Mahwah students heading back to school Wednesday have a lot to look forward to, according to Dr. Karen Lake, the district’s interim Superintendent.

While kids are busy navigating the hallways, gyms and cafeterias of the district’s six schools on the first day, teachers and administrators will begin to implement four major goals she has for the 2012-2013 school year:

New Personnel

Begin a search for a new superintendent for the district, and a permanent principal. Lake is on her second of two years serving as interim. The board of education has completed unsuccessful searches since Dr. Charles Montesano retired from the post in June 2011.

Betsy Ross hired an interim principal this year, the board said, after it did not have “adequate time” to do a full search for a replacement for Christine Zimmermann, who was appointed district wide curriculum director last school year. Lake said hiring the right replacement is one of the district's main goals.

The Core

Mahwah will continue to align its curriculum with the common core standards. It is in the middle of rewriting many curricula now, and will implement those according to the state-mandated timeline.

Evals

To implement the new teacher evaluation system. Mahwah announced last week it will transition slowly from its current curriculum to the “Danielson model,” of evaluations.

Test Scores

Continue to implement instructional strategies that will help raise student scores on state assessments. Last year, three Mahwah schools reported less than proficient scores on statewide exams. The district instituted tutors and hired a few new teachers last year. Lake said it will continue to use these methods, and others that come up during the year.

Scores from last year’s exams will be available in October, Lake said.

Overall, Lake said she is looking forward to the first day of school. “I think it’s going to be another great year,” she said.

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