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A word from Superintendent Carol ComeauAugust 2008In 1974, gasoline prices were less than 50 cents per gallon, car seats weren’t required for young children’s safety and smoking cigarettes was not only accepted, it was the hip thing to do for many. It was then, 34 years ago, that I began my career in the
Anchorage School District. A lot has changed over the years,
much of it for the better. Our schools are exponentially more diverse. We are not only more accepting of differences in others but embracing and learning from them. The diverse student population in Anchorage has grown from around 13 percent to 50 percent with more than 85 languages spoken by ASD students. Our students are also diverse when it comes to their standards of living. More students than ever qualify for free or reduced price lunch, meaning their household income is low enough that the federal government supplements their meals. Families are struggling to get by yet they hold value in a good education and work hard to make sure their children come to school ready to learn. Technology, a word rarely used in everyday vocabulary three decades ago, has transformed from pocket calculators to a medium that we can’t seem to live without. Teachers across the district are integrating technology into lesson plans to increase student achievement and learning in ways that engage today’s students. In 1974, ASD had 55 schools, today there are nearly 100 and dozens more specialized programs. With all that has changed in the Anchorage School District, one thing that remains constant is our dedication to students. Our staff members truly believe their job is the district’s mission: to educate all students for success in life. On Friday, August 8, the district will release its Adequate Yearly Progress results, as determined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The calculations to determine the results are very complex yet some in this community tend to oversimplify the results and rush to judgment by labeling our schools as failures if they don’t meet AYP guidelines. However, these results are only one set of data that is used to track student progress. We will provide more information on our results on our Web site and in the Anchorage Daily News on Saturday, August 9. I can honestly and proudly say that our students are getting a good education. Our 2007 high school Schools progress because our teachers are talented and they’re supported by dedicated staff and families who take an active role in our children’s education. Lives may be more intricate and fast-paced than they were when I began in this district, but one thing remains constant: our children are our future. As we begin this new school year, I ask all parents and community members to partner with us to make this a year to remember for continued student success. I thank you for your continuing support for the Anchorage School District. Most sincerely,
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Anchorage School District 5530 E Northern Lights Blvd Anchorage, Alaska 99504-3135 907-742-4000 |
Ms. Carol Comeau was an elementary classroom teacher in Springfield, Oregon from 1963-1964. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon, Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Physical Education; the University of Alaska Anchorage, Master's Degree in Public School Administration; and also has taken post-Masters coursework in curriculum, educational leadership, and instruction. She has her Superintendent endorsement from UAA and was presented an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage in May 2007.
