CREST HAVEN – Ocean City School District was honored by freeholders Sept. 24 for being recognized by the state Department of Education (DOE) as a Lighthouse District.
According to the resolution, passed by freeholders, “Through the Lighthouse Districts Initiative, the DOE is highlighting districts that have, over the past several years, achieved academic growth in English language arts and mathematics with diverse student groups.
“The Lighthouse Districts have demonstrated student academic progress as a result of setting high academic standards, using assessment data to identify each and every student’s needs, and working tirelessly to provide the necessary educational supports,” it continued.
Ocean City School District is one of two Lighthouse Districts in the county, according to Dr. Judith DeStefano-Anen, interim executive county superintendent. The other is Cape May City School District, which was recognized Nov. 1, 2017.
“This is an award that isn’t just for the school district, it’s actually for all of the community stakeholders, and there isn’t a better school district than Ocean City that actually works with the whole community to address the needs of the students that they serve,” said DeStefano-Anen.
The award recognizes “the ability to take every student from where they are and move them forward, which is really what is prized by the DOE,” said Jacqueline McAlister, vice president, Ocean City Board of Education. “It’s that ability to move every kid forward from where they’ve started to where they end up at the end of the year, and it really is a remarkable achievement. That’s why so few districts get it.”
There is no easy answer as to how to show growth in students, McAlister added, “but those Lighthouse Districts are intended to help share the message of how do you build this complex web of success, and how do you reach every single child.”
“You may be asking, why lighthouse,” said DeStefano-Anen. “It isn’t simply because it’s Cape May County. It’s because a lighthouse represents navigating the way, showing other districts how to do what it is that they do,” she said.
“We will do very well helping other school districts because that is what we do,” said Kathleen Taylor, superintendent, Ocean City School District. “We will be that lighthouse in Cape May (County) for all the districts in New Jersey, and as that, it helps us to make New Jersey number one in education, which we just got that designation, so, we rock.”
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
