spirit, with parents, educators, and community members working in partnership to foster the values of learning, living and leading. “We are committed to all aspects of a student’s learning, including their well being,” explains Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Drew Patrick.“We also recognize that Scarsdale is a well off community that’s been heavily focused on and invested in the schools for decades. Part of our mission is to give back, and to be part of helping \ communities and the broader world around us.” A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Committed to ongoing growth, the district has allocated a portion of its annual budget to bringing teachers in during the summer months to refine and update the curriculum. “They convene in teams, and focus on an area of the curriculum and adapt it by introducing a relevant happening in the world to it, or connecting it to a direct community,” highlights Dr. Patrick. “So, there’s been a long term commitment to regular, ongoing improvement. Hand in hand with this approach is that it really empowers our teachers to collaborate and make decisions together.” Additionally, the Scarsdale Teachers Institute offers a wide range of professional development courses, where educators learn from one another in a range of subjects. This approach allows teachers to continuously grow and deepen practice alongside their colleagues. Meghan Troy, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, believes this has been instrumental in helping Scarsdale Public Schools attract and retain top quality educators. She notes, “We’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to avoid some of the shortages that you hear in the news. And I think in part, it’s because of the professional culture that we’ve created for our teachers and that idea that you’re not stagnant in your profession. There are constantly different opportunities for growth and development and learning alongside your colleagues.” REAL-WORLD PREPARATION Scarsdale High School’s Senior Options Program offers students hands-on experience during their final six weeks of 12th grade. This program is mandatory for all senior students, making it unique to the district. “They spend most of the year researching and selecting a potential partner, ideally in an area that they are considering for their ultimate career choice,” expands Principal Kenneth Bonamo. “However, we like to note that it is just as helpful if 265 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 SCARSDALE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
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