Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham District Goals

Maximize Student Achievement: Create an intellectually engaging and supportive education that expands future academic and career opportunities for all children.

• Develop and make significant progress toward creating a vertically/horizontally aligned, challenging K-6 curriculum.

• Conduct a rigorous review of the K-5 mathematics curriculum, which includes consideration of curricula used by our comparison districts. Develop a set of recommendations based on that review.

• Conduct a rigorous review of the high school mathematics and science curricula, which includes course offerings, sequence, programs, requirements, and consideration of curricula used by our comparison districts. Develop a set of recommendations based on that review.

• Assess the effectiveness of the Amherst Regional Middle School.  Prepare and begin to implement a set of recommendations based on the assessment.

• Mentor, guide, and evaluate all Principals of the elementary and regional schools.

• Prepare and implement a plan designed to address the academic needs of our struggling students. 

• Initiate an evaluation of the Special Education program

• Continue and deepen multiple strategies for addressing the districts’ commitment to social justice.

Maximize Financial Efficiency: 

• Examine and explain enrollment trends and spending/staffing patterns as well as projected revenues in order to develop a multi-year fiscal plan.

• Identify and propose cost saving measures for FY11.

• Seek additional resources (e.g., grants, partnerships).

Improve Communication/Transparency: 

• Develop and implement a plan, in accordance with federal, state (Massachusetts General Law), local law and applicable contractual provisions, for open and transparent communication that keeps the public informed, solicits feedback and builds trust.

• Implement a transparent budget-building process that informs the School Committee and community where money is spent in all schools and district offices.

• Maintain open lines of communication with different stakeholder groups (e.g., elected officials, select boards, town administrators, finance committees, selected public- & private-sector partners, higher education, etc.) in accordance with federal, state (Massachusetts General Law), local law, and applicable contractual provisions.

Manage Transitions:

• Implement a successful redistricting of the four elementary schools in Amherst into three elementary schools.

• Lead a smooth transition in closing the Mark's Meadow School.

• Lead a successful leadership transition at Pelham Elementary School.

• Lead a successful leadership transition at the Amherst Regional Middle School.