Please find below a copy of a column by Dr. Scott that was published in the Dalton Daily-Citizen in the Sunday, July 22 edition. We wanted to share this information for any of you that may not subscribe to the newspaper and wouldn't have seen the column. 

District Strategic Plan to Focus on Improving Student Achievement

I am so excited to be the superintendent of Dalton Public Schools! I'm proud to be one of the newest residents of the city of Dalton. Having only been here a total of four months, I've already discovered so much of what makes Dalton a great place to live and work.

As I pursued my goal of becoming a school superintendent, I looked at a number of positions in communities throughout the southeast. The opportunity in Dalton stood out, not only because I had heard so many good things from several of my long-time friends who live here, but also because of the positive reputation of the city and the school district.

Any former coach who has played championship athletics is surely familiar with the winning traditions of Dalton High School. I was also familiar with the caliber of Dalton students who were recognized statewide in academic and fine arts competitions. I thought the position of superintendent in Dalton provided the perfect blend of opportunity and challenge that I was seeking in a new position, and I was excited to see if my leadership, talents and philosophy would be a good fit with the Dalton Board of Education.

After a number of meetings with school board members, school district administration and community leadership, I knew this was the position I wanted to accept. It was interesting that everyone had a passion for seeing the district earn a reputation of excellence both in the classroom and on the athletic field. While each group may have had their own priorities, there were some common themes that became apparent that I knew would become priorities for me.

The first priority was to raise student performance--not just test scores, but overall achievement across the board. Most people recognize the challenges of schools that serve a diverse student population, many whose first language is not English. But there was also a belief that all children can learn and should be given the opportunity for a quality education.

Second, a consistent desire from the business community was the expansion of the vocational-technical opportunities for students and a need to work with Georgia Northwestern Technical College. 

Third, I heard the need to increase the rigor of the curriculum from kindergarten through grade 12 for all students while helping them develop persistence, critical thinking and a love of learning.

Lastly, many of those I met recognized that the most important factor in a student's education is a highly qualified teacher, and that the district should recruit and retain the very best educators in the area.

Since my first day on the job, my team and I have been working to incorporate these common themes into a five-year Strategic Plan for our district. This process will continue into the first months of the new school year. We have conducted a community survey and will continue to gather input with an additional survey and focus groups. When complete, the Strategic Plan will not only provide district direction, but will also guide school principals as they lead their buildings' operations and work to increase student achievement. District office staff will focus on supporting school principals and teachers in their mission to improve student performance.

I truly believe working together for the best of our students, Dalton Public Schools will become a high-performing district.

Dalton Public Schools