WJCC Names 15 Members to Strategic Plan Committee

WJCC Names 15 Members to Strategic Plan Committee

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Fifteen community leaders have been chosen to steer the strategic planning process for Williamsburg-James City County Schools.

Superintendent Steven Constantino announced Tuesday night that all 15 of the members “enthusiastically” accepted the invitation to serve. “This unanimous positive response tells us that we have people from all walks of life who wish to make a meaningful contribution to the future quality of our students’ education,” he said in a press release.

The steering committee will work alongside the Public Consulting Group (PCG) hired to assist with the process and WJCC staff in an effort to ensure all voices are equally heard, according to the release. The committee’s duties will include helping to explain the purpose of the strategic plan; representing the community voice; reviewing collected data and supporting the development of key goals; and representing and proposing community participation in enacting the goals.

The committee will have its first meeting at 6 p.m. today in Room 400 of the Central Office at James Blair. It is expected to meet up to three more times through June 2012. A series of focus groups and a public forum also will be scheduled.

The committee members are:

• Tony Conyers, retired state Social Services Commissioner

• Kyra Cook, program Officer for the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation

• Mark Duncan, director of Community, College & Government Relations for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

• Chris Gareis, associate dean for Teacher Education and Professional Services at the College of William and Mary

• James Golden, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, College of William & Mary

• Barbara Harris, education representative for NAACP

• David Jarman, community representative

• Robert Middaugh, county administrator for James City County

• Rick Shippey, brewery manager for ABInBev

• William Travis, provost at Thomas Nelson Community College, Historic Triangle campus

• Jack Tuttle, city manager for Williamsburg

• Steve Vignolo, Citizens for Education

• Jeanne Zeidler, president and CEO of the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation

• Stacia Barreau, principal at James River Elementary

• Karen Downing, president of Williamsburg-James City Education Association

Comments

+1 #7 Too top heavy 2012-02-09 10:50

I think all of these community leaders are fantastic individuals, but I believe that this list has too many people who are already very busy running other things. Why aren't there any members who are lesser known who have served as PTA Council, PTA Presidents, community activitsts? This group of folks are not really close to what is going on in the day-to-day of the schools so what can they bring to the table except the same ol same ol?

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+2 #6 Consultant a waste 2011-10-30 09:24

Nice looking group there but there is no need to spend money on a consultant.

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-4 #5 Pierre August 2011-10-21 08:56

Strategic plans need to have a wide scope because the long term planning cannot accurately predict the future. Dr. Constantino made a great first step towards a strategic plan be involving people with different expertise and perspectives. The lack of current teachers on the committee causes me to raise an eyebrow, but I still think we have a great start. Nicely played sir!

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+1 #4 Juliet Giblin 2011-10-20 08:01

I applaud WJCC and WYDaily for the transparency in listing the committee members. But in looking at the list, I am devastated. Dr. Constantino has come into our very unique community with high ideals and a true committment to the education of young people. he will not be steered in the right direction with most of the people on this committee.

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+5 #3 Reinventing wheel 2011-10-19 21:21

Can't someone just call over to York County and ask to borrow a copy of their strategic plan?

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+20 #2 Concerned Parent 2011-10-19 15:51

Look at all those ordinary families on that list -- wow! What a way to get a feel for how everyday families deal with the school system and how the school system deals with the problems that ordinary children face . . . You could, once again, get the impression that WJCC thinks that the average parent is too (dare I say) stupid to have any insight into these matters.

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-12 #1 Hopley Yeaton 2011-10-19 14:28

This is a diverse blue ribbon crew. The new superintendent did a very good job selecting these dedicated community leaders to provide the oversight for the strategic planning process. This is a good start.

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