VISION STATEMENT
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On my living room wall hangs a framed photograph of my maternal grandmother and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and civil rights activist, taken at my grandmother’s graduation from Bethune-Cookman College in 1934. During a painful time in our nation’s history, Dr. Bethune fought for the equal opportunities of not just Blacks but for the education of women with her founding of the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls, which later became Bethune-Cookman College. The influence of Dr. Bethune’s determination allowed my grandmother to study education and transfer her drive and passion for educating young people to my mother, a now-retired middle school educator, and then to me. The picture of the two strong-minded women serves as a daily reminder of why I do this work.
The purpose of school has evolved and shifted from indoctrinating youth with religious ideals to preparing a workforce for the competitive global market. This evolution has rightfully impacted the practice of education to shift to building relationships and creating supportive community environments in order to reach all students. This shift is the foundation of my vision as an educational leader. My central purpose as an educational leader is to establish a safe and supportive learning environment, centered on positive relationships, where stakeholders realize their voice and value through positive interactions. I will work to provide a space where teachers collaborate across disciplines for demonstrable impact, examining the many factors that affect a child’s school performance and using various data sets to drive instructional decisions for high student success. Teachers will have access to and implement current and relevant curricula with abundant opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse life experiences of the student body. As a school leader, I will work to establish a true community school where local experts are recognized, parents are teammates, and all stakeholders are involved in decision-making. Stakeholders will work together to create a culture of learning and continuous improvement, and continually find ways to recognize and honor all. My vision embodies the strength Dr. Bethune and other educational leaders before me who worked as change agents by loving first, supporting but questioning, and leading with the best interest of the children at heart. I am determined to be the voice for the voiceless and take steps to make changes to ensure that all students, no matter their circumstance, have access to the curriculum and have the opportunity to grow as productive members of society. |