Page 5 - Superintendent Report 2021-22

Message from the Superintendent

Dear Chairman Barbieri, Board Members, Colleagues, and
Community Stakeholders:

Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, Team Palm Beach remained
focused on our mission to educate, affirm, and inspire each student
in an equity-embedded school system. In doing so, we remained
steadfast in our effort to create an environment where each and
every student and employee will succeed and flourish. Returning
to in-person instruction, including our return to regularly scheduled
in-school activities and athletic events, coupled with your award of
employee salary increases helped to ensure that all student and adult
stakeholders felt empowered to perform at their best. These efforts were rewarded through
our improvements in mathematics at almost every grade level as well as increases in high
school graduation rates. We have also continued to strengthen and expand our relationships
throughout the community, ensuring strong partnerships that support our students, local
businesses, community organizations, and municipalities. The dedication of Team Palm
Beach to excellence resulted in our district earning an A-rating from the Florida Department
of Education. This achievement by our students, teachers, school administrators and support
staff was a great way to wrap up my first year as Palm Beach County’s Superintendent. I am
incredibly proud of Team Palm Beach and honored to serve in this role.

The 2021-22 school year had its share of challenges and rewards. With the health and
safety of our students and employees at the forefront, we worked diligently to establish
a smooth reopening of our schools in August 2021, returning to in-person learning as well
as on-campus activities and athletic competitions. To assist our students with accelerated
learning programs to help close the pandemic-created learning gaps, our District partnered
with local municipalities along with Palm Beach County and The Education Foundation of
Palm Beach County to provide students with no-cost home internet in the communities of
Belle Glade and Lantana. Plans are in place to expand this project to South Bay, Pahokee,
Canal Point, Unincorporated West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Riviera
Beach, Palm Springs, Greenacres, Haverhill, Lake Park, and Delray Beach. Building on this
growing digital foundation, we began providing 24/7 online tutoring services for students
in grades 6-12. This service is offered through our partnership with Paper Education
Company, Inc., is available at no cost to our families, and provides on-demand access to
tutors knowledgeable in over 200 courses. Through the committed and impactful efforts of
our students, parents, staff, and community stakeholders, the District continues to be one
of the best places to learn, work, and realize our full potential.

As the year progressed, our students and staff rose to the challenges and changes necessary
to achieve a high level of performance. We celebrate having zero schools labeled as
consistently underperforming by the Florida Department of Education. As one of only two
large urban districts in Florida to earn an A-rating for the 2021-2022 school year, we are
proud to have exceeded the performance of each and every neighboring school district.

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