Wantagh Schools Head Shares Key To Student Success

WANTAGH, NY — The head of Wantagh's public school system has revealed what he believes is the most important factor that influences student growth — and it has everything to do with the teacher.

Wantagh schools faculty and support staff greeted each other Wednesday in the high school auditorium as part of Superintendent’s Conference Day in preparation for the new school year. As is tradition, local and state representatives, as well as community leaders, joined the morning's opening ceremony for the official opening of the 2019-2020 school year.

At the conference event, John McNamara, the superintendent of schools, addressed challenges the district overcame in the previous school year and set forth goals in the district's strategic plan, the district said in a news release. Importantly, McNamara shared what he believes is key to student growth: teacher efficacy, meaning the educator's level of confidence in their own abilities.

According to researchers at Concordia University’s College of Education in Portland, Oregon, a teacher's self-confidence can vary greatly depending on their prior experiences or current school culture.

"A bad classroom experience or negative work environment, for example, can quickly sour a teacher's confidence," researchers wrote in a blog post last year. "Conversely, witnessing student growth and working in a collaborative environment can boost a teacher's belief in their ability and improve performance."

McNamara praised Wantagh as a place where teachers believe their students can succeed.

"I know from our survey work that we have a staff that believes in our students and the support of the colleagues," he said in a news release. "I know that when it comes to student achievement that we have an outstanding foundation in place to achieve all of our goals."