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Third Let’s Talk: Conversations with Dr. Strickland held at DWSA

Superintendent speaking at thrid Let's Talk.
Third Let’s Talk: Conversations with Dr. Strickland held at DWSA

The third session of Let’s Talk: Conversations with Dr. Strickland was held at Denzel Washington School of the Arts Saturday morning, where the new superintendent continued to engage with community members to hear more about their thoughts for the District.

Dr. Strickland began the session by sharing details about his upbringing and passion for education at an early age, which allowed the audience to understand where his foundations as a person came from. 

Moving forward, he touched upon the purpose of these Let’s Talk events, which has been to create connections within the community to build trust and ensure success for each and every student. 

Dr. Strickland emphasized that students are at the center of every decision that he makes, making informed decisions through data, rather than stakeholders and adults. He also highlighted the importance of working collaboratively with families and community partners to ensure a successful school year.

“Families must be engaged,” said Dr. Strickland. “I don’t believe in family involvement, I believe in family engagement. Family involvement is calling them when Johnny or Suzy acted up and then that’s it. Family engagement means come in here, and I want you to see how I’m teaching reading so that you can mimic those strategies at home.” 

He then discussed his commitment to students’ success as an educational leader and the importance of special education programs. This past week, he began working with other administrators to determine the placement of students in the program, following the reconfiguration of the district's schools that included the closure of three buildings. Dr. Strickland also discussed how he is an advocate for equity, excellence and opportunity for every student as he values diversity and different perspectives.

As Dr. Strickland talked about his initial priorities, he touched on the fact that some of those priorities have evolved since starting the position. His main priority is still to ensure that all schools in the Mount Vernon City School District are ready to open in the fall. Before going into the Q&A session, Dr. Strickland talked about the current climate survey responses and how those will help understand the needs of the district.

Superintendent speaking at thrid Let's Talk.


 

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Throughout the week, our schools will come alive with engaging, joyful, and meaningful literacy experiences designed to celebrate the power of reading. Students across the district will participate in themed activities, special events, and creative classroom experiences that inspire a lifelong love of books.