percent of all seniors graduated.
This year we succeed and 89.04 percent of all seniors attending
school graduated.
• The PITSCO Synergistic Science Labs have been implemented
in all high schools for Ninth grade.
Along with the many achievements we have made thus far, the
District has also dealt with a lot of "hot issues"
that have been depicted in the local media. It is crucial that
we recognize the importance of coming together to serve our
students – our future leaders. I remind our community
that we have the job of being positive representatives of the
District. This entails our representatives to spread the word
about all the good work that has and is going on throughout
our schools. Although we do not always have the opportunity
to share such good news I wanted to end this school years column
by sharing some of the impressive efforts made by both students
and staff.
I had the pleasure of attending McCoy’s Safe School Celebration
in May where students raised over $1,800 to purchase 21 signs
that have been posted at a variety of locations within 2000
feet of McCoy School. Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Kansas City
Police Chief James Corwin, Kansas City Crime Commission Barry
Mayer, and our own Director of Security were on hand to praise
our students for their hard work.
I recently awarded three Excellence Fund Grants to teachers
from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, R.J. Delano Elementary
School, and Chick African Centered Elementary Shule for their
innovative ideas to keep our students engaged in their learning
process. These grants are paramount to the success of our students
and focuses on academic achievement. There is so much more to
share and I encourage all of you to visit the district Web site
and see what is happening daily.
I hope you have a wonderful summer and I encourage parents to
enroll students in the summer program, Adventures in Literacy
and Learning. It’s a perfect opportunity for students
to keep their minds active and engaged prior to the new school
year. Our summer term runs from June 18 through July 20, 2007.
I thank this community for giving me the opportunity to serve
students and I look forward to another exciting school year.
Amato’s
Corner is a biweekly feature in The Northeast News by Superintendent
Anthony Amato, with insightful information and analysis of education
trends and new programs in the Kansas City, Mo. School District.
We want your feedback. Please feel free to contact our public
information professionals with any questions regarding Kansas
City, Mo. schools and our ongoing endeavor to provide students
the highest quality education possible.
