MY VIEW
NANTUCKET HIGH SCHOOL: WHAT I'D LIKE IT TO BE
By George Kelly Principal, Nantucket High School
My vision for Nantucket High School is one of a community of learners where educators work closely with students, parents and the community to model and to assist students with the development of positive attitudes towards themselves, others and the learning experience. At the same time, our students strive to apply knowledge to meet the needs of a rapidly changing, increasingly

diverse, technologically advancing

and geographically shrinking world, a world that must reach new standards of excellence and cooperation. To facilitate individual growth and achievement, each student will develop the skills and interests vital to success in a world faced with ever increasing change.

In order to achieve these goals, we need to further develop student-centered learning environments where achievement is measured by demonstrated performance in a variety of ways, according to established standards through differentiated instruction. Besides helping our students to become effective communicators through writing, mathematics, speaking and the use of technology, we will provide all students with a successful learning experience, one that fosters within each student the desire to become and remain a lifelong learner. Such ongoing developments as the Internet, distance learning, alternative scheduling models and the integration of curricula are just a few of the emerging instructional influences that will help to accomplish these aims.

Standards-based learning will become more active, individually tailored and enhanced by our faculty who will increasingly design and implement learning experiences rooted in the understanding of multiple intelligences, brain research, social and emotional intelligences and learning styles. The effective and equitable expansion and integration of technology into the curriculum will help to individualize and increase these opportunities. Our students will also benefit greatly as the scope and quality of the relationships between students, teachers, specialists, parents and the community expands.

We will further integrate the services of our school with those of other agencies to better provide for the needs of our youth. Community-service learning, business-education partnerships and school-to-career and school-to-college programs will increase as businesses, institutions of higher education, civic and social agencies and our school communities recognize their mutual interest in widening opportunities to prepare our students for the future. In addition, our school community will expand to include more adults as the need for community service, adult education, and parent support programs increases.

Nantucket High School will further invite and involve faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members in a collaborative effort to provide the best education for our students. It takes an entire community to educate its children. Today, it will take the whole Nantucket community, plus the larger world brought home to us through innovative technology. As principal, I see my role as a facilitator of this process. We need to continue expanding an open environment in which all of those involved will be able to make informed, effective decisions with mutual respect and trust. This will lead to greater participation and success in our school improvement efforts. It will bring about greater communication, cooperation and better working relationships within the school, and in so doing, will create an environment for a better and clearer vision for our school. We must all work together collaboratively as a team in order to achieve what is best for our students. The future of our island community requires that we do so. This can also be said of our nation and the world. Together we can make that future a brighter one.

This vision continues to evolve as a result of feedback from all members of the school community. I am honored and excited to contribute to the tradition of excellence at Nantucket High School with

our island's most precious resource, our children. I