| Office of the Superintendent | ||||
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, Winter 2010: Dear Students and Parents: DeSoto County School District is the fastest growing school district in Mississippi and became the largest school district in the state last year. Our 3,600 teachers, counselors, administrators, and employees work hard to meet tough academic goals, train educators on the best practices, and provide special programs for students who need them. This year we have two new middle schools—Lewisburg and Center Hill, both located in the Olive Branch area. Lake Cormorant High School is nearing completion. Parts of the facility are in use and the school will be fully operational in August. Two new elementary schools will also open in August—one in the DeSoto Central area, and one in the Lewisburg area. To summarize, five new schools will be completed by the fall of 2010, bringing our total to 40 schools, and extensive repairs and renovations have been completed on our existing schools to meet our growing enrollment and increase security measures at all schools. No school system has more beautiful, state-of-the-art facilities than we have. And while we are very excited about the new schools, our greatest source of pride is our students and the teachers who teach them. We are very proud of the fact that DeSoto County School District has received a rating of High-Performing, the second highest category available, under a new accountability system of the Mississippi Department of Education. As we begin the second half of the school year, I want to share some exciting news about national recognition for our school district. Dr. Janice Barton, formerly the principal at Oak Grove Central Elementary School in Hernando and now the director of elementary and middle schools, has been named “Mississippi’s National Distinguished Principal for 2009” by the Mississippi Association of Elementary School Administrators. Freddie Joseph, principal of Hernando High School, has been named as “Mississippi’s 2009 High School Principal of the Year.” The selection was made by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in Washington, D.C. Both principals were selected as the top principals out of 152 school districts, Barton for kindergarten through 8th grade and Joseph for 9th through 12th grades. Much work goes into the professional development of our administrators, and I feel it is paying great rewards to our school district. Students learn when they feel safe. I often remind our teachers and staff that safety is our number one priority. We have a Crisis Management Plan to deal with pressing problems and preventative measures; academics is our second priority; and extra-curricular activities is third. Keeping up with technology is a daunting task, but a key element of a 21st century classroom. In the past three years, a concerted effort has been made by the district to add interactive white boards to creatively connect with students. Through grants, PTO efforts, and fund-raising efforts, DeSoto County Schools has 624 interactive white boards in use in the district. We believe that creativity is the key to unlocking every child’s genius, and that media-rich learning is the key to greater creativity. This year all of our eight high schools are operating on block scheduling. This decision was research-based. The eight semester sequence allows more advanced students the opportunity to complete higher level courses and to earn college credits through dual enrollment and to offer remediation to students who are experiencing difficulties. We want the best educational opportunities and the best facilities possible for the 31,228 students of DeSoto County School District. With our standards-based curriculum, common assessments to ensure consistency across our school district and intense professional development opportunities, I feel our teachers and students are poised and ready to face the challenges ahead. Sincerely, ARCHIVES: CLICK HERE TO REPORT AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT TAG OR CAMPUS CRIME
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