Superintendent Focus

To:  North Branford Public School Employees 

From:   Scott Schoonmaker, Superintendent of Schools 

Date: September 3, 2009  

Congratulations to our new employees and welcome to the
North Branford School District.
It is with great pride that we extend our best wishes for a long
and successful teaching experience.
I must say that my first 7 months have been a true test as the
winter weather; the economy and swine flu have thrown curve
balls that we never could have prepared for.
These unprecedented times have created challenges in the
educational field.
A 1% budget increase from last year forced us to make hard
decisions and sacrifices that demanded a great deal of
cooperation and team work.
Without a doubt, we are operating in a period of diminished
resources, high accountability and the pressure to continually
improve upon student achievement.
With your help, we have not only survived but have made great
strides in a short period of time.
As the video repeated over and over – “we have work to do.”
We are being held accountable for each and every student that
enters our school building each and every day.

No Child Left Behind and Scientific Research Based
Intervention (RtI) are charging educators with ensuring that
students are provided with high quality instruction and
instruction matched to each student’s need, and then frequently
monitoring to adjust, revise and inform instruction.
Our ability to differentiate to meet the needs of all students will
continue to be our primary focus as we move forward with these
initiatives.
“We have work to do.”
I look forward to our future successes as a district by keeping
teaching and learning as our highest priority.
We must continue to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers
who are dedicated to the success of our students.
We must keep pace with technology and be the front runners
with finding ways to enhance your repertoire as we prepare for
the challenges of the 21st century.
Our students must be highly competent and able to speak, write
and problem solve in this ever-changing and highly competitive
work force.
We must continue to raise the bar while leaving no child behind.
We must foster a love of learning and provide a comprehensive
and challenging curriculum that meets the needs for all students
at all levels.

As a dedicated staff, we share in the responsibility to support
and educate our students to be their best.
Furthermore, we share in the responsibility of supporting each
other to achieve our fullest potential as educators.
“We have work to do.”
We must create a safe environment that promotes healthy habits
both in and out of the classroom.
Respect for one’s self and others must be our mantra as we look
to improve upon the culture and environment in each and every
school.
We all must cooperate and be open to change as this is the only
way that we will accomplish our goals.
I am pleased that we have been able to hire a Student Assistance
Counselor at NBHS and have raised the standards for eligibility
in all extra-curricular activities.
Simply put, students must perform in the classroom to
participate on the field or stage.
We have provided the necessary support for all students to
succeed and we must hold them accountable to these standards.
I look forward to the continued growth as we enter our second
year with Storytown.

We will reap the rewards of this literacy program in time as the
consistency and early assessments have already been proven.
We will continue to monitor the use of time at each level and
make sure that all disciplines are given the appropriate amount
of time to ensure their success.
Math and science will be closely monitored this year with a
continued emphasis on a “hands on” and interactive approach to
learning.
Recent SAT math data indicates that we are stagnant, not only as
a district but as a state and as a country.
We must continue to not only support but promote the increased
offerings in the arts and world language.
They must become a part of our graduation requirements and be
available earlier in our program of studies.
I look forward to growing these departments and expanding the
course work that will broaden and strengthen their experiences.
Richard Edmore, an Educational Scholar from Harvard, has
done significant research on the factors that contribute to raising
achievement in a school environment.
He found that a culture of high levels of internal accountability
made the difference.

External pressures of accountability were not the factors for
improving student achievement; it was the staff in those schools
who strongly believed that they possessed full responsibility and
accountability for meeting the needs of their students.
Internal accountability, coupled with high expectations for
student success, a rigorous relevant curriculum aligned to
standards, shared leadership, and using assessment feedback to
adjust and improve instruction is the recipe for our growth over
time.
As a community, we have great hope about what the future
holds for our future leaders and contributors to a healthy and
productive society.
Although we are faced with extraordinary challenging times, I
am confident that we will persevere and pull together as a family
of North Branford educators and strive to ensure that all our
students meet their fullest potential.
We must continue to work collaboratively, support each other to
be successful, share in responsibility and commit to make
certain all students succeed!

Thank you.