Daily Record News - Dover unveils assertive program -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 10/6/2002
Last Visited: 10/6/2002
"They did a great deal of soul-searching," evaluator David A. Steffan, principal of Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, said of Dover school officials."It was impressive."
Steffan and the others visited the high school from March 19 to 21.They interviewed administrators, staff members, students, parents and community members and reviewed all school records and operations.
The report concludes that Dover High School, with a large, diverse student body and operating with less funds than its larger, richer neighbors, is doing a remarkable job.It offers praise for the goals and criticism aimed at sharpening them.
The evaluators said they found a school creating plans to give all students a better education, and one that reflected a deep-seated pride in the town and its residents.
...
Steffan said the key is that Dover's self-assessment was based on a process that involved parents, students, teachers, administrators and community members.
"It is an aggressive forward-looking approach," he said.
Several aspects of the examination impressed him, Steffan said.
First was the effort to develop technology throughout the district.Steffan said his district this year spent $1 million on technology in two schools.
In Dover, he said, school officials have used grants to acquire the hardware and teachers have been willing to take training courses to learn how to use computers and integrate them into class work.
Steffan also was impressed by the integration of Spanish-speaking students into the school, especially because such programs generate higher costs.
High school senior Alarice Padilla, 17, a member of the group that developed a motivation plan for the final report, said she has benefited from the school's diversity.
"The school's diversity has helped a lot.You get a different view of what goes on," she said.
Padilla, who is interested in English and journalism, plans to attend Monmouth University next fall.
She said it is a good idea to have all freshmen develop a portfolio of their activities as a tool to prepare them better for graduation.
"I wished I had done it," Padilla said.She said it would have made it easier to keep track of her activities, including sports, language clubs and student council.
The key to the motivation goals, she said, is to raise students' expectations of what they can do academically.Involving parents in the review process was also important, she said.
Senior Anthony Field, 17, worked on the technology part of the goals.He said the key to the school's technology plan is that teachers have taken classes to help them use computers in the classroom.
Field hopes to attend Seton Hall University or Kean University and study computer electronics.
He said the school's pride is based on the idea that many types of people are there daily, and that there is a feeling of respect.He added that its sports teams enjoy success.
The Middle States report noted the mutual respect among administrators, staff members and students, and the 100-year history of high school football.
"We are very impressed with Dover High School, its students, its teachers, its administration, and most of all, we were impressed with the Dover's 'heart.' We saw evidence of determination and conscientious effort day after day," the Middle States report concluded.
7 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ this is me ]
