REPORT TO THE PEOPLE – 2020-2021
South Carolina State Department of Education (SCDE) continues to assume governance of the Allendale County School District. This action was taken on June 19, 2017 by State Superintendent of Education, Mrs. Molly Spearman under provisions outlined in legislation passed by the South Carolina General Assembly.
As we embark upon the fourth year under the management of South Carolina Department of Education, SCDE continues to provide technical assistance to best meet the strategic needs of the district. Technical Assistance includes but not limited to additional financial support to improve student outcomes, a school transformation coach at the high school, continuous improvement planning and support from the Office of School Transformation and access to state-wide businesses and organizations partnerships that support the transformation occurring in Allendale School District.
The latter half of this past school year brought some tough challenges and a different way of providing quality instruction to our students. COVID-19 pandemic forced the district to move to online virtual learning for our scholars. As we open this new school year and find innovative ways to educate our students amid COVID-19 challenges , the district will use face-to-face instruction, Acellus, Schoology, and Microsoft Teams to reshape student success. The district is deeply committed to the belief that every student is capable of academic success.
We continue to share our passion and commitment to raise student achievement by revising and aligning our curricula, assessments, standards and instructional practices to better prepare and support all students for their post-secondary journey and beyond.
Making radical improvements in our schools and producing students who are critical-thinkers, problem-solvers, voracious readers, and college and career-ready graduates are the highest priorities of Allendale County School District. We have strategically formed business, industry and community partnerships to work alongside schools in preparing students for futures in STEM, higher education and the workforce. The District continues to partner with Original Six Foundation, US2020 STEM Coalition, University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, Claflin University, Savannah River Site, The Sunshine Foundation, Denmark Technical College, Collum Lumber Company, Wal-Mart, Swiss Krono, anonymous donors, and other industries and faith-based organizations to help support our students in improving academic growth/successes. Continuing to develop partnerships that benefit our students and community at large are paramount in our quest for continuous improvement.
Additionally, with continued support of the district’s vision and mission, the District is intentional in fulfilling the goals and action steps in our Strategic Plan, which is inclusive of the following goals:
1. Increase & Improve Student Achievement & Outcomes
2, Develop partnerships with the community, industry, business and faith-based organizations
3. Create a positive and trusting culture/climate
4. Recruit and retain highly effective teachers and leaders
A renewed concentration on defining and promoting a clear and common language around what effective instruction looks like in all classrooms, “Instructional Learning Walks,” will continue to be an identified focus area in the district to ensure high level instruction and research-based strategies are occurring in every classroom. Further, the district will continue to enforce our instructional process, “The Allendale Six,” in each classroom to ensure uniformity and encourage rigorous standard-based instruction, the use of formative assessments, bell-to-bell instruction and positive relationships between students and teachers.
The District continues to provide purposeful and personalized professional learning for school/district administrators and teachers alike. Specifically, teachers participated in intensive professional learning activities centered around online learning and Principals/Assistant Principals’ Academies” were used as a catalyst in providing professional growth opportunities for school leaders with a focus on instructional leadership that promotes reflective practice and teacher/student learning.
Shared services among districts were encouraged by our State Superintendent and Consortium. With district leadership stronger than ever, we are determined to keep the momentum and synergy of forward movement of the district going. As a critical component of professional development, books with themes of leadership and teamwork such as, Navigating Change, Leaders Eat Last, School Culture Rewired, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, BreakThrough Principalship, Radical Candor, Practice Perfect, and From Leading to Succeeding, were assigned to school administrators and district leaders. With the stability of a strong district leadership team, high quality school leaders, and effective teachers, Allendale County School District will begin this academic school year with a clear vision of “Changing the Headlines….Allendale Forward.” We are unstoppable!!!!!
Dr. Margaret A. Gilmore
Superintendent
Allendale County Schools
