January 28, 2019
Good Monday morning, Teachers, Staff and Administrators:
As many of you know, Governor DeSantis announced his intention for Florida schools to end the use of Common Core Standards, including our revised version, the Florida Standards. We have not received any further information from the Florida Department of Education. However, we do know the state legislature will not entertain this subject until the spring of 2020, which means it is unlikely we will see any real changes until the 2020-2021 school year. We will send out information as we get it.
In the meantime, here is what we know:
• Student achievement is our main goal and will continue to be our main goal—continue the path you have blazed this year.
• We have seen revisions and changes to standards before, and you have been able to use those changes to increase student learning.
This week is National School Counseling Week. I cannot imagine a school without counselors because they add so much value to our schools. They do an exceptional job of supporting our students' academic and social-emotional experience. Be sure to celebrate your school counselors this week and include your students in the celebrations.
February is African American History Month, and VCS will kick off the month with the UNCF breakfast at Bethune Cookman University. This is the 75th year UNCF has been in existence, and the organization has certainly lived up to this year's theme: UNCF Lighting the Way to Better Futures. More than $200,000 has gone to benefit Volusia County students, and a great percentage of these funds are raised through our workplace campaign. Your UNCF ambassador will be sharing more information in the coming weeks.
Make it a week to remember,
Tom Russell
The greatest truth must be recognition that in every man, in every child is the potential for greatness.
~Bobby Kennedy
Mr. James T.
Russell
Superintendent of Schools
VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
386/734-7190, extension 20210
Fax: 386/734-2842
E-mail: jrussell@volusia.k12.fl.us
The Direct Connection (2018-2019)
