The following release is from the Achieve Foundation of South Orange and Maplewood:
The Achieve Foundation has pledged to provide $15,000 to support the South Orange- Maplewood School District’s strategic planning process, now underway and due to be completed by the end of this school year. Envisioned by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Ramos, the planning effort was launched at a highly successful education summit that attracted over 1,000 parents, teachers, students and community members in November.
The summit was the important first step in the process that Dr. Ramos has outlined to create a school culture of “respect, high expectations, support and innovation.” Participants chose from among 29 topics, including “Reimagined Learning Spaces,” “Extended School Day,” “Achievement Gap” and “STEAM Education.” Information gleaned from discussion groups is being analyzed to discover trends, define objective priorities and inform next steps. Dr. Ramos anticipates that the common themes that emerge will focus on refreshing teaching approaches to be relevant to today’s learners, fostering more partnerships with community members, groups and organizations, and communicating more effectively about opportunities and pathways that are available to students.
Achieve Foundation funds will pay for a consulting team, SoarPoint Associates, who will facilitate the planning process. The Achieve Foundation Board sees the strategic planning process as timely and vital to redefining the objectives of public education to ensure that our students are fully prepared for the challenges they face in the technological age. “We see this as a perfect opportunity for Achieve to pursue its mission of promoting exemplary education in a way that will have a lasting impact on the entire district, and we are proud to collaborate with Dr. Ramos on such an important endeavor,” said Robin Peacock, Achieve Foundation co-president.
The community is invited to help support the district’s strategic planning process by making a fully tax-deductible contribution in any amount Achieve. Donate online at achievefoundation.org or send a check made out to the Achieve Foundation to P.O. Box 1084, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Please write “SO/M strategic plan” in the memo line. For more information, call 973-378-2055 or send e-mail to director@achievefoundation.org.
