Note from PPS Superintendent Carole Smith
Dear Families and Friends of Portland Public Schools,
Visiting three schools today, the first day of the new school year, I felt tremendous energy — from families, from staff and, most of all, from students. There’s a real joy in throwing open the school doors and greeting students fresh from their summer breaks. I hope we can keep that level of energy and enthusiasm high throughout the year.
I’m also excited to see new connections forming between our teachers and students because that’s what nurtures learning. And we can measure the results. As you may know, the Oregon Department of Education released the latest state student achievement results yesterday. I’m pleased to report that Portland Public Schools students continue to outpace their peers statewide on tests in most grades.
But we won’t be satisfied until every student is prepared for success. We’ll be working hard this year to boost achievement and to address other top priorities that not only will affect our schools this year and for many generations:
We will involve our staff and the community in reforming our high school system to increase graduation rates and better prepare all graduates for higher education and family-wage careers, and as citizens in our community.
Different students need different kinds and levels of support in school. We will develop a range of options for our teachers, integrated to make sure all students have the help they need to succeed and the challenges they need to thrive.
We will continue to fill the needs of our emerging K-8s (most completing their transition this year) while not neglecting our middle schools.
We will move forward with a plan to upgrade our buildings, laying the long-term framework for major renovations or replacements of our aging schools.
And with every decision, we must ask ourselves about equity. All too often, a student’s family income and ethnicity predict his or her eventual success in school. With better support and more focused attention, we can ensure that all students have a chance to thrive.
None of these challenges will be met with a top-down strategy. As we move forward with all of these efforts, I will share my thoughts with you and ask for your ideas and input. We need the power of all of our hearts and minds to do what must be done for our students, and for our schools’ and city’s future.
Some of you may have heard me share this quote from educator Ron Heifetz before, but it truly is a touchstone for me and my approach as your schools superintendent: “Solutions are achieved when ‘the people with the problem’ go through a process together to become ‘the people with the solution.’ The issues have to be internalized, owned and ultimately resolved by the relevant parties to ensure enduring progress.”
Not short-term gains: “Enduring progress.” Isn’t that what we all want for our community’s children? I look forward to working with you this school year and for years to come.
