Ed Tierney, superintendent of schools in the Monroe County School District, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM yesterday morning to talk about what’s going on in our schools.
Could Monroe County School District become the number one district in the state?
Tierney said, “We had the great news last year on the A and then the graduation rate went up so significantly last year, and that’s a statement on the great work that has been done in the past year, and then we’re are tracking data right now for academic performance indicates the trajectory is going to continue to increase. So we’re continuing to improve outcomes for students based on the data we see. And we’re just looking forward to a strong ending to this school year and closing it out strong.”
Affordable housing for teachers is also an issue.
Tierney said, “We’re really making some steps here. And I’m hesitant to jinx us, but we’re through tree commission, through planning, through HARC. Our next event is the city of Key West, and it’s just the project is moving ahead so smoothly. We’re actually a little ahead of schedule. Should we be approved in May from the city of Key West, then we can start pulling permits right after that. So just about every district in this state is talking about affordable housing, but this board and this community looks like we’re going to be able to pull it off. So we’re really working hard on it and really proud of the progress. And hopefully we come to a good conclusion.”
What does the city of Key West need to approve?
Tierney said, “I think it’s just approval. We’ve been through the committees that are precursors to that, and it’s just their approval, and they’ve been so supportive of it that I’m really kind of optimistic that we’re going to continue to have this thing move along.”
There was recognition of the band teacher in Key West recently.
Tierney said, “Our band teacher from Key West, high Gary Hernandez (was) honored by a proclamation by the city of Key West (yesterday afternoon). That speaks to the quality of the teachers we have, and also the relationship we have with the city and on Gary, I became aware of him on August 15, because I started July 1, and I went to the preseason football game on the 15th. So shortly after I got here, and during that game, during the halftime, I watched the band, the cheerleaders, the flag squad and the conchettes all be just about perfectly synchronized to their music. And I thought that is a lot of work to get done for the first preseason game, so I knew there was someone special, kind of heading that program up long before I met him, and I’ve since met him and respect and honor him.”
There has been a reduction in crime in the Keys recently.
Tierney said, “We track that closely, and we work very, very hard to provide warm, safe, supportive environments in the classrooms, in the schools. And I think this reduction in the threat assessment supports that we work closely with the chief and the sheriff and the state attorney, our probation officers, counselors, mental health support and we’re creating safer environments in the school, and we’ll continue to work on that, because that job is never done. And then just as a compliment to the teachers, the best way to have students doing what you want in a school is to have them achieve success in the classroom. That is always the best behavior and a management tool. And the success the kids are achieving are based on the hard work of the teachers and the principals and the school based personnel, and that’s probably the largest contributing factor.”
Administrators have also gotten into the classroom as well.
Tierney said, “People did a really great job with that, and the teachers welcomed them in, and it went better than I even hoped. And I think we’re going to see the data this summer when it comes in, the students benefit from that additional instruction and kind of one to one attention. But what I didn’t even anticipate is how much it positively impacted the people in our building. They just came back from school so energized and so happy to have worked with the kids and the teachers. And there’s just a real newfound respect for the work that the teachers have to do and the complexity and how difficult it is and I think that’s going to help us support teachers in the schools all the better as we move forward as a district headquarters. So I estimate we spent 1120 hours in schools as an administrative staff. And I just think as much as the kids benefited from it, I suspect the adults had maybe even a greater benefit than the kids did.”
Graduation will be upon us before we know it.
Tierney said, “The year always goes quickly, but this fourth quarter always flies. It’s just over in a blink of an eye. So we’re working hard to try to close this out as we get to testing and then get to graduation. I think we’ve had a really good year and we’re going to finish strong. I think we’re in good shape, and I think we’re heading in a good direction with an upward trajectory and improving student outcomes. It’s the quality of the teachers and the staff and the hard work and the support of this community that just loves its students and teachers and schools like nothing I’ve ever seen. We are working hard every day to support the students and create warm, safe environments and improve outcomes for all the students. So that is what we’re doing today and every day.”