Alva Review-Courier -

Can you fix the school? In its simplicity, the question implies that the education system needs to be fixed and is based upon the belief that everyone wants the best school. When we see a headline that perpetuates the belief that our schools could be better, it transitions our want to a need to improve our school. According to Bill Gates, “Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad news is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.” As the new superintendent of Freedom Public Schools, I want to outline what I believe makes a great school.

Jim Collins, in his book “Good to Great,” studies companies that made the transition to being great despite adverse conditions. One trait of great companies is a common understanding of purpose, vision and ownership of the outcomes. Much like the adage used in sports, “there’s no ‘I’ in Team,” a great school exists when the team of parents, community members, school board members, teachers, administrators and students have a defined vision and work toward a unified goal: preparing children to become successful adults.

In our recent school board election, community members of Freedom exercised their American right to vote. I am thankful that nearly 60 percent of eligible voters participated. I am pleased with the turnout and passion for the community exhibited for Freedom School. To be successful, a school is dependent upon a committed community. Similarly, a community thrives when the school is successful. When both entities align, the children have a unique opportunity to develop into successful adults and begin to invest back in the community. While headlines make for a quick bite of news, the real story is our gradual improvement.

Freedom School is committed to the success of our students. According to the Center for Public Education, research indicates small classes and experienced teachers are critical factors in successful student achievement. Currently, our students are afforded a 5:1 student to teacher ratio and a combined 200+ years of education experience. We are able to offer all state-required core classes in a small class environment, foreign language, desktop publishing, newspaper, creative writing, drama, music, FFA, FCCLA, and multiple athletic opportunities. Additionally, our students have the option to attend Career Tech to obtain trade skills and take concurrent college classes from Northwestern.

In Stephen Covey’s book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” he discusses paradigms. A paradigm is the mental map, or lens, we use to describe, or interpret, the world around us. The key of a paradigm isn’t as much in the nature of a thing as it our perception (perspective). A statement that begins “we’ve always” or “back in the day” says more about one’s perspective of a situation rather than an actual description of it. Our past experiences build our mental maps and tint the lens in which we view the world. It is important to recognize that we are in control of our perspective. While our past influences our paradigm, it shouldn’t dictate it.

The answer to the original question, can you fix the school, depends upon your perspective. From my vantage point, I can see an excellent opportunity for our students and am committed to their success. I hope you’ll join me in providing the best possible education for our students. As gradual improvement continues, it will be staggering what our students can achieve.