DECATUR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Are We ALL IN? A Back to School Message

Fred H. Rayfield, Ed.D.Superintendent

Confronting Reality

We cannot close our eyes to the tough realities we face. If we are honest about the difficult issues and are addressing them head – on people will trust us.

There are no hopeless situations . There are only men and women who have grown hopeless about them.

Ronald ReaganOur present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever.

Corinthians 4:17It was for my own good that I had such hard times.

Isaiah 38:1

Educator Unhappiness

Suffering from psychosclerosis (Hardening of the Attitude)

High concentrations of the TTSP Hormone (This to shall pass)

Faith based school improvement. “I hope and pray this works.”

Guiding Thoughts

If you always do what you have done, you will get what you have always gotten.

You must be smart enough to get out of the saddle when you horse has died!

The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

Where there is no vision people perish. The best way to predict the future is to

create it.

Strategic Objectives

Increase student achievement and success

Develop and improve organizational effectiveness

Develop and improve stakeholder engagement, satisfaction and loyalty

Non - Negotiables

Being consistent in all that we do Being transparent in all that we do Providing high quality customer service

at all times Making continuous school and system

improvement our daily mission Demonstrating pride and ownership in all

facilities and grounds daily

Non - Negotiables

Providing a constant commitment to student and employee safety

Striving individually and as a team to move our school system from “good to great.”

Creating Transparency

Transparency is based on the principles of honesty, openness, integrity and authenticity. It is based on doing things in the open where all can see. Part of transparency is sharing information.

Stephen Covey

Practice Accountability

Great leaders build trust by first holding themselves, then others, accountable. Take responsibility for bad results. Holding others accountable assures performers that poor performers will not pull them down.

Stephen Covey

Successful Schools

Common Mission and Vision Shared and Distributed Leadership Students Come First Utilize data to drive school improvement

decisions Engaged in constant student assessment

and diagnostics Common Thread of Continuous

Improvement

Successful Schools

Coherent strategy for delivering high quality instruction

Positive Relationships Parental Involvement and Support Everyone Understands Their Role Foster a culture of high expectations for

all

Thoughts from a Child

We know who you are! Your reputation proceeds you.

Accept nothing less than the best from all of us.

Accept us for who we are. Be fair and consistent. Teach us the way we learn best. To

connect with us you must have the patience and desire to see that each of us is successful.

Build relationships with us.

Thoughts from a Child

Take control we like that. Keep learning. Model life - long learning. Character Matters We need encouragement. Take care of yourself. Love Your Students – They Will Love You

Remember

“The greatest contribution that we can make is to ensure there is a teacher in every classroom who cares that every student, every day, learns and feels like a valued, important human being.”

“It is our job to run schools so students , teachers , and parents want to come to them.”(William Glasser)

Be Careful

Be careful of your thoughts…For your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words…For your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions…For your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits…For your habits become your character. Be careful of your character…For your character becomes your destiny.

John Law

The Decatur County Educational Team

We are ALL IN !Let’s all move from “Good to

Great” Together

All residents of Decatur County are invited to attend monthly

Board of Education MeetingsFor more information on state education, policy, and budget, call the

Georgia Department of Education at 404-463-1543 or

Visit their website at www.doe.k12.ga.us