On October 2 and November 13 the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees met in executive session to conduct the 2017–2018 performance evaluation of Superintendent Gregory D. Little, Ed.D.
This annual evaluation, required by board policy and the district’s employment agreement with the superintendent, focused on the school system’s 2017–2018 accomplishments under Dr. Little’s leadership.
In open session during a Special Board Workshop held September 18, the board reviewed these accomplishments, while the superintendent and his leadership team answered board members’ questions, reviewed the district’s significant wins and the conditions that led to those successes, and discussed the implication of the new strategic plan on the district’s 2018–2019 priorities.
In open session this evening, after completing Dr. Little’s review, the board publicly expressed its approval of his performance and overall vision for Lexington District One, and pointed out his particularly effective performance in the following areas:
- The use of a new planning process to craft a new strategic plan for the district. Dr. Little engaged the Board of Trustees, staff, students, parents, business leaders and community members in conversations about the life and work skills students need to succeed. He then used their feedback to create a vision and mission, and a list of life and work skills that included accountability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, integrity, perseverance and willingness to take risks.
- Emphasis on classrooms that reinforce the importance of career-oriented power skills through initiatives such as Code To The Future, the Google Partnership — Dynamic Learning Project, International Baccalaureate, Blended Learning, industry certifications, dual credit offerings and Expeditionary Learning.
- Enthusiasm and support for the “Project Hope” initiative, which serves both the emotional and behavioral needs of students through the addition of a board-certified behavior analyst who provides insight and supervises behavior, three applied behavior analysts who use techniques and principles to bring about meaningful and positive change in student behavior, a safety coordinator, six school resource officers for elementary schools, two social workers, seven counselors working with mental wellness, and an individual working with 504s or blueprints for how schools provide supports and remove barriers for students with learning and attention issues.
- Skill in creating meaningful partnerships with private- and public-sector businesses and governmental agencies in order to expand educational opportunities for students and employees, such as USC’s Palmetto College.
- Successful completion of items required by state law and administered by the South Carolina Department of Education for his South Carolina Superintendent Certification.
- The creation of a new district vision — “Empower each student to design the future” — and mission — “Our mission is to cultivate a caring community where ALL learners are extraordinary communicators, collaborators, creators and critical thinkers.”
As a result, Lexington District One students continue to surpass state and national averages on national assessments, including SAT and ACT. The district’s 2017–2018 scores ranked third among South Carolina school districts on ACT and 12th on SAT. Students continued to exceed state averages in English, mathematics, science and social studies on End-of-Course Exams.
