New Super takes note
The new Glassboro School District superintendent Mark Silverstein dove into the community this summer in order to be ready for the 2009-2010 school year.
Silverstein’s plan was to meet with 90 stakeholders in the Glassboro community and talk with them about their thoughts on what is working or not working in the district. By late August he had met with about 50 of the 90, including community residents, teachers, borough hall council members, the Glassboro mayor, district parents, past superintendents, and past and present school board members.
In his one-on-one meetings Silverstein asks: What is best about the 2,500 pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade Glassboro district; what needs tweaking; what advice do people have for him as superintendent; and for any suggestions and ideas to improve Glassboro schools.
“Across the board, people have said that the teaching staff is excellent. They have a devotion to academic success and a commitment to students,” he said.
Silverstein said he recorded their suggestions so he can reference them throughout the school year.
“The beauty is the latitude of input I will have as I make decisions going forward. I am a listener, and I like to hear what people think before I make decisions. It’s a great way for me to meet the community, as well,” he said.
In addition to meeting with community stakeholders, Silverstein has placed a link on the district’s Web site that provides a venue for the community to communicate with school administrators.
He has also considered holding board meetings outside of the administrative building site in locations throughout the community so that district parents and residents can get more involved.
“I plan to keep doing what I am doing,” he said, pledging to continue providing and gaining information with the community.
In his first year, Silverstein plans to analyze student achievement data on testing and overall achievement scores, and make sure separate grade levels and school buildings communicate.
He hopes to sharpen the district’s writing curriculum, develop more professional learning opportunities for teachers, and implement the new laptop technology coming into the district.
Silverstein also plans to make greater use of the district-wide instant messaging system if needed. The system alerts parents of emergency information and late buses.
Silverstein has worked in the field of education for 17 years and is currently also an adjunct instructor at Farleigh Dickinson University’s Mount Holly campus. He holds a MBA from Rutgers University and a doctorate from Widener University.
Before his career in education, Silverstein spent about 10 years working in the financial service industry. He transferred to the educational field after realizing his love of teaching as an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University.
Prior to Glassboro, Silverstein had worked as a superintendent at the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade Rancocas Valley Regional High School District in Burlington County, a principal at Bridgeton Middle School, a vice principal at Cherry Hill Middle School, and a vice principal at Salem High School.
Mayor of Glassboro Leo McCabe spoke with the superintendent and was pleased with the district’s leadership choice.
“He is very approachable and easy to talk to. He seems very bright, and I think he is dedicated to doing a good job here in Glassboro,” McCabe said.
McCabe served on the Glassboro school board for 19 years from the mid 1970s to early 1990s. He feels that listening to stakeholders’ thoughts will help Silverstein move ahead as a new administrator at the school.
“I think it’s a very good idea to get to know how people in the school district and the residents of Glassboro are feeling. I think he will get a diverse set of opinions and get a feel of where we are and where we should be going,” McCabe said.
Silverstein’s plan was to meet with 90 stakeholders in the Glassboro community and talk with them about their thoughts on what is working or not working in the district. By late August he had met with about 50 of the 90, including community residents, teachers, borough hall council members, the Glassboro mayor, district parents, past superintendents, and past and present school board members.
In his one-on-one meetings Silverstein asks: What is best about the 2,500 pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade Glassboro district; what needs tweaking; what advice do people have for him as superintendent; and for any suggestions and ideas to improve Glassboro schools.
“Across the board, people have said that the teaching staff is excellent. They have a devotion to academic success and a commitment to students,” he said.
Silverstein said he recorded their suggestions so he can reference them throughout the school year.
“The beauty is the latitude of input I will have as I make decisions going forward. I am a listener, and I like to hear what people think before I make decisions. It’s a great way for me to meet the community, as well,” he said.
In addition to meeting with community stakeholders, Silverstein has placed a link on the district’s Web site that provides a venue for the community to communicate with school administrators.
He has also considered holding board meetings outside of the administrative building site in locations throughout the community so that district parents and residents can get more involved.
“I plan to keep doing what I am doing,” he said, pledging to continue providing and gaining information with the community.
In his first year, Silverstein plans to analyze student achievement data on testing and overall achievement scores, and make sure separate grade levels and school buildings communicate.
He hopes to sharpen the district’s writing curriculum, develop more professional learning opportunities for teachers, and implement the new laptop technology coming into the district.
Silverstein also plans to make greater use of the district-wide instant messaging system if needed. The system alerts parents of emergency information and late buses.
Silverstein has worked in the field of education for 17 years and is currently also an adjunct instructor at Farleigh Dickinson University’s Mount Holly campus. He holds a MBA from Rutgers University and a doctorate from Widener University.
Before his career in education, Silverstein spent about 10 years working in the financial service industry. He transferred to the educational field after realizing his love of teaching as an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University.
Prior to Glassboro, Silverstein had worked as a superintendent at the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade Rancocas Valley Regional High School District in Burlington County, a principal at Bridgeton Middle School, a vice principal at Cherry Hill Middle School, and a vice principal at Salem High School.
Mayor of Glassboro Leo McCabe spoke with the superintendent and was pleased with the district’s leadership choice.
“He is very approachable and easy to talk to. He seems very bright, and I think he is dedicated to doing a good job here in Glassboro,” McCabe said.
McCabe served on the Glassboro school board for 19 years from the mid 1970s to early 1990s. He feels that listening to stakeholders’ thoughts will help Silverstein move ahead as a new administrator at the school.
“I think it’s a very good idea to get to know how people in the school district and the residents of Glassboro are feeling. I think he will get a diverse set of opinions and get a feel of where we are and where we should be going,” McCabe said.
