Excellence
The Lutheran school should continue in its pursuit of academic excellence; status quo should not be acceptable. A commitment to a quality education program allows the Lutheran school to be a “school of choice” for many students and families.
Our participation in an accreditation program should not be voluntary; it should be expected. The National Lutheran School Accreditation program and other accreditation programs demand a standard of excellence through self-assessment and the development and implementation of school improvement action plans. We need to know where we are and decide that it’s not enough to stay there. Every school has their strengths and weaknesses, and we need to build into our culture the challenge for excellence in all areas and the desire to get better at our teaching and learning. In the accreditation process, SSLS will continue to reflect on its mission, investigate its performance, and develop goals and strategies for improvement.
Excellence in education is defined by the quality of the teachers in a school. Good teachers make a good school. Great teachers make a great school. Schools can have a variety of programs, an abundance of equipment and resources, new facilities, and all of the latest technology gadgets … and while all of those things can benefit a school, it is the teachers in the classroom that determine the quality of a school. Excellence is found in the quality of the teachers.
Keeping our Lutheran educators focused on excellence means equipping them with continued training to impact student learning with current teaching strategies, technology integration, and collaboration with experienced staff. Our teachers must seek ongoing improvement as “instructional leaders” who are in touch with the best practices in the changing educational landscape. Teachers must invest their time and energy in things that matter in learning.
SSLS must benchmark its curriculum against national and state standards. We must select materials and resources that help students become independent learners who are excited about learning with the right tools to be more effective in becoming problem solvers and critical thinkers.
The curriculum and instruction of our school should display an understanding of the diverse learning styles and needs of students. Student learning is further supported by ongoing efforts to integrate technology into the classroom in both instructional techniques and in student use.
Excellence is a goal, not an option. As we seek to improve our school, we will strive for academic excellence. Our action plans will require changes. Some changes will come soon and be easy to implement, other changes will take much more time and effort.
