Hundreds of Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) employees filled the West Side Theatre to hear the welcome back message from Dr. Cheryl Pruitt, Superintendent, and a very special thanks from students. With the back-to-school season well underway, the atmosphere was charged with messages that encouraged the GCSC family to “keep doing what we’re doing – and that’s working together because we’re in this together for the sake of the students.”
This year’s convocation theme is “Operation Education Now!” The Battle is Ours. The focus is on ways of providing quality public education for students in all communities, regardless of the socio-economic status of the region.
The event began early Tuesday morning, Aug. 16 with a string of performances by GCSC students. The program continued with greetings by School Board President Antuwan Clemons, Senator Earline Rogers and Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson among others.
Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Pruitt delivered the morning’s keynote address, providing the most recent data on GCSC’s performance contrasted with the state of Indiana’s averages. In most cases, the average test scores and graduation rates have increased, surpassing the state average. For more information on Gary schools’ performance, please see the “Superintendent’s Report.”
Wednesday’s event was an open community forum featuring Dr. Bill Daggett, founder and chairman of the International Center for Leadership in Education. Dr. Daggett has more than 25 years of experience in moving pre-k-12 education systems toward more rigorous and relevant skills for all students, in all areas of the country. The 2016 convocation concluded on Thursday with the keynote address from Dr. Daggett.
For more information on back-to-school events at Gary Community Schools, visit www.GarySchools.org. The first day of school for students is Monday, August 22.
