Superintendent Speeches

NNPS Convocation Speech by Dr. Ashby Kilgore
August 28, 2007
Hampton Coliseum

Welcome to everyone today! The thing I love about this Convocation is that it reminds me what an important organization we are. We are 5,000 people - and when we focus on our mission for kids - our collective power and determination are unstoppable. We are change agents for kids and our community.

Today I want to talk about our collective mission in NNPS—Smart, Safe Schools—what this means, and what smart, safe schools look like.

I am going to talk about 3 things:

• Our achievements
• The challenges of the 21st century
• And the vision for what’s next in Newport News Public Schools

Achievements

For the last 5 years our work has focused on meeting the standards required by the state and federal government. We have done this very well:

• Since 2004, the school district has progressed from 20 schools earning full accreditation to 34 this year. We have gone from 49% to 87% of our schools being accredited
   
• And since 2004, the district has gone from 12 schools earning Adequate Yearly Progress to 32 this year, increasing every year
   
• In the area of Literacy:
  • 85% of elementary students are passing Standards of Learning tests
  • 76% of middle schools students are passing SOLs
  • And 91% of high school students passing are SOLs
     
• In Math,
  • 2 times as many 8th graders are taking Algebra
  • 86% of elementary students are passing SOL tests
  • 72% of middle schools students are passing SOLs
  • And 84% of high school students are passing SOLs
     
• In the Advanced Placement program, our students are taking 1,000 more AP tests, and there are 600 more kids in the program since 2004
  • And 40% of students taking AP tests earn a three or higher, the passing rate
     
• In the area of student transportation, we have decreased bus routes, while maintaining a 96% on-time rate
   
• We have Increased our graduation rate to 88%, 9% more than the state average
  • In our classrooms, we have increased the number highly qualified teachers to 93%

21st Century Context

And the best news is, that while improving, we have learned how to improve and we will continue to do this.

But our students will have to do more that pass SOL tests in their future. Can we get our students ready for the workforce of the 21st century? I know we can because we have also learned that when we work collectively on any challenge there’s no stopping our success.

So what does the 21st century workplace promise for our students? Let’s look at a video describing what this new century looks like for our graduates.

(Created by Karl Fisch, this video examines globalization
and America’s future in the 21st century.)

Well! Now you know! So what are we to do in NNPS? What are our next steps?

Education is at a crossroads. We must continue to meet standards, while opening doors to the 21st century for our kids. That’s our mission! The education that was good enough 35 years ago is not good enough today. So what kinds of schools are necessary?

The Vision

Smart, Safe Schools that will open doors to the 21st century. That’s the vision for NNPS.

First, let me define smart and safe—and I’m going to expand our definition of these words.

Let me start with Smart schools.
Smart schools are preparing students to meet standards and compete globally with 21st century skills.

Our profession has for a long time thought that smart is something you are. Now as we learn to extend success to more and more kids, we know that smart is something you become.

So a smart school is one that prepares kids to get smarter and smarter, moving from memorizing to comparing and analyzing.

Imagine with me a SMART school system where:

• All students read on grade level by the 3rd grade and master complex literacy in grades 5, 8 and 11.

Last year about 15% did not pass reading the SOL test —that’s about 19 students in each 3rd grade at each elementary school, and about 15 students in each 5th grade class. We can do this! And without this foundation of literacy, our kids will not be prepared for any century.

Also imagine with me a SMART school system where…

• All students take algebra by the 8th grade and complete 4 years of math in high school.

• Students practice 21st century skills—as the Partnership for 21st Century Skills defines:
  “It includes core subjects and 21st century content, such as global awareness and civic literacy; learning and thinking skills like creativity, communication, and contextual learning; technology literacy; life skills, such as leadership, ethics, and social responsibility.”

Continue to imagine…

• A school system where students choose a career pathway for their high school courses that opens doors to post secondary study and to internships in the community and industry certifications—connections so compelling that students will not want to miss school.

• Lastly, employees in smart schools share knowledge, ideas, and learn new ways of doing their jobs.

So simply, in smart schools, everyone gets smarter! Because smart is something you become!

Now let’s think about Safe Schools. One dimension of safe is feeling secure. We all deserve that at work. Now—think about a place you feel safe—at home, with friends—it’s not only secure, you feel valued.

So let’s expand our definition of safe to include feeling protected and feeling valued and important.

Imagine with me a SAFE school system where:

• Every student and adult has a “go-to” person to talk with to get advice and encouragement.

• Every school and worksite is clean and provides a healthy place to learn and work.

• Students and employees practice habits of mind that make them safe in this new century, to think wisely, use technology with discernment, interview well, and serve their community.

• Every student is involved in an activity that gives him something and someone to belong to - sports, clubs, after-school help—and every adult agrees to get involved with a group of kids.

• A safe school where all of the 9th graders will graduate with a diploma and a career pathway. Students who have already dropped out of school re-enter for a diploma or job entry training.

• Students develop a workforce portfolio, electronic evidence of their mastery of 21st century soft skills including speaking, work ethic, initiative, problem-solving, attendance, and teamwork.

• Employees feel safe, cheerlead for each other, and express opinions without worry about retribution, like a family.

This picture of Smart, Safe Schools is not a dream—it is simply a vision for NNPS—where students and employees are prepared for 21st century work and where we all feel secure, valued and important.

We will realize this vision! It is up to us to fill in the colors of this vision, to write the next chapters of the story. This will be our work for the next several years. And through this work we will open doors of possibilities for so many kids, and we will change our community.

We will realize this vision, as our 5,000 employees join with 32,000 students and their families, and a community of 150,000 people, businesses and colleges.

The wisdom is in this room;
The passion is in this room;
The champions are in this room!

SO… As you approach the educational crossroad to the 21st century, decide how you will innovate. What new ideas can you bring?

Decide today what smart, safe schools look like in your workplace and your team. Then ask yourself—what will I promise to do to make my workplace, my school smart and safe?

It’s going to be a great year and I am proud to work with you!