From the Superintendent's Desk - May 25, 2012
Can you believe that the last day of school is only seven days away? Our schools are buzzing with excitement and hosting countless end-of-the year activities. Next week, the members of the Class of 2012 will walk across the stage, pick up their hard-earned diplomas, and prepare for their next journeys in life.
We are so proud of these students and recognize that each of our graduates has an important team of support—a group comprised of family members, friends, district employees, mentors, and other individuals who are greatly invested in the young person’s future and success.
Important members of these teams are our educators. In fact, we know that nothing affects a 
student’s academic performance more than having an effective teacher in the classroom.
It was my privilege this week to attend several events that were devoted to recognizing and promoting the work of top educators. We held the final meeting of the 2011-2012 Teacher Roundtable, which is comprised of high-performing teachers from all of our schools. On Tuesday, we hosted ten top educators at our monthly “Breakfast with the Superintendent” recognition event, and the district’s Teacher of the Year, Nancy Dabit from Moultrie Middle, reflected on her classroom experience with Rotary members.
Two school visits—one at East Cooper Montessori Charter School (one of the district’s great choices for families) and one at Ellington Elementary—allowed me to see teaching excellence and memorable end-of-the year activities first-hand. At Ellington, it was exciting to see how the integration of music has helped fifth graders build reading skills. Thank you to both schools for inviting me.
Have a safe weekend and Memorial Day, everyone, and we’ll see our students and staff back in schools on Tuesday for a great end to the school year!
-Dr. Nancy J. McGinley
