July 2007 – In early April, I was privileged and fortunate to be chosen as the next superintendent of the Kershaw County School District. It goes without saying that in succeeding Dr. Herb Berg, I have some very large shoes to fill. Dr. Berg has been a visionary leader and strong advocate for the students of Kershaw County. The tremendous impact of his work will be felt for many years to come.
Since my appointment, I have visited Kershaw County several times to meet with folks and to start my orientation to the district. I can’t begin to express how appreciative I have been of the warm and enthusiastic welcome I have received from everyone. I also want to say how impressed I am with the obvious dedication and commitment of the teachers, administrators and other staff that serve the district. I am really excited about starting my work on a full-time basis and becoming part of this wonderful community. I feel truly blessed to be here!
I wanted to use this first column in The Chronicle-Independent to elaborate a bit about my vision for the schools in Kershaw County. When I interviewed with the School Board, we talked a great deal about the Board’s goal for Kershaw County to be among the elite of the state’s school districts. I am extremely excited about and committed to this goal, which the district is already well on the way to meeting. But what will it take to get us all the way there?
First and foremost, we must close the achievement gap between majority and minority students and promote high level of learning and achievement for all students. This is more than just a local issue; it is a national issue. Students today need to leave high school prepared for both the workplace and continuing education, whether it be college, technical school, or some other training provided by an employer. The kinds of high-paying, relatively low-skill jobs that existed when I graduated from high school in 1971 are no longer available to any significant degree. To be successful in today’s economy and today’s world, students need to have strong knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them in “real world” circumstances. It is our responsibility to do everything possible to make sure our graduates are ready for this environment.
Secondly, we need to attract and retain the very best professionals to teach and work with our students. A study done in the 1990s identified the quality of the classroom teacher as having the greatest impact on student learning. It’s interesting how research often reinforces what we know intuitively and from our own experience as students and parents. We know that an excellent teacher makes all the difference. To have the kind of teachers we want for our students—teachers who will help close the achievement gap and inspire our students to be the very best they can be—we need to provide compensation that is competitive and consistent with the profound importance of the role teachers play in the lives of our young people. In its recently adopted budget, the School Board made a significant commitment to this critical goal.
Finally, we need to make sure that every student in Kershaw County has equal access to programs, facilities, and opportunities. To this end, the School Board and the community have undertaken a visionary construction program. The high school laptop initiative is another important part of this effort. We need to make sure that no matter where a student lives in Kershaw County, the same possibilities for learning and academic growth are available.
The late North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano said, “No matter what business you’re in, you can’t run in place or someone will pass you by.” The Kershaw County schools are certainly not running in place. We need to maintain that momentum. As superintendent, I pledge to do everything I can to work with staff and the community to keep the district moving forward.
All that being said, I am always pleased to talk with citizens about education in Kershaw County. My email is morganf@kcsd.k12.sc.us or feel free to call me in the office at 432-8416. I’m also very interested in ideas for future columns that would be of interest to the community. I hope you’ll pass your ideas on to me. I look forward to working with each of you to continue providing a high-quality educational experience for all students in Kershaw County.
Filed under: Articles, Superintendent
