Clinton Township Newsletter

CLINTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL NEWS w ww.ctsd.k12.nj.us A L e t t e r f r o m Dr. Drucilla Clark, Superintendent of Schools "To recapture spirit, we need to relearn how to lead with soul … reclaiming the enduring human capacity that gives our lives passion and purpose"– Bolman & Deal, 1995 January 1st marks my six months as the Superintendent of Schools in Clinton Township. It has been a great journey and I have discovered many new friends, developed a deep respect for my colleagues and staff and have found a new home. It was hard to leave my last Superintendency in Morris County. I learned to be a leader there, but it was time for a change. I loved the community and learned the significance of building relationships and letting your passion lead the way. I learned the importance of good leaders listening to the opinions and needs of others and that those things were more important than the sound of your own voice. I have learned that good leaders don't have to be tough guys, but they do have to have heart and that it is ok to let that show. I feel I have brought all of that to Clinton Township and I know I have made a good choice of change for myself and for you. Clinton Township is the kind of place where leading with soul matters. The people I work with here believe in the integrity of the word and the process and I believe I am making a difference. Within the past six months I have written and presented information to the community about School Choice, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying and Violence and Vandalism and the Budget Process. I have set measurable Goals and Objectives, managed the district through Hurricane Sandy, led the Board and Staff through the choosing of a New Teacher Evaluation System and now a New Principal Evaluation System. We have also rewritten curriculum to align with the Common Core Standards and posted it on our website for easy parent accessibility. Our District Board Office has reorganized and we have saved almost forty thousand dollars on staffing alone and we have instituted a new online personnel system and hiring process. Our teachers continue to innovate in our classrooms and expand our children's paradigms. It has been a busy and productive time with much team effort. I am frequently asked by students in the district what my job is and their teachers usually jump in and respond that I am the boss of all the schools in the district. That answer is technically correct, but for those of us who live and breathe this job, it is so much more. To me, it is about leading with soul and balancing the needs of the students with fiscal responsibility. I want our "kids" to be the "haves" of the future economy and I want "us" to teach the whole child. I envision an engaged, family of life-long learners inclusive of children, staff and parents. Good schools make a strong community. Now, some might think that leadership in a great place is easy, but even Clinton Township has provided challenges. The first part was getting to know each of the schools and their strengths and opportunities. I had to get to know the community and its soul. There are nine Board of Education members to listen to and learn from, as well as a team of administrators and hundreds of staff members. We had to work together and reorganize our Board procedures so that the hard work being done led to greater productivity. There is an active PTA and Foundation to hear; budget paperwork and state reports and all the usual important bureaucratic oceans of paper to navigate in a state and federally run program entity. It can be intimidating if you do not love what you do. There is instructional leadership, personnel, administration, Follow financial management, school and community relations and the Dr. Clark on Twitter! @ct_sd 10 F e b r u a r y Superintendent-Board responsibilities. However, I believe the most important daily task is to talk to the children in our schools. It is always my priority. I learn something new each day. I read them stories, I listen to them learn, I observe and evaluate their teachers and I walk their buildings. I meet parents and answer questions; I give presentations and write articles for newsletters. I go to county and state meetings; I am both the learner-in-chief and teacherin-chief. My job is ever changing except for two things: I am responsible to the children in my care and to the teachers and staff. I take it seriously, very seriously, every day. Sometimes I lose sleep over it. I want to give them the best so they are ready to face the challenges of the changing world. I know I must do it in a fiscally responsible way and I know I must do my best to keep them as safe as possible. After the Newtown, Connecticut incident it weighs heavier on my mind than ever. You may not know that I have also attended multiple trainings at the Morris County Police Academy on Crisis Management. Superintendents need to know more than just how to lead a school toward educational excellence. We must learn to lead through good times and bad. We have detailed plans and procedures and we drill them over and over, month after month throughout the district. You can be sure that our School Safety Teams are looking at every aspect of security in our schools. We have already met with the Clinton Township Police and they will remain a presence in our schools. They are advising us on some of the best ways to keep our schools both accessible and safe. You may see procedures change, you may be inconvenienced at times, but we ask for your patience and understanding that we are doing the best we can to keep our children safe. Our Board of Education has even put together an Ad Hoc Committee for School Security and you may see some budgetary recommendations made to the Board of Education. I am happy to be in Clinton Township and I am committed to excellence here. Six months may have gone by quickly, but there is still much to do. Please remember to email me at dclark@ctsd.k12.nj.us and attend our Board of Education Meetings. We have added two additional dates, February 11 and March 18, for proposed budget discussions, so please be part of the conversation. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this very special community. Sincerely, Dr. Drucilla Clark, Superintendent, Clinton Township CTSD B o a r d of E d u c at i o n Board meeting dates for the 2013 calendar year: January 28 April 29 August 26 February 11 (Budget, 7 pm) May 2o* September 23 February 25 June 24 October 28 March 18 (Budget, 7 pm) July 29 November 18* March 25 December 16* January 6, 2014* – Reorganization *Meetings will be held on the fourth Monday of the month, except where noted. Meetings held at CTMS (34 Grayrock Rd., Clinton) in the Auditorium or Library at 7:30 pm. Get a first-hand knowledge of what's going on in our schools, meet the Board and the Superintendent! All residents of CT are encouraged to attend, not just the parents of CTSD children. For BOE meeting minutes, please visit: www.ctsd.k12.nj.us 2 0 1 3

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