Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft participated in the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce State of Education program last week, joining Dr. Mike Ewton of Whitfield County Schools and Kent Harrison of Christian Heritage School to share updates on local education.
During his presentation, Dr. Craft unveiled Dalton Public Schools’ new Mission and Vision statements, emphasizing how they will guide daily work across every school. He also introduced the district’s Five Commitments — Safety & Security, Culture, Standards-Based Tier 1 Instruction, Literacy, and Customer Service — explaining how each will be put into practice in classrooms, student supports, and family partnerships.
“Our Five Commitments — Safety & Security, Culture, Standards‑Based Tier 1 Instruction, Literacy, and Customer Service — reflect what this community expects and deserves. They give our teachers and staff a common playbook and our families a clear promise: excellent learning and outstanding support in every school,” said Dr. Craft.
A central focus of his remarks was DaltonReads!, the districtwide literacy initiative designed to ensure every student engages in reading, writing, and critical thinking every day. DaltonReads! is supported by LETRS training for teachers and strengthened through community-facing programs such as the new mobile literacy van and book vending machines at elementary schools.
Dr. Craft also celebrated student achievement gains, noting that Dalton students showed improvement in 18 of 27 measured areas on the 2025 Georgia Milestones compared with 2024. He further highlighted investments in innovative learning: the transformation of the Roan School, expansion of pathways at Dalton Academy, facility renovations to support innovative programs, and the launch of Cyber Academy, already serving more than 130 students.
Click here to view Dr. Craft’s full presentation.
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