To the Editor,

What can we do to make our schools better? Improvement has occurred the past few years, but there is always room for more improvement. To make this a reality, the administration, faculty, and staff must first focus on some intangible factors such as respecting one another as colleagues who are striving together to provide our children the greatest opportunity for a quality education.

Next we must ensure that the support, resources, and adequate personnel is in each classroom. I am speaking of a competent teacher who views teaching as a calling, not just a job, along with a teaching assistant who feels the same.

Our central office administration must possess not only the competency but also people skills. The administration must always understand that teaching takes place in the classrooms. Let the teachers spend the necessary time teaching, respect them as professionals, provide adequate staff development, and then hold them accountable for student performance.

As a former superintendent once said, “Education happens in the classroom. If any education goes on at the central office it is purely by accident.” Teachers and the teaching assistants are the direct link to our students. We all would be wise to remember this and let our teachers be teachers.

The role of the administration is what I call “traffic directors.” Point our classroom educators in the right direction, provide them the necessary resources, give them the track to travel on, and then step aside and let them engineer the train.

The Public Schools of Robeson County is moving in the right direction. However, it is wise at times just to be reminded that we all are a part of the same educational team. We need to respect and hold one another in high regard and esteem. Feeling that what you contribute is important and appreciated provides the greatest encouragement, which in turn motivates one to push forward with greater purpose.

As the representative of District 3, I would like to thank each and every employee of the school system for your invaluable contributions. I also would like to thank all parents, grandparents, and other family members who make such a great contribution to our schools.

Let’s go and make the Public Schools of Robeson County the best system in North Carolina.

Severeo Kerns

District 3

School board member