I have had the pleasure of serving as the principal of Sultan High School for the past four years.  Over the course of those years I have become increasingly impressed with the potential of our students.  Most of them are unaware of what they are capable of doing and being.  Few enter high school with an accurate awareness of the challenges and opportunities lying ahead. 

All aspects of society are changing at an ever increasing speed.  Education is subject to that phenomenon just as is technology, medicine, and other segments of society.  Graduation requirements, formal assessment expectations, instructional programs, and funding challenges change on a weekly basis.  

In order to be successful, today's students must adjust to that constant change.  Experts estimate that students need to be prepared for up to seven career (not just job, but career) changes in their working lives.  In addition to teaching math, English, science, and social studies, Sultan High School works hard to prepare students for the future.  The Turk Tracks Advisory Program asks students to analyze their skills and interests, investigate their opportunities for the future, and prepare for the requirements necessary for success.  It is sometimes difficult to get freshmen or sophomores to understand the importance of this, but with the help of parents we will continue to guide students through the process.  We are intent on providing students the opportunity to access all possibilities upon graduation, job, military, technical school, or college.  Some will not make a decision until after graduation, and we hope that when they make that decision all the doors are open to them.

Another strong initiative at SHS is to maintain an environment that is safe, accepting, and encouraging for all students.  We all know that any time more than two people gather in one place there is a potential for conflict and drama.  It takes constant effort in schools, as well as workplaces and society in general, to keep those things at a minimum.  SHS students, with the help of school staff, parents, and the community, have established and maintained a positive environment.  Maintaining that environment requires constant effort, communication, and emphasis.  

Each year the Sultan High School staff establishes goals using a process call the 'Cycle of Inquiry.'  One goal is established in each of three main categories:  Graduation Rate, Instruction, and Culture & Environment.  The establishment of the goals is based on objective data that indicate levels of student achievement.  One of the critical foundations of this effort is our instructional framework.  The 5 Dimensions of Teaching & Learning is a research based instructional framework that provides a focus for learning.  One important aspect of this mission is for students to be active participants in their own learning rather than having it done to them. We are emphasizing rights and responsibilities students have a right to expect these five things in the classroom and a responsibility to positively contribute to that happening.  The 5 Dimensions are:

1.   Purpose

2.   Student engagement

3.   Curriculum and pedagogy

4.   Assessment

5.   Classroom environment and culture.

School district focus (k-12) for the 2012-2013 school year will be Classroom Environment and Culture.

Please feel free to call the school to ask questions or provide support.  We feel that it is important for students to know that the community is behind them.  When that happens they feel more responsibility to give back to the community.  Everyone wins in that situation.