Skagway School News
Have a great summer! See you in August!
2009 Hawiian Pool Party Prom on the NCL Pearl.
A note from the Superintendent
As I begin planning on starting the magnanimous one year Leave of Absence
granted to me by the school board due to ongoing problems with my health I
am overwhelmed with emotion and a Not "Good-bye",
but merely,
"See you soon"!
- Dr. Dickensprofound sense of gratitude to the
students, teachers, staff, parents, and community members of the municipality of Skagway! Everyone has been so thoughtful, kind, and generous
to me. Students and staff wrote letters for publication in the Skagway News
and Jeff Brady was kind to publish them. They also had surprise parties for
me and gave me a huge poster with everyone's signature to take to Phoenix
with me. I have even had people volunteering for the past 2 months to bring
me dinner so I can try to stay on a more healthy, nutritious schedule to
improve my issues with diabetes. What an amazing community!
I have had a wonderful time working in the Skagway School District for the
past
seven years. Because of the support of our school board, faculty, and
staff in the district I have been very successful in transforming the
Skagway School District into the premier school district in our state. Our
students continue to have the highest test scores in Alaska in the areas of
Reading, Writing, and Mathematics with achievement levels of 96% and 94%,
respectively! The test scores in Science in Grades 4, 8, and 10 which are
the only grades assessed by the state in Science are also averaging 38
points above the state averages which is an impressive accomplishment
directly attributable to the dedication, determination, and expertise of our
teachers and staff. Our district again exceeds Average Yearly Progress (AYP)
as tested by the federal government and has done so under the "No Child
Left Behind" Law since its inception in 2001.
I have been a part of a vibrant school culture focused on student
achievement and lifelong pupil learning where high expectations are
continually accomplished by our student body in an atmosphere which
inculcates love, caring, accountability, and security. Everyone in the
school is concerned about each of our students and our students know that.
Our students want to thrive in every aspect of school including academics
and athletics. I am so proud of our students and feel that the proactive,
positive school climate that we have in the Skagway School District is the
reason our students embody educational excellence!
Leaving the district and Skagway on July 15th will be a very difficult
transition for me. I will miss everyone here since all of us make Skagway
the very special place that it is and will continue to be. My feeling of
sadness will be tempered with my plan to return to Skagway School District
for the 2010/2011 school year. I will be working to improve my health so I
can return to my home here in Skagway.
The Board has hired Mr. Les McCormick
as the Interim Superintendent for the district. He was raised and attended
school in Ketchikan and has had a plethora of positions in school districts
in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana where he currently
is a superintendent for a rural K-12 school district. I trust that he will
do an outstanding job here for our students and staff.
I wish you all the very best for a successful summer season and school year.
I will be thinking about you this coming year as I make plans to return to
Skagway in the summer of 2010. I will not say, "good-bye", but merely,"see
you soon"!
Love Always, Michael Dickens
Dr. Michael Dickens