Vernon Superintendent Touts Accomplishments In 2023 Education Review

VERNON, CT — Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary Friday released an open letter to the community reviewing the year 2023 in the local education system.

Its premise is, "2023 Vernon Public Schools: Reaching for the Next Level of Educational Excellence."

Here is the transcript of the letter:

Traditionally, during this time of the year, everyone looks forward to the New Year by making resolutions and striving to make the world a better place to live. 2023 has created "different challenges" in all our lives as we strive to overcome the long-term effects of the Covid-19 global health pandemic. We had to re-focus on how we were going to create an optimal learning environment in all our classrooms for Vernon students. Our efforts became maintaining high standards of teaching and learning and managing the economic factors of personnel and staffing in our schools.

When I think about the Vernon Public Schools, I always remember this quote from John Wooden, legendary basketball coach at UCLA, "When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur...

Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens- and when it happens, it lasts." This year’s district accomplishments, school accolades, and student achievements, of which we can be proud to celebrate, are a result of the small improvements made one day at a time.

Today's students have different academic, social, and emotional needs than those of earlier generations.

Their needs are continually changing, and schools need to adapt. To transform the Vernon Public Schools, we must take steps toward the next level of educational excellence. These steps are grounded in the district's core beliefs to: advocate a “whole child” approach to student learning, maximize student performance and set high expectations, and integrate family and community with the education system.

These core beliefs drive our work to reach educational excellence!

Despite all the challenges in 2023, here are some impressive accomplishments this past year:

✓ In September 2023, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized Vernon's Skinner Road School as one of the National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award (given to only 353 schools in the nation) affirms the hard work of our educators, families, and communities in creating a safe and welcoming school where students master challenging and engaging content. Congratulations to students, parents, teachers, staff, and administration at Skinner Road School for their efforts and accomplishments in being named a 2023 “Blue Ribbon School.” The National Blue Ribbon School recognition is one of the highest accolades in the field of education. This is the second time in 4 years (Northeast School in 2020) that a Vernon School has received this recognition. This award is a testament to the efforts made to improve teaching and learning with the result of meeting the needs of our students at Skinner Road School. We are proud of you and this accomplishment.

✓ The best indicator of student learning is Connecticut’s Next Generation Accountability System Results, which is a broad set of 12 indicators that help tell the story of how well a school is preparing its students for success in college, careers, and life. School Accountability Results are similar to a student’s report card – looking at the overall growth in one’s education compared to others. The CT State Department of Education released the 2022-2023 Accountability Results for Schools. Vernon earned 72.4 points, in comparison to the CT State Average 69.3. Vernon ranked #1 among the 33 Alliance Districts in Connecticut. In addition, Vernon ranked #1 in results in its District Reference Group (DRG-G). This was an amazing accomplishment considering the past 4 years of school disruption due to the COVID-19 health pandemic and school shutdowns.

✓ Based on the Connecticut Next Generation Accountability results, schools with significant growth and achievement are deemed “Schools of Distinction” and represent the top 10% of all CT schools. For the past four ranking years, Northeast School was deemed a “School of Distinction” with this year being for its high growth (high needs students) in English Language Arts (ELA). This year, Maple Street School was deemed a “School of Distinction” for its high growth (all students) in ELA and Math and for its high growth (high needs students in both ELA and Math.

✓ For the second time in four years, U.S. News & World Report magazine has rated Vernon’s Lake Street School as one of the best in Connecticut. Long known for rating colleges and hospitals, in 2021 U.S. News began ranking elementary and middle schools across the nation. Lake Street School was 60th out 560 schools in 2021 and for 2024 is ranked 54th of 545 Connecticut elementary schools. The magazine’s ratings are based on math and reading proficiency as measured by state assessments as well as how students perform compared to expectations. Lake Street students performed “well above expectations” in math and reading.

✓ The 2023 Smarter Balanced (SBA) Results showed that the Vernon Public Schools outperformed the CT State Average in all three areas -- English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science. Out of the 33 CT Alliance Districts, Vernon students' scores were first (#1) in both ELA and Math results. In our DRG (District Reference Group), out of the K-12 districts, Vernon’s results were #1 in Mathematics, #1 in English Language Arts, and #2 in science.

✓ By June of 2023, 260 Rockville High School students received college credit through their academic studies in the 2022-2023 year. Students either passed Advanced Placement exams, completed University of Connecticut or Eastern Connecticut State University Early College Experience courses, or completed an articulated class with Manchester or Middlesex Community College. Of these RHS students earning college credits, 101 were members of the graduating Class of 2023. That is 55% of the graduating class. The credits earned by all RHS students during the 2022-2023 school year translate to a total of $715,800 in savings on college tuition and fees. In addition, 78 seniors were awarded community scholarships totaling $396,310.

✓ Over 77% of the Rockville High School Graduates (Class of 2023) are furthering their education at the college level. Some of the colleges our students are attending include Haverford College, North Carolina State University, University of Arizona, Wheaton College, Roanoke University, Fairfield University, Bentley College, Quinnipiac University, Savannah College of Art & Design, and the University of Connecticut.

✓ Thirty-three (33) Rockville High School students were winners in the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. RHS students received 59 awards this year (49 in 2022), including 8 Gold Keys, 23 Silver Keys, and 28 Honorable Mentions, the highest number of any participating high school in the state of Connecticut. Clarissa Halpryn received a 2023 American Voices Nomination for Best in Show.

✓ The Rockville High School Creative Writers had 13 platinum published award winners, 11
gold award winners, 20 silver award winners, and 22 honorable mentions in UCONN's 2023
Connecticut Student Writer Magazine! RHS dominated with 13 out of 30 published pieces in the grade 9-12 categories (a record). RHS had winners in every category (fiction, poetry, non-fiction) and our students won more awards than any other school in the State of Connecticut.

✓ Eighteen (18) Seniors from the RHS Class of 2023 signed up to play a sport in college. They include Joey Christian, Football at Worcester State University; JT Dwire, Football at Ursinus College; Emily Fredrickson, Cheerleading at the University of New Haven; Jordan Galica, Soccer at the University of New Haven; Hason Green, Football at Nichols College; Lauren Haddad, Track & Field at Bryant University; Chloe Keane, Soccer at Western New England University; Ava Kristoff, Track & Field at Wheaton College; Weston LaBrecque, Track & Field at Marist College; Brooke Landry, Soccer at St. Joseph University; Malachi Mapp, Football at Central Connecticut State University; Tori Mitchell, Lacrosse at Georgian Court University; Lexi Real, Softball at Springfield College; Mandi Rivard, Lacrosse at University of Hartford; Arielle Shivers, Track & Field at Central Connecticut State University; Anaya Tolton, Basketball at Westfield State University; Cam Washington, Track & Field at Iona University; and Luke Woodward, Soccer at Salve Regina University.

✓ E-mail from a former Vernon Parent: “My daughter attended Center Rd last year and I just wanted to offer some feedback on our experience. We unfortunately had to transfer to a different school system this year because we had to move to a bigger home. I tried my hardest to stay in Vernon because our experience was so phenomenal with Center Rd. My daughter has been in another school system prior to attending Center Rd and the differences were astounding- from the pick-up and drop off process which was managed so securely (parents had to show ID and kids were released to parents only when they show up, believe me that is not the case at our current and former school) to no one being allowed in the building during school hours for what I assume to be security reasons, to her teacher Ms. Smith being absolutely amazing. I commend the Vernon school system. The communication between teachers and parents was also excellent. I was very sad that we couldn’t stay, and she attend VCMS. I just wanted to offer that feedback because it’s clear the school system is being run efficiently and safely and it seems there isn’t enough positive feedback these days.”

✓ In June 2023, the district conducted an ‘end of the year survey’ of over 600 people in the
community and received the following results: 87.2% of the people rated the Overall Education in Vernon a grade of “A” or “B.” A majority (93.7%) say they receive favorable services from the teaching staff in our schools. Additionally, 88.1% of the respondents say the Vernon Public School District is heading in the right direction based on the mission and vision statement in terms of educating their children.

✓ The Vernon Board of Education won the Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communications for their special project “Board Member Handbook” at the 2023 CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Convention. The Vernon BOE also received two honorable mentions under special projects for the ‘Billboards’ and the ‘School Brochures’

✓ The Vernon Board of Education won the CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Board of Distinction Award in 2023. The CABE Board Awards are designed to recognize boards that provide effective leadership to their districts through the use of good practices. This program acknowledges the importance of school board members and superintendents working together as effective teams. This is the eighth year (2016-2023) in a row that Vernon has won this Level II Award, which is the highest bestowed by CABE. Vernon was one of only 17 school districts in Connecticut to receive this prestigious leadership award in 2023. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” This quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. has never been truer than in 2024. It is more imperative today than ever that we all embrace life-long education for all children and adults. Learning is the key to success in life.

Honestly, I did not want to add this to this year’s accomplishments; however, this achievement cannot be attained by one individual and should be considered a shared collective award. In November, I was named the 2024 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS).

Serving as Vernon’s superintendent since October 2015, the focus has been working closely with parents, teachers, staff, the Board of Education, and town leaders to improve Vernon Public Schools and steadily increase student performance in measurable ways. That work has shown results. In addition, in March, I was named the 2023 Outstanding School Superintendent by the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education Alumni Board. These awards are shared with the students, teachers, families, staff, administration, Board of Education, town, and the entire Vernon community at large.

As you can see, the Vernon Public Schools has achieved much in 2023. The above accomplishments clearly demonstrate the potential the Vernon Public Schools have to be one of the best districts in Connecticut. Together - students, parents, families, teachers, staff members, administrators, and board members work towards educational excellence every day, and make our district a better place for all children. I am proud to be a part of this culture and I can say that 2023 was a year that reached the next level of educational excellence for Vernon’s students. Thank you for your continued support and confidence in our school district.