October 29 session

I look forward to looking at the IIRC and comparing our district with others with the same characteristics. There are many factors that determine how successful a school year will be. I agree that demographics, economic strength (or lack of), curriculum vision, student attendance, and parental involvement all influence student achievement. However, the bottom line for me, the major factor influencing children achievement is still the teacher. We are in the "front line" and need to better relate to the children. We need to reinvent ourselves to the needs of these children. I liked what you said about No Child Left Behind law. It is there so no minorities will be neglected, whether racial, social, economic, or disabled. As Harry Truman once said, and it still applies to teachers everywhere, the "buck stops here."