In a good position
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Thirteen years ago, when John Heim interviewed for the job of Emporia’s superintendent, he made quite an impression on the community. After a full day of interviews with community leaders, staff and the board of education, it was clear he was the best fit for Emporia, Kan., of the five finalists for the job.
He moved here and became an integral part of the community and a positive force within leadership circles. Not all of his decisions and recommendations to the board of education have been popular. Heim asked the board to close an elementary school on the Emporia State University campus, and he withstood questions about the integrity of district financial practices. Throughout all of these debates, he never wavered as a champion for children. Today, we have six thriving neighborhood schools and a solid financial position even in recessionary times.
Heim has helped make Emporia a better place to live and raise a family. He has challenged staff and community to do what is legally and morally right for children of all economic, cultural and academic backgrounds. Emporia’s school system is highly regarded among education professionals and policymakers in Kansas. Other districts across the state look to our district as a model for instruction and professional development, especially in the delivery of intervention services and instruction for English Language Learners. The district accepted the challenge of No Child Left Behind, and has moved from a district “on improvement” status to a district meeting Adequate Yearly Progress targets two years in a row.
Schools are the center of the community, and district decisions affect everyone who lives here. For that reason, we have a tradition of involving staff and community representatives in important decisions about capital projects, bond issues and budget priorities. A new task force has just started a study of how the K-8 schools are configured and their work may lead to changes in where students attend school and how educational services are delivered in the future.
In any community, the schools are a reflection of the families that live there. The economic challenges facing Emporia, the state and nation have certainly crossed into Emporia classrooms. In 1997, approximately 2,100 students (45 percent) qualified for free or reduced lunch, and 7 percent of students qualified for English as a Second Language services. Average achievement on Kansas Assessments was generally at or slightly below the state average.
Fast forward to 2009-10. Emporia has taken on the cultural characteristics of our nation, and this year 46 percent of our students are white, 45 percent are Hispanic, and 9 percent are African American, Indian, Asian and multi-ethnic. Nearly 3,000 students (63.5 percent) qualify for free or reduced lunch and nearly 1,500 students (31 percent) qualify for ESL services. Average achievement on state reading and math assessments is at an all-time high.
John Heim would be the first to say he alone is not responsible for good things that have happened in the Emporia Public Schools since 1997. All good leaders surround themselves with good employees who can carry out the work into the future. That is what Heim has done. He has built a strong administrative team and created a working and learning environment that attracts great teachers and support staff who are willing to go the extra mile for students.
Certainly the Emporia community and school district have many challenges in the future. The years ahead will not be easy for our interim superintendent and her successor. Yet Heim has left the Emporia public schools in a good position to weather the storm.
NancyHorst (Nancy Horst) says...
I wrote this. My name was left off the online version.
Nancy Horst, community relations for the district.
May 13, 2010 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I would like to invite all of the school districts teachers to " weigh " in on whether John Heim, his staff, the school, board, etc., has done a good job and has in fact, left the Emporia public schools in a good position to weather the storm.
After all the teachers are the front line of the schools and school district and have to deal with school and education, operations, teaching first hand.
I for one do not believe that the Emporia public schools are in as good a position to weather the storm as some would have us believe.
After all, was it not long ago that the School District, its leader, staff, school board, and others were saying, the district needed money and that things were not as rosey as expected .
You see, one of the biggest " Ploys " used by governments, politicians, spys, the intelegence comunity, etc., is to make something seem like it is better than it actually is or worse than it actually is, by using any means available to achieve a desired result or outcome. And misinformation is one of the biggest ploys used . The method is even used on ones own people .
Again, this is just my opinion.
May 13, 2010 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Well, we paid.
May 13, 2010 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I thought Legacy's were supposed to be about what others thought of you when you departed, not your own narcissistic view. The ONLY reason this district is in good shape is because the state legislature passed a bill forbidding more cuts to schools, essentially raising taxes, so shouldn't we be ones the credited here?
May 13, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kseyetie (anonymous) says...
Good job, Dr.Heim. You have done well for the community, the students and the schools. No one goes into administration or leadership because they are addicted to positive feedback. The keyboard cowards who attack from behind their hooded faces do not represent the reality of all the good you have done. Good luck at KASB.
May 13, 2010 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Hey Hey Hey people!
Different people have different opinions.
I'm sure Nancy wrote this thank you on her own time and as such we didn't pay for it.
If you don't think Dr. Heim did such a great job, ok.
Ms. Horst feels the otherwise.
On the other hand, kseytie, perhaps you should look in the mirror and at your posting name before you throw out the term "keyboard cowards"? Nancy had the backbone to sign her name to her piece.
May 13, 2010 at 4:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
"The keyboard cowards who attack from behind their hooded faces do not represent the reality of all the good you have done."
Explain where anything I said in my post was not true? We are all cowards when disagree eh?
May 14, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )