12/12/2016 Column: Shaping our future together a citywide conversation | Columns | salemnews.com http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/columns/columnshapingourfuturetogetheracitywide/article_1e57621fa89b57d88d26102e6cc230e6.html Column: Shaping our future together a citywide conversation By Margarita Ruiz Oct 28, 2016 Ken Yuszkus Salem Superintendent of Schools Margarita Ruiz speaks with sixthgrade Collins Middle School student Medrano Deschene in his classroom Monday.KEN YUSZKUS/Staff photo The world is rapidly changing and our young people need to possess the knowledge, skills and habits necessary to succeed in a fastchanging world driven by technology and global influences. Today, the fates of our cities depend on how well we educate our children. Our graduates need to be prepared for a global economy, working at jobs that we cannot imagine with technology that currently does not exist. As in the past, we must prepare our students with the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic — skills that have defined our educational system since agrarian and industrial times. However, in today’s world, the fundamentals are simply not enough. Today’s graduates must have mastery of core subject matter plus an array of skills in the areas of problemsolving, technology, collaboration, communications and adaptability. In today’s economy, even jobs previously considered “manual labor” require critical thinking and tech savvy knowhow. This is our challenge as a city and a district. For our graduates to be successful, the schools and all of the city’s stakeholders must come together with the district to create a vision and a strategic plan that will enable all of our scholars to meet their futures fully prepared to lead and contribute as successful workers and engaged citizens. Salem has a solid foundation on which to build and a wealth of assets in our teachers, school partners and facilities. We can take advantage of new research on neuroscience and how students learn to create vibrant 21stcentury learning environments that will be customized to the needs of our learners in ways that were unimaginable just five or 10 years ago. The School Committee and district share a vision that every student is prepared to learn and inspired to achieve. We need the entire city to engage with us to help create the road map that will chart the path to move our schools from the 20th to the 21st century through our strategic planning process. http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/columns/columnshapingourfuturetogetheracitywide/article_1e57621fa89b57d88d26102e6cc230e6.html 1/3 12/12/2016 Column: Shaping our future together a citywide conversation | Columns | salemnews.com In my first year as superintendent, I met with many parents and teachers, as well as business and civic leaders, to gain their perspective and feedback on our schools. I would like to continue the dialogue during an open forum in November at which the district will be discussing several focus areas, informed by stakeholder feedback, including a vision for early childhood, meeting the diverse needs of all learners as well as family and community engagement. On Tuesday, Nov. 29, the district will host the first of two citywide conversations to engage community members in a discussion of their hopes and dreams for the Salem Public Schools, as well as their vision for the qualities and skills our graduates should possess. Whether you have students in the school district or not, all of Salem’s residents, business owners and other stakeholders have a vested interest in ensuring that our graduates are well prepared for their future. A worldclass school system will ensure that Salem remains a worldclass city. To be successful in our transformation into a district that supports powerful learning and has the infrastructure necessary to support the positive development — cognitive, social, emotional and physical — of every student, we invite — and need — the community to become an active partner in our schools. Salem has a fertile business, social, cultural and artistic landscape that is the envy of many cities. It’s time to utilize these assets on behalf of our young people. We hope that in the coming months and year, professionals and volunteers in our city will step forward to share their knowledge and experience with students by coming into our schools and by inviting students into their workplaces. We hope that young people will be charged with solving real problems in the community, whether it’s developing a plan for cleaner water or including student voice in public policy matters. The Salem Public Schools are looking for all of you to become part of us. It is a strategy to build capacity and to bring us together as a community in more meaningful ways. On behalf of the more than 4,000 students in my care every day, I hope that you will join in the conversation. Margarita Ruiz is the superintendent for the Salem Public Schools. To learn more or to RSVP for Salem Public Schools’ Citywide Conversation that will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Collins Middle School, please email [email protected] or call 9787401212. This is one in a monthly series of columns from the Community Advisory Board for the Salem schools. We have recently upgraded our commenting system. If you wish to comment please login using your social ID or create a new account. 0 comments Sign in 1 person listening + Follow Share Post comment as... 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