Guaranteeing student success in an evolving world

To ensure that Voorheesville graduates are prepared to be successful in the 21st Century, teachers and district officials are creating a list of educational goals for students to achieve by graduation.

During a half day-professional development workshop on Monday, Dec. 4, Voorheesville teachers and administrators addressed the ways the 21st Century will be different from the past and considered the skills students will need for success.

"Because the global economy has changed, student outcomes also need to change," said
Superintendent of Schools Linda Langevin. "We can’t base our teaching on the industrial model any longer."

While reading, writing, math and science skills are an essential part of a high school education, critical thinking, health and wellness, an understanding of the country’s economic issues, cooperation and personal financial responsibility all contribute to a student’s achievements after high school.

Langevin and teachers who attended the Reinventing School Symposium, sponsored by the International Center for Leadership in Education, from Oct. 27-29 in Washington, D.C., created a list of educational goals they felt students should reach by graduation, and thought the entire district could benefit from this exercise.

"I was struck with the idea that schools can tweak what they do to make the education they offer even better," said Robin Jacob, coordinator of special programs for the district, who attended the Washington, D.C. conference.

In the 21st Century:
• The economy has become increasingly global and American students are in greater competition for jobs with students all over the world – a phenomenon that will only become more common place as the years go on.

• Workers do not stay at the same job for as long as they used to and their skills are not as specialized.

• Jobs require more education than in the past, and employers are looking for students with skills that stretch beyond business.

• The role of technology continues to become increasingly important.

On Dec. 4, teachers and administrators who attended the Washington, D.C., conference gave a short presentation, and afterwards teachers worked in breakout groups to start the process of developing educational goals for students.

Jacob, who led one of the smaller discussions, said her group focused on speaking and listening skills, as well as critical thinking and technological skills students should have before they leave high school.

In the breakout group led by Mary Anne Milano, the Voorheesville Elementary School computer teacher, teachers’ priorities for students included independent thinking, personal and academic growth plans and ensuring that students will have life skills, such as public speaking and fitness, when they graduate.

Eventually, a steering committee will create a final list of goals and set a course of action for the district.

Milano stressed the idea that curriculum and student goals should be continually updated.

"It's something you can’t just keep stagnant," she said. "You have to keep nurturing it."