Message from Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody
Be An Original.
We have a great and unique
community. I love the new branding
for Rowan County to “Be An
Original.” This is what we teach our
children. Together we lead them
into opening their minds to all kinds
of possibilities and opportunities
in finding their own original skills
and talents. It is an honor to work
with our students, staff, partners
and supporters. The momentum
for success is escalating, and it is
happening in the Rowan-Salisbury
Schools.
The Power of Rowan-Salisbury Schools
In early April, through a sponsorship with Discovery Education and other partners,
we hosted a first-time every event titled, “Experience the Power of a New Public
Education." Over 200 leaders from across the country attended and had the
opportunity to tour schools in the district hearing from students and teachers about:
n Personalized Learning through Guided Instruction
n Blended Learning
n Innovative Data Rooms
n Independent Student Learning – Power U
n Farm to Table Lunch Prepared by Students
n Discovery Education Techbooks
n Collaborative Spaces
n Station Rotation
n Achieve3000
n Problem-Based Learning
AND so much more...
The event included my Student Leadership Team presenting poster sessions on
how to improve high schools. In addition, we sponsored a vendor fair and unveiled
the “Educator’s Playground” – an innovative place for teachers to experiment and
experience up and coming new technology to use in the classroom. A special highlight
of the first day’s events included an ‘Inspire’ play produced by the Theater Arts
students at Jesse Carson High School.
Visitors experienced first-hand that Rowan-Salisbury Schools is an original!
National and State Recognitions
In addition to our recent visitors seeing our initiatives and accomplishments, as
a district the work of our students and educators has gained national and state
recognitions as well.
We are excited to be Nationally Ranked in the “Top 10” districts from across the
country for technology uses for student success. During this amazing year, we also
received the:
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National Digital Curriculum Strategy Award
National Digital Content & Curriculum Achievement Award
National “Top 20 to Watch” Educator’s Award (presented to Andrew Smith)
Discovery Education’s Innovation in Education Award
State Excellence in Educational Programs Award
State Excellence in Communication, Public Relations & Marketing
State “Team to Watch” Award (Knox Middle Team Harvard Teachers)
These honors belong to all of us and indicate the hard work of our students and staff.
It is a most powerful time of year!
As we approach the closing of another school year, this is the time of year when we
could easily start counting the days until summer break. It would be easy to begin to
focus on an ending to our school year instead of realizing that we have actually arrived
at a powerful time in our school year.
In athletics, this time refers to a combination of factors that result in powerful hits
to the finish. In education, this is our time to pull together all that we have and are
accomplishing in the classroom and at home, revisit our goals and fill in the gaps,
analyze where we are, and feel that surge of energy to prepare our children with
confidence in who they are and what they know. This is the time to be at our very best
2 • May/June 2017• Parent Teacher Magazine
game for our children!
I want to encourage all our staff, parents and community partners to revamp goals
and dream big! Set new goals that exceed expectations and put actions to those big
dreams. Make the very most of the time we have right now. Together, we have a
chance to accomplish something really big with our students!
And as summer begins, I challenge you to continue to work with your children to grow
their literacy skills. Designate a special time that you can join your children in reading.
By letting them see you read, they learn that this is a routine part of the day that is
both enjoyable and relaxing. You would be amazed at how this simple scheduling for
quiet reading time will give children an edge on beginning a new school year.
Thank you again for all you do to help make Rowan-Salisbury Schools extraordinary!
Lynn Moody, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Rowan-Salisbury School System