The State Superintendent, Richard Woods stopped into Clear Creek Middle School for a tour and chat on Thursday, January 19.
During his visit, Woods spoke with Superintendent Dr. Shanna Wilkes, Chairman Jim Parmer, Board Member Nick Weaver, Principal David Mashburn, and Vice Principal Nicole Pike as well as several teachers about their school and its students. According to Woods, Clear Creek is the seventh school he has visited this month as he makes several of these trips to “see what’s going on in the schools… As we begin looking at proposing things for education or the districts, it allows us to talk to superintendents, talk with teachers, and principals, and students and say what’s working, what’s not. To get ideas about changes.”
Woods was not only given a chance to speak to administrators, but he was also treated to a tour of Clear Creek Middle by students Emily Serna, Ange Davis, and Alexis Sirmans. The tour encompassed a chance to look in on classes during teaching, a trip into both the band room and chorus room, a look outside at the school’s Agriculture Facility, and ended up with Superintendent Woods’ first time in a school’s pep rally since taking office in 2015. Woods stated he enjoys having student ambassadors for tours and offering those leadership roles. He always requests to at least have a chance to spend time with students and faculty to listen to “their world.”
Woods did take notice of several things including the new Agriculture Facility which he applauded as a greater connection to the community. “We’re seeing a lot of greater ties throughout where schools are reaching out to the communities, where this becomes a family or community hub… Whether its business or Mom and Dad, having them active in the life of our children shows that education is important. I think by showing that is important, the kids see a clear example of what is going on.”
Another note Woods took was our school’s incorporation of technology for our students. From incorporating Chrome Books and Tablets to full computer labs, Clear Creek has updated to the modern times. Woods said he saw the opportunity to reach children today through technology as a platform. “It is the environment our children are growing up with today.” The question becomes, according to Woods, how to incorporate that technology into the educational environment.
As he walked away from speaking with Gilmer’s Teachers at Clear Creek, Woods offered that he saw excitement and hope in the school. He spoke of a transition he is seeing. With a little pull back on an emphasis on testing, Teachers can have and give hope to their students through their passion.
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