Superintendent’s Message

The Next Step for Culpeper County Public Schools

While spending time over the last few months getting to know the School Board, administrators, teachers, many parents, and students, I have given a lot of thought to my vision for Culpeper County Public Schools. Having a vision, in my opinion, is critical for personal success. Creating a shared vision, however, is an essential component for moving an organization forward.

One way to create a shared vision is to proclaim, as the leader, where the organization is going and how it is going to get there. This approach can actually yield some immediate results. These initial results, however, will not last long unless the supervisor has the capacity to oversee all areas of the organization. In a public school division, this is an impossible task. And is this really how we want to do business?

Creating a shared vision, a much more effective approach to bringing about change, takes time to develop. The results are worth the investment. When a leader has a vision that is clearly and consistently articulated, other leaders begin to internalize the message. When stakeholders are involved in planning the course to realize the vision, ownership is born. When all involved support each other and problem solve when roadblocks occur, teamwork is operationalized.

A key component of my vision for Culpeper County Public Schools, which is in its infancy as a shared vision, is the goal that all students graduate with 21st Century Skills. This sounds impressive, but what does it mean exactly? 21st Century Skills include learning and thinking skills, innovation and creativity, digital literacy, and life and career skills. Within each category, all students develop more specific skills such as data analysis, scientific inquiry, interactive communication, productivity, and global awareness.

To make this vision a reality, a very specific plan must be developed and implemented. It starts with educating leaders and other staff members as to the components of the skills. The education of staff must be done through formal and informal means. We must determine where we are as a division in the quest to have all students graduate with 21st Century Skills, and then we must systematically set about infusing the skills into the core curriculum. 21st Century Skills are not add-ons, or as we say in education, another thing to teach. 21st Century Skills can be developed by addressing how we teach the core curriculum. Every teacher does not have to address every skill. The goal is to distribute the skill development throughout the curriculum, throughout the years, so that upon graduation we have graduates who, for example, are creative problem solvers, flexible, can assume a leadership role formally and informally, understand that their jobs are part of a bigger, global picture, and can comfortably adapt to new technology.

The planning is underway as we take baby steps toward this goal, but the challenge is exciting.

Dr. Bobbi F. Johnson
Division Superintendent
Culpeper County Public Schools

Dr. Bobbi Johnson