REPORT TO THE PEOPLE
For the second time South Carolina State Department of Education (SCDE) assumed governance of the Allendale County School District. This action was taken on June 19, 2017 by State Superintendent of Education, Mrs. Molly Spearman under provisions outlined in legislation passed by the South Carolina General Assembly. The State Superintendent of Education may declare a state of emergency in a district if the following occurs:
- Accreditation status is probation or denied;
- If a majority of the schools fail to show achievement;
- A district is financially at risk; or
- Financial mismanagement resulting in a deficit.
As we embark upon the second year under the management of the South Carolina Department of Education, they continue to provide robust technical assistance to best meet the needs of the district and schools. Technical Assistance includes additional financial support to move the academic needle, transformation coaches, continuous improvement planning and support from the Office of School Transformation and access to building partnerships with organizations and businesses.
Making radical transformation in our schools and producing students who are critical-thinkers, problem-solvers and college and career-ready are the highest priorities of Allendale County School District. We have strategically developed business and industry partnerships to work along side teachers in preparing our students for futures in STEM, higher education and the workforce. The District was pleased to partner with Georgia Pacific,US2020 STEM Coalition other industries to give students opportunities to gain real-world experiences by enduring a rigorous apprenticeship program. Continuing to develop partnerships that benefit our students and community at large are paramount in our quest to support student growth, change and continuous improvement. Additionally, in support of the district’s vision, mission and goals, the Allendale community and volunteers are helping to shape the district’s 3-Year Strategic Visioning Plan as well as provide tutoring support for our scholars. As we continue to encourage our parents to become more engaged in students’ lives, we embrace the concept, “it takes a village.”
A renewed concentration on defining and promoting a clear and common language around what effective instruction looks like in all classrooms, “Instructional Learning Walks,” were introduced last year and will continue to be an identified focus area in the district to ensure high level instruction and research-based strategies are occurring in every classroom in the district. Further, the district will continue to enforce our instructional process, “The Allendale Six,” in each classroom to ensure uniformity and encourage rigorous standard-based instruction, the use of formative assessments, bell-to-bell instruction and positive relationships between students and teachers. Notwithstanding, this current year, as part of our focus area to improve culture and climate in our district, both faculty and staff alike were asked to participate in a bus tour of the community in hopes to heighten the teachers’ understanding of their students and better reach them in the classroom.
The district is intentional about providing purposeful and personalized professional learning for teachers and administrators this upcoming year. Teachers participated in a 3-day robust and intensive fall Professional Development Institute. Sessions were inclusive of topics as Overview of Rubric 4.0, Guided Math, Responding to Non-Fiction through Writing, 90/90/90, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Strategic to Bring Art into the classroom, Great Graphic Nonfiction for MS and HS students, Time to Teach,and Tech Tools to Facilitate Learning to name a few.
A higher expectation has been placed on the professional development of leaders throughout the district. With district leadership stronger than ever, we are determined to keep the momentum and synergy of forward movement of the district going. As a critical component of professional development, books with themes of leadership and teamwork such as, “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team,” “Leaders Eat Last” and “Breakthrough Principals” were assigned to each administrator and district leader. Specifically, the district will be used as a catalyst in developing a “Principals’ Academy” in an effort to provide professional growth opportunities for principals and assistant principals with a focus on instructional leadership that promotes reflective practice and teacher/student learning.
With the stability of a strong district staff, a new Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, onboarding of a new middle school principal, and new assistant principals, Allendale County Schools is beginning this school year with a clear vision of “Changing the Headlines….Allendale Forward.” We have already made strides, but there is still work to be done. This is Allendale County School District’s time….. Starting Right Now.
Dr. Margaret A. Gilmore
Interim Superintendent
Allendale County Schools
