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As we near the end of the current school year and look forward to the overall future of St. Joseph School, it is vital that there is authentic reflection on how we serve the needs of our families and how we can do so better moving forward. The changing dynamics of the student population, the promotion of our faith community and the response to the challenges coming out of the pandemic provide new challenges that our staff need to address.
As the administrator of the school, I have the responsibility of serving in a number of roles with a primary responsibility of providing instructional leadership for our staff to ensure student academic success. In my three plus decades in similar roles, I can state that this role has never been as challenging as the current state of education faces. With a multitude of new responsibilities, too often the needs of our instruction, curriculum and assessment responsibilities do not take the prominent role that is necessary to prepare our students for their secondary school experiences. With these challenges becoming evident, this change is an attempt to utilize the talents of current staff members for the benefit of our school and parish community.
Bryanna VanVreede recently completed her coursework and obtained her licensure with The Department of Public Instruction in education leadership. She has proven her expertise as a classroom teacher and consistently demonstrated her commitment to the school community as a whole. Beginning this Fall, she will take on a part time role as Assistant Principal . This would ensure that her classroom expertise is still provided to our middle school students with the addition of providing assistance to the school principal as part of her job description. Assessment analysis, textbook/workbook inventory and consistency, improving record keeping procedures, marketing St. Joseph School, enrollment follow through, communication enhancement for families, WRISA Reports, etc. would more effectively occur with this transitional role. Through the development of the class schedule for the 2024-25 school year, approximately 25% of Mrs. VanVreede’s job description would be administrative. This would ensure that the vast spectrum of administrative responsibilities are completed in a productive and timely manner. It would also increase the utilization of skills that the principal has related to leading instructional, curriculum and assessment improvement in our school. Furthermore, it would allow Mrs. VanVreede to put her administrative assets to practical use. Finally, it would provide an opportunity for a succession plan for the principal role. As the availability of quality school leaders is at an all time low, a succession plan would ensure that St. Joseph School has a long term plan to continue leadership effectiveness.
With this plan there are a number of additional components that St. Joseph School could better offer the families as soon as 2024-25:
- A solidified continuum of reading instruction for the Kindergarten through fifth grade.
- A differentiated approach to math instruction for middle school in preparation for high school.
- A stronger connection with parish committees and the school community.
- A stronger utilization of assessment data with classroom teachers.
- There would be a lessening of anxiety among families about the future of the school.
- More opportunities for innovative approaches to meeting the needs of our students and their families.
- The opportunity for a highly successful accreditation process for the 2025-26 school year is more attainable.
Gratefully,
Chris Multhauf, Principal
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