Prince William County Schools Superintendent Steven L. Walts wrapped up a whirlwind tour of 82 schools in 82 school days Tuesday, characterizing what he saw as “a blend of excellence and opportunity.”
“It was an amazing journey,” says Walts. “I met teachers and administrators who are employing every imaginable combination of innovation and technology to engage students and improve performance. I got to talk with scores of bus drivers, and cafeteria and support staff whose dedication to the kids is as clear in every word they say as it is in the way they do their jobs. I saw, first-hand, the work of the security staff who keep our schools safe.”
“Best of all,” Walts adds, “I got to meet the students of Prince William County. Most of them are thriving, but many also need us to do more.”
Walts says two School Division priorities were reinforced through his travels: the need to invest more in the success of an increasingly diverse school community and the importance of implementing a county-wide, full-day kindergarten program.
“We have a golden opportunity to double the classroom time children get during one of the most critical years in their development,” Walts says. He cites “compelling evidence” that student learning in grades K-3 can predict lifetime success. “I saw the magic that our kindergarten teachers can work in their classrooms,” he says. “We have to give them every possible moment of instructional time to ensure that younger children get a solid start.” Currently, 18 County schools offer full-day kindergarten; an additional seven provide full-day services on a per-student basis.
In travels through Manassas, Dale City, Occoquan, and beyond, Walts says he has a better sense of the diversity of Prince William County Schools’ students and staff. He recalls being impressed by how adept each school has become at working the celebration of this diversity into the curriculum.
During a visit to Benton Middle School, Walts played a U.S. judge in an “Immigration Day” event. Sixth grade students were encouraged to dress as their own immigrant-ancestors might have for an early twentieth century arrival at Ellis Island.
“It was wonderful to witness first-hand the emphasis placed on respecting one another’s cultural heritage,” says Walts. “The schools are doing a great job of helping kids to understand and embrace differences both inside and outside of the classroom.”
Walts admits to seeing a different side of the diversity coin as well. He recalls his surprise at visiting one kindergarten classroom in which a significant number of the students did not speak English. “The teacher was doing a valiant job of working with these children,” he says, “but the level of specialized support she needed just wasn’t there.” As a result, Walts met with his senior staff and a change was made. Principals working under site-based management can now utilize existing staff to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages services to their kindergarten classes.
Walts says that expanding ESOL programs and other services for a diverse student body will be a priority in the coming years. “Some treat diversity as a challenge, I see it as an opportunity,” he says. “We live in a global marketplace. The world our students will grow into will be a world of diversity. If we help every student, every family, and every member of our community to succeed in that world, their varied gifts will undoubtedly enrich us all.”
Other School Division priorities reinforced by Walts’ visits include:
- Maintaining the momentum of raising test scores;
- Covering the costs of mandated programs such as No Child Left Behind and Virginia Standards of Learning;
- Attracting, mentoring, and retaining top teachers;
- Continuing the Division’s building and renovations program to keep pace with a soaring population.
Walts notes that the investments needed to deliver on these priorities will undoubtedly grow. He expresses confidence that, with School Board support and the School Division’s unique funding agreement with county officials, those investments will be possible. “We’re privileged to live in a county where the elected officials understand the need to leverage our resources to keep our schools operating at the forefront of education policy and practice,” says Walts.
The final days of Walt’s school visits were bittersweet. He continued to witness outstanding achievements of students and staff, but also shared in their pain at the untimely death of former Superintendent Edward L. Kelly. “I realized in the past few days that every superb school I saw, every thriving student, and every dedicated staff member were tributes to the work of Ed Kelly,” he says. “I was walking in Dr. Kelly’s footsteps, and the path to excellence that we will all strive to follow is a path that he set.”
Walts ended his tour on January 17 with a return to Glenkirk Elementary School, where he had participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school’s opening last August. He pointed to its diverse students and staff, innovative programs, and state-of-the art facilities as illustrative of the direction of the entire School Division.
As the Glenkirk visit ended, Walts shared a few final thoughts. “There was so much to see and learn, more than I could ever have imagined—more excellence and more opportunity. But from the welcome I received wherever I went, it felt more like an extended family than a large school system.”
Crossing the finish line in his 82 schools in 82 days adventure, Walts confides: “The biggest lessons I learned are those of our schools’ tremendous assets and their even greater potential.” He adds, “Having seen their solid foundation and the incredible depth of community support, I am more confident than ever that we will keep the promise of providing a world-class education.”
1/20/06
