A Message from the Superintendent - September 2023
Welcome back! I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating summer break. As we prepare for the start of a new school year, I wanted to take a moment to remind us all of the importance of creating a warm and welcoming environment for our students and teachers.
Creating a welcoming atmosphere sets the tone for a successful year ahead. When students and teachers feel valued, supported, and encouraged, they are more likely to thrive academically and personally. All educational leaders are responsible for fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity within our schools.
At BKNHS, our goals and priorities align with our district's vision and mission. We strive to provide each student with a loving and equitable learning community where they can pursue their passions and achieve academic excellence. By graduating within four years, college- and career-ready, our students have the skills to collaborate, communicate, think critically, and be creative, enabling them to persist as global citizens.
In addition to these goals, it is crucial that we prepare our students for the future by embracing 21st-century learning. This includes creating classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology and empowering our students to become change-makers in our ever-evolving world. Integrating technology into our teaching practices can foster innovation, enhance problem-solving skills, and promote digital literacy among our students. These 21st-century learning classrooms will allow our students to explore and engage with real-world issues, collaborate with their peers, and develop the skills necessary for future success. By embracing technology, we can ensure that our students are prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.
As principals, you play a crucial role in creating an environment that embodies these principles. By fostering a culture of innovation and providing access to state-of-the-art technology, you empower our students to be the change-makers of tomorrow. Your leadership will inspire and empower others to embrace the importance of 21st-century learning.
I am confident that together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students. Let us work collaboratively to create a warm and welcoming environment that nurtures their growth, sparks their curiosity, and prepares them for a successful future.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our school community. I wish you all the best for the upcoming school year. The team and I look forward to strongly supporting you and your school communities in starting the new year.
Warmly,
Janice
Janice Ross
Superintendent
Brooklyn North High Schools
Districts 13,14,15,16,19,23 & 32
Superintendent
Janice Ross
Janice Ross
NYCDOE Chancellor David C. Banks' Four Pillars
The four pillars for improving and building trust with our families:
Reimagining the student experience
Career Pathways Initiative —creating career-connected learning and pathways for all our students to help activate their passion and sense of purpose.
Ensuring that all students graduate with a strong plan and head start on a pathway to the middle class, including financial literacy and civics skills.
Supporting our children to become strong readers.
Making sure every single one of our students is getting strong, phonics-based literacy instruction from the very start.
Building on the universal screening tools that identify risk for dyslexia to tailor more effective responses at the earliest possible ages; strengthening early childhood education.
Creating an Advisory Council on Literacy.
Virtual learning -expanding virtual options for students.
Scaling, sustaining, and restoring what works
Identifying the amazing practices throughout our system and sharing via state-of-the-art knowledge-sharing system so that they become models that other schools can try to emulate.
Expanding opportunities for accelerated learning in every school.
Prioritizing wellness and its link to student success
Working with the Mayor’s office to increase the number of School Safety Agents.
Collaborating with community-based partners to support school safety, mental health, attendance, and enrichment.
Extending learning beyond the four walls of the classroom to feed the souls of our children with visits to museums, parks, and activities in the great outdoors.
Increasing our schools’ capacity to provide quality mindfulness practices that are scientifically researched, evidence-based, and culturally responsive.
Engaging families to be our true partners
