Our Vision
The Jasper County School District aspires to become the pride of the community where all students are empowered to excel to high academic standards guided by highly qualified professionals and dedicated citizens.
Chairperson's Message - Kathleen Snooks
The Jasper County Board of Education's priority is to reduce the achievement gap of students in a high poverty, low income school district. I feel our focus should be:
- > Ensure effective district and school leadership
- > Understand the culture of poverty (Our school leaders need to establish relationships with parents and families based on trust.)
- > Start school as early as possible and expand instructional time
- > Institute curriculum and instructional improvements (Successful schools should use assessment data to identify the most effective teachers of underachieving, poor children and invite them to share their instructional practices.)
- > Engage parents, schools and the community (Teachers can actively connect their instruction/lessons to students' social and cultural backgrounds.)
There is great importance in the School Board's role, in not only setting policy, but also in setting academic achievement goals, setting up accountability systems, aligning financial resources with the goals for the district, and ensuring that there are high quality assessments and academic programs.
The Jasper County Board of Education holds great power in digesting data, holding teachers accountable and our belief is that all children can learn; thus, demanding high expectations from board members, the superintendent, administrative staff, principals, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, parents, students, and the community at large. To be an effective Board, we must promote a "Can Do" attitude. We must establish clarity on district-wide needs and set high expectations for the entire district. As board members, we must be patient, not expecting changes overnight. Board members must be careful in not micromanaging the school district. I believe that we should concentrate on policy issues and leave the administration to the administrators.
I am a firm believer that once a policy is made, everyone (the Board, Superintendent, administrators and staff) is expected to follow them. If our school district is going to progress, we must involve parents and the community in the decision-making process.
I am a true advocate of involving everyone in promoting quality schools.
