Nashua Telegraph, NH
08-27-06
Exciting start to school year
CHRISTOPHER HOTTEL, Nashua High School North
The school year will begin for Nashua students on Tuesday. More than 13,000
students have registered to begin the year at our 18 schools. About 2,000
employees will be returning to the school buildings.
Our elementary school class sizes are acceptable once again thanks to the
foresight of the board of education and the unity shown throughout city
leadership in the summer as we worked together to restore staff reductions made
in the spring.
At the high schools, all students have received their schedules and have been
meeting with counselors during the last few weeks to make final adjustments. I
am especially heartened to see that we have more than 700 students this year in
Advanced Placement courses at the two public high schools.
While Tuesday is the first day of school for our students, our teachers will
officially return Monday and I will be meeting with them and all district staff in two
groups in the morning, one at Nashua High School North and one at Elm Street
Middle School.
I am looking forward to greeting everyone, both students and staff, and to
meeting personally with them as the week unfolds. As I speak to the teachers
and staff, my message will be one of support, confidence and thanks.
It is true that this fall follows a summer of uncertainty regarding the leadership of
the Nashua School District while the superintendent of schools, Julia Earl,
remains on administrative leave. Our message to begin the year, however, is that
all of us have much to be proud of, much to celebrate, much to look forward to.
We have an engaged and dedicated staff who are proud to serve our students
and community. As school and community leaders, we need to honor that
dedication and engagement. Leadership issues can be resolved over time, but
while that resolution unfolds, our unwavering vision must be directed toward the
success and achievement of our students.
At the administrative level, most visible among the progressive steps we have
made this summer is in how this district is managed.
Earlier this month, the board of education approved our proposed reorganization,
eliminating an assistant superintendent and the assistant director of human
resources.
In addition, we created several new positions, most notably positions devoted to
curriculum and instruction, accountability and assessment, and student services,
delegating and in some cases combining priority tasks to address the multiplicity
of student needs.
These changes in organizational structure have long been coming with so many
more demands on school officials regarding heightened regulatory standards.
We strive to be as efficient and effective as possible in meeting these demands.
Being responsible and responsive members of our community makes us better at
what we do. As we succeed, so does the Nashua community, and ultimately, we
create an academic institution of lasting value for all stakeholders.
At the school level, experienced principals are poised and proud to help our
students find their own way at each school in Nashua. These educational leaders
participated in a two-day training academy with me this month.
Dr. William K. Poston Jr., the academy’s facilitator, is a professor of
educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University and a
well-respected leader in defining strategies in student achievement.
David Ryan, principal at Nashua High School North, and John Nelson, principal
at Fairgrounds Middle School, joined our veteran principals for the academy;
both are new in the roles as Nashua principals.
Dave may be new to the district, but is a Nashua native, having graduated from
Bishop Guertin High School in 1986.
As many of you know, John first arrived in Nashua from Minnesota in 2000 as
assistant superintendent. John made a conscientious professional decision this
spring to return to school-level administration, and I welcome his wealth of
experience in his new leadership role at FMS.
I will be watching as the school year progresses with particular interest because I
am still discovering new things about this district every day. Let me share with
you a few of the things I have learned in my short time here:
• This district is a place of great diversity; we have a growing diverse student
population that is a great reflection on the broader world in which we live and
work.
• The district is a place of striking practicality; I am constantly amazed at the level
of problem solving that meets every crossroad.
• And the district is a place of great energy; I am proud to see staff and students
alike reach beyond their comfort zone and learn from each other.
More than 25 years ago in Northfield, Mass., I stepped in front of a classroom of
students for the first time, teaching Latin, Greek and French. Ever since then, I
have been irresistibly drawn to the energy of learning and to the challenge and
inspiration of teaching.
To all who are involved with the Nashua School District, whether you are a
student, teacher, parent or community member, I ask you to seize the day. Focus
the energy, harness the potential and seize all that the Nashua School District
has to offer.
I pledge my energies to all of you and hope that you will work with me to make
this new school year a memorable one and a successful one. Together, we
commit to that profound act of faith in the future that is what teaching and
learning are all about.
I wish you all the best in this new school year.
Good luck!
Christopher Hottel is the associate superintendent of the Nashua School District,
and was named acting superintendent in June. His column will appear monthly in
The Sunday Telegraph.