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During the past six months, the economy has changed our nation, impacting our state and the world. A clear message at the national level is that education is crucial for the future of the United States. We must prepare our children to compete and collaborate with students and workers from other countries and continents across the international landscape.
As Ohio’s superintendent of public instruction, I pledge to work tirelessly toward the time when all of Ohio’s 1.9 million students graduate from high school and succeed in college and the workforce. Our children need to become world-class thinkers, innovators and leaders. The future of our state and country depends on this commitment from all of us. It is time for every citizen of Ohio to link arms and pledge to support our institutions of public education to meet the many challenges that confront our state and country.
I'm continuing to work with the State Board of Education, Governor Ted Strickland, Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, our legislature, Ohio’s 614 school districts, and the many other education stakeholders and community organizations who are working with us to ensure our students are successful. Successful partnerships are essential to strengthening our schools and placing our students at the forefront of our work.
Ohio’s educational system currently ranks sixth in the nation, showing that significant progress has been made during the past decade. Now we must rise to the next level of commitment to reach an average of 19,000 students who don’t graduate each year.
It’s time to focus on educating the whole child – to personalize and customize learning, so we can quickly build on our students’ strengths and support them in areas of need. We need engaging learning environments in every classroom and school building where students feel safe, valued, nurtured and responsible for their learning. Additionally, we need to refine our accountability and assessment systems to be sure test results have a significant impact on teaching and learning. Ohio’s children deserve nothing less.
Our teachers deserve to be valued and honored for the many ways in which they support our students and their families. New teachers must be supported to help shape their teaching strategies and to deepen their knowledge base of highly effective practices. We must encourage our vibrant, veteran teachers to serve as mentors. We must ensure those who wish to be teachers can follow a career path where they’re rewarded for the good work they do. Our educators deserve nothing less.
It is critical for us to forge essential partnerships with our higher education colleagues in order to develop a coherent system from preschool through graduate school, with the appropriate resources and funding mechanisms that enable every school district and university to provide an excellent education.
Please join me in the rewarding work of education to make sure our students become productive citizens. Let’s work passionately and collaboratively to help our students become global leaders who can create, innovate and solve both domestic and worldwide problems. Ohio’s students deserve nothing less.
The time for responsible action is now. Pledge to link arms with me and with the many stakeholders who care passionately about the future of our children and our state. The time to care is now.
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