Fairfield Citizen - School -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 9/8/2004
Last Visited: 9/9/2004
Kass Ready for New Challenges at Burr
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The new $23 million Burr Elementary School might look impressive, but that is of no concern to Gary Kass, the school's principal."The building is beautiful, it is.But my biggest concern is not what the outside of the building looks like or the inside; my challenge is to translate a wonderful facility into helping students achieve to their fullest potential, Kass said."It's all about our kids and making decisions that are [in] the best interest of our students.I want everyone to know that first and foremost we are coming in as a learning community.This is a place where when anyone walks through that door, it's all about how we can work together to help our students reach their maximum potential, Kass said.
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- Kass Ready for New Challenges at Burr
- Kass Ready for New Challenges at Burr
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Kass, who recently stepped down as principal of Dwight Elementary School, has been a part of the new elementary school since its early planning stages."About three years ago when this project all started the architects came into the district and I volunteered for that committee.Even before the drawings by the architects were submitted I was able to be a part of the school, he said.Kass said his decision to step down as principal of Dwight was not an easy one."I was principal at Dwight for 11 years, and I just love Dwight School, it's a fabulous school.We did a lot of great work, there is a wonderful staff there, so for me it was a very hard decision to leave and it was very difficult, he said.
After much debate, Kass realized the importance for him to leave Dwight and come to Burr."It was one of those opportunities that educators don't get to have very often in their career, to come into a new building and start something brand new.As Kass thought about the opportunity to build a school from the ground up he said he became "energized and excited about the possibility of coming to a new school and selecting the staff for the building.The teachers on the staff have applied from all over the district.There are teachers from many of the other elementary schools and two additional teachers are new."We have teachers from all levels, and we are all very excited about that.We have wonderful beginners and wonderful veterans, which offer a great balance to the school, Kass said.
Kass, who is now entering his 30th year as an educator, will be in charge of a staff of 70 people ranging from teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, lunch staff and various office employees, all of whom he met last week to see how they can make their Burr dreams come true.Kass believes that this group can change the face of education."Whenever you start a new school, it's about getting everyone together and think about how to reinvent school, how to dream and to redefine what you think about education.I had that in mind when I selected many of the staff because I wanted folks here to come here and be willing to change, to dream and figure out what would be the components of an exemplary elementary school, Kass said.
Kass wants to recreate that meeting again in October for the parents of the 452 students who will be attending Burr and discuss their vision of the school.He was able to meet with some of those parents on Aug. 20 when parents and students came to the school's self-guided tours."Parents and kids were walking into the building with big eyes, and they are all so thrilled.We are starting the school on the best of all possible terms; everyone wants to be here, everyone is excited, everyone is happy, and I want to build on that excitement and translate all of that into high achievement for our kids because that is really why we are here, Kass said.
A lot of what Kass wants to do in the future of Burr is something he wants the teachers, students and parents to be a part of."We want this school to be full of collaborative learners, and I want to create that kind of environment, and if we can, that is better for the kids.Kass knows he is not alone in that dream; he credits much of that mentality and energetic staff to the Fairfield public school system.