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"Every child deserves a quality education. We have a moral obligation to offer an opportunity for life. Learning is an opportunity for life."
-- Dr. Jayne Sargent, Superintendent, Jackson Public Schools
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Dr. Sargent knows what she wants for Jackson Public Schools. She is very, very clear about that. Her standards are high and her conviction is strong: "Our mission is about children and serving them well, nurturing them and giving them opportunity."
Jackson Public Schools fully expects to become a role model for the State of Mississippi, and the rest of the nation. When describing their goals, the administrators use phrases like "the best," "the top," "a leading urban district in the nation," and "beyond the state or national report card."
With those goals in mind, the School Board and Dr. Sargent's staff set about defining how to become the best. They came up with the following broad goals:
- Return to community-based schools; organize each school to address the needs of the community it serves.
- Offer a full curriculum at every school; promote high academic standards by improving academic
performance and achievement for all students; improve state accreditation standing.
- Increase average daily attendance; decrease truancy.
- Attract and retain high quality teachers and administrators; provide professional development that will further the objectives of the district.
- Promote parental and community involvement at all levels in the school system.
- Pursue long range strategic planning.
To achieve the vision and realize the goals, the JPS staff know they have huge obstacles to overcome. They do not have time for incremental change. They intend to leapfrog intermediate steps -- making quantum leaps -- and undergo painful self-examination as well. But that's a part of change, and they are determined to improve. They embarked on the journey because this is a story of commitment.
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"This was not all my vision. My vision was 'we've got to do better.' It was our vision as to what that 'better' might look like."
-- Dr. Jayne Sargent, Superintendent, Jackson Public Schools
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