Third in a series
Re “A Philosophical; Chat with the New Super”
[img]1456|left|Mr. Dave LaRose||no_popup[/img]Dave LaRose will be leaving within hours to drive down the coast from the family home in Washington to his new appointment, Superintendent of the School District. He expects to roll into Culver City at the weekend for his first social/business visit.
On Tuesday evening at 6, in School District headquarters on Irving Place, Mr. LaRose will meet ‘n greet the community for the first time.
We last left him in the midst of expansively explaining a philosophy of education that intrigues and motivates him.
“One of the things I have tried to bring from a leadership perspective is that we absolutely, positively must be very data driven, research-oriented and focus on best-practices in terms of curriculum instruction and assessment,” Mr. LaRose said.
“That same intentionality needs be applied to everything, from basic needs to selling a sense of hope and passion, to providing opportunities for kids to get excited and feel joyful about learning” – for a moment his voice shook.
“That balance is not just sheer academics – of what we do in teaching and learning. It also is thoughtful about what type of environment promotes that type of learning. It really is .You have to feel confident and cared for, safe, challenged, healthy. All of those variables have an impact on kids.
“I have felt that it is important, particularly from a leadership perspective, that we invest time, energy, emotion and partnerships in all of the factors that impact whether they learn, not just what is perceived as the maybe sometimes-narrow academic pathway.”
Even before arriving in Culver City, Mr. LaRose has served up to his employers, the School District teaching staff and associates, thousands of parents and their children a powerful philosophical meal to digest before the new school term begins.
(To be continued)
