CMS Superintendent, Ann Clark
All of us in CharlotteMecklenburg Schools are committed
to making the 2015-2016 school
year an extraordinary one in
our district. Jimmy Johnson, the
legendary coach of the Dallas
Cowboys, once said, “The difference
between ordinary and extraordinary
is that little extra” – and we are
ready to offer it this year!
As the school year begins, there
are several new initiatives and
events that will help us achieve our
goal of making this an extraordinary
year.
First and foremost is our
commitment to literacy as our
North Star. Literacy – the ability to read, comprehend, speak, listen and
learn from the written and spoken word – is the seminal skill required
for a child’s journey from the first day of kindergarten to a triumphant
walk across the stage to claim a high school diploma. Literacy is the
skill that enables every student to learn and grow along the educational
journey – and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has made an extraordinary
commitment to literacy in the 2015-2016 school year.
Our CMS Literacy Initiative is a multidimensional and targeted
initiative designed to get every third-grader reading on grade level by the
end of the year. The initiative also focuses on getting seventh-graders
ready for eighth grade and moving forward high school seniors at risk of
not graduating on time, or at all.
To do this, we are challenging every employee in our district to
mentor one student. I have asked everyone in our district, every single
person, to identify one student– a third-grader, a seventh-grader or a
senior – to help achieve success. Every one of our employees can do this,
no matter where they are in the educational space, because all of our
employees help students learn: teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers,
principals, administrators, assistants and bus drivers. All of us can help
lead a student to success.
One educator. One student. One year. One and one and one doesn’t
make three here – it makes CMS extr