As an educational professional with 25 years experience, I
have learned that as a system, we must develop ways to increase our engagement in the many conversations in the many sectors related to our profession and the real work we do on behalf of
the 16,000+ students every day in our 29 schools. We must develop varied
opportunities and multiple mediums to share real-time information relative to those
issues that are challenging us with our supporters, as well as those who are not
friends of public education.
I believe that to gain the necessary buy-in and transparency to effectively do our our
work, we must be willing to have open and honest dialogue about the direction of
our system, our new and innovative programs and areas in which we need assistance. We have to be willing to celebrate our accomplishments and equally accept and be accountable for the things that are not going well.
Finally, I believe that it is time for all of
us to embrace the fact that we have a professional, ethical and moral responsibility to be voices in the
public discourse. We can no longer allow misinformation or skewed rhetoric to
go unchecked. In short, as proud public
educators, we must become unabashed, unashamed, vocal advocates for our school
system, our teachers, our parents and most of all our students. It is my goal to use this forum, "In the Loop with the Supt," to do just that.
Sincerely,
Dr. Anthony Jackson
Superintendent
Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools
9/27/2013
