[Ohiogift] Mr. Ross

[Barb Bodart]

Hello all, I was at a meeting today where Mr. Ross spoke. As our superintendent, I thought you might be as excited and thrilled to hear his words as I was.

He has a passion for child centered approach to education. A Latin teacher encouraged him to go to college, after his father passed away, even giving him a substantial amount of money to do so, so he knows teachers have the power to make a difference in the life of a child.

Third grade guarantee is his focus because lack of reading skills harms child for life. 60% prisoners cannot read at third grade level. Adamant that that must change. Cincinnati Public went from 65% passage 3rd grade reading to 75% passage in third grade.

He does not want to dictate inputs to school telling them what they have to do.  He alluded to struggle of some groups trying to add inputs. He interested in outputs. "I don't care how it gets done, I just want it done."

He said we "need bright, creative people to develop" ...plans for the straight A funds. ( Sorry, I zoned out a bit there, which is when my friend poked me whispering it would be bad form to fall asleep right in front of the state superintendent.)

He talked about the report card and how some districts last year were excellent with distinction and getting F in gifted. Or one building in an excellent district having a D in gifted in one of its buildings.

He said, "we need to be transparent about how comprehensively we are doing" ...

They battling on graduation requirements but that would soon be resolved. 

Said major focus, "Accountability, transparency, literacy, early childhood, third grade guarantee."

Alluded to the literacy standards where a teacher told him --no one taught me how to teach reading in college.  He said, " that really is not fair."

"We have an obligation for every child in every district in the state to receive a high quality of education."

I believe gifted has the same goal.
Barb


Sent from my iPad