New School Superintendent Sets Priorities for Achievement
Although Dr. James Scanlon is new to the West Chester Area School District, the superintendent is very familiar with both the region and what it takes to create an atmosphere conducive to learning.
“I grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania,” explains the veteran educator, who has worked in school systems in Pennsylvania and Delaware for nearly three decades. “West Chester has an excellent reputation for academic support. It’s a great community of teachers and learners who are excited about education.”
He says that enthusiasm extends to the local business community, which plays an important role in the success story of the 16 schools in the district.
“Graduates last year received $760,000 in scholarship dollars from local businesses – just local; that’s not counting National Merit and national scholarship dollars,” Scanlon marvels.
From his first day on the job in July 2009, Scanlon has been vocal in his belief that there is no room for complacency, despite the system's obvious strengths. To ensure the district’s nearly 6,000 students, teachers and staff members continue to strive for the highest standards, he is focusing attention on four key areas – alignment, individual achievement, fiscal responsibility and enhanced communication.
“One of our big challenges is that by Pennsylvania standards, we are a relatively large system, so it’s important to get everything aligned systematically,” Scanlon says of efforts to effectively share data, align curricula across grade levels and enhance administrative productivity through technology.
Another priority, Scanlon continues, is “meeting the needs of all kids to find out where they are in their education and move them to the next level. Our mission is about individualizing for every student.”
He says the goal of reaching a personal best is equally important for teachers and staff. For that reason, the school district places a strong emphasis on professional development.
While fiscal responsibility is always an important goal, the nation’s recent economic downturn has only heightened awareness of just how critical it is to find the most efficient ways to deliver services.
To that end, Scanlon has been instrumental in launching a Budget Community Task Force, calling on the expertise of the area’s residents and business community to bring fresh ideas about innovative operational practices to the table.
Finally, Scanlon notes, effective communication between the school system and the community ties everything together by sharing expectations and creating a forum that fosters a two-way dialogue.
No matter what new strategies are employed, Scanlon says the bottom line for everyone involved in the school district is to ensure the young men and women who graduate from West Chester schools are amply prepared to move to the next phase of their education and lives.
“Every day is precious and valuable,” Scanlon adds. “We have to make them count.”
