As a school administrator, back to school is my favorite time of year. The Sewanhaka Central High School District conducted orientation sessions for more than 70 new teachers, and we ended this summer with two days of professional development activity for all of the district's administrators. In addition, we are looking forward to the institution of several new and exciting educational programs this school year. We experienced a great motivational speaker on opening day, so there are plenty of reasons for excitement.

Back to school also coincides with the release of data which ranks how our district fared under the New York State accountability system and the targets set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. If you are a parent, by now you know that the Sewanhaka Central High School District students perform very well when compared with others in Nassau County and New York State. Unfortunately, every time new data is released, there are always those who proclaim that quality public education is an oxymoron.

Critics of public education like to assert that academic achievement is stagnant. American students cannot compete internationally, or that vouchers are the silver bullet. Those who wax nostalgic about "the good old days of education" forget that the system was an exclusionary one that discriminated against children of color, those with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. When someone laments the fact that the nation's public education system is not what it used to be, I agree with them and say, "You're right! And that's a good thing!"

The Sewanhaka Central High School District educates every child who enters through its doors regardless of educational, physical or mental need. This provides children the amazing opportunity to receive a free public education in a diverse environment. I cannot think of a better way to prepare children to grow up and become productive citizens of our diverse nation and the world.

Yet the public schools face the critical challenge of closing the achievement gap. NCLB holds schools accountable for eliminating the disparity in academic achievement between poor/minority students and those from higher social classes. Many Americans blame failing schools for this gap. As a public school superintendent, I believe that raising academic achievement levels for every child in this school system is my number one priority. But just as two adults respond differently in the same situation, every child is unique and enters school at a different achievement level.

Research shows that social class differences in healthcare quality and access, nutrition, child rearing styles, housing quality and stability, parental occupation and aspirations, and even exposure to environmental toxins play a significant role in how well children learn and ultimately succeed. We need to look at how each individual child is learning and take into account non-school factors that affect how he succeeds academically. We cannot achieve the goal of universal success for all children without focusing on the individual needs of each child.

As a district, we are committed to closing the achievement gap. But there's a reason that the word "public" appears in public schools. Without public support there can be no public school. To accomplish the worthy goal of universal success for all children requires the political will, the financial resources and the educational capacity to determine how best to educate every child. School, community, business and elected leaders must commit themselves to work together in providing comprehensive nutrition and health programs, early childhood education and ongoing support for families.

Educators know that as we get all kids ready for school, we also need to get schools ready for kids. We will continue to improve our schools' organization, teaching and learning practices and leadership strategies to meet the needs of each student who comes to us. Schools must offer more personalized, individually tailored approaches that capitalize on what children already know, what their learning styles offer, what new brain research tells us about teaching and learning and what technology offers us.

Finally, we all must stay focused on the real goals of education: giving students the tools they need to succeed in life and preparing them to be good citizens in our democracy and the world.

I urge every member of this community to commit to ensuring academic success for every child in this district. Come to our monthly school board meetings, volunteer in a classroom, join the PTSA and/or SEPTA. There are so many opportunities to contribute to the success of our students.

We have an exceptional generation of children in our public schools today, and they should expect nothing short of excellence from all of us. I am committing the public school system to do its part, and I look forward to working with parents, business and community leaders and our elected officials in making the Sewanhaka Central High School District the best it can be. Stand with me in standing up for public education.

Dr. John R. Williams

Superintendent of Schools

Sewanhaka Central High School District