THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507130140
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
When Dr. Sidney Faucette became superintendent, he brought with him the vision and energy to design and implement many new and innovative programs. As a parent who had the opportunity to work with him during these past four years, I would like to highlight some of those programs and say thank you.
Shared decision-making: Since 1992, when the School Board adopted Dr. Faucette's ``Resolution for School-Based Management and Shared Decision-Making,'' school personnel, parents and community members have shared ownership in the responsibility for educating all children. School Planning Council meetings were held in the evenings and included ``citizens' hearings'' so all members of our schools' communities had opportunities to share concerns and ideas and to be part of the decision-making that has meant continuous improvement in the educational services provided for our children.
Traditional discipline - The Code of Student Conduct: A group of administrators accepted Dr. Faucette's invitation to develop ``The Code of Student Conduct,'' a document that students and parents must read and sign at the beginning of every school year. The code spells out the responsibilities of all students and adults in maintaining safe, secure school environments where learning is a priority. The code also lists unacceptable behaviors and the specific punishments that result if students engage in those behaviors.
Parent-perception survey: At Dr. Faucette's invitation, 30 teachers worked with a consultant from the University of Virginia to develop the Parent Perception Survey. The survey provides teachers feedback from their ``customers'' in areas such as instructional methods, classroom practices, evaluation methods and communications. Parents complete the form anonymously and their responses become an important part of teachers' self-directed professional development.
The Literacy Center: Dr. Faucette established the Literacy Center for students who were unsuccessful in passing the state-mandated Literacy Passport Test. Instead of providing remedial assistance in students' home schools, Dr. Faucette opened a school where students would receive intensive instruction, not only so they could succeed on the passport test but also so they could develop the skills necessary to return to their home schools, build upon their success and ultimately receive their high school diplomas.
I've elaborated only a few of Dr. Faucette's major initiatives. There are many others: Gateway testing, the Parent Information Center, Customer Service Teams among groups of employees, the implementation of Total Quality Management in all our technical and career courses, the development of ``School Performance Measures'' and, most recently, the establishment of magnet schools at Kemps Landing Middle and Ocean Lakes High.
Open communication, shared responsibility and shared ownership of our schools among parents, school employees, students and community members will be Dr. Faucette's legacy to our school system. I thank him for his many wonderful initiatives and wish him continued success as he begins to serve the students, parents, teachers and community members of Gwinnett County, Ga.
Dianne Florence
Immediate past president
Virginia Beach Council of PTAs by CNB