Cultivating a Diverse, Innovative Learning Environment

At their meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2017, the MSD of Pike Township School Board approved the updated district mission statement.

The Metropolitan School District of Pike Township cultivates a diverse, innovative learning environment opening doors of opportunity for students to achieve their maximum potential.

The mission statement reflects the focus and direction for our schools, but most importantly for our scholars. The mission statement provides our school community a shared direction and inspiration as we take our scholars from their PreK-kindergarten through Pike High School journey.

The core values reflect the needs of our scholars in the 21st Century who are college, career, and citizenship ready.

We believe…

• Our community is strengthened by diversity, multiple perspectives, and mutual respect.
  
• Students need a safe environment to learn.
• Students learn best when they think critically, problem-solve, and effectively communicate and collaborate.
• Students are actively engaged when learning is authentic, interactive, relevant, and thought-provoking.
• Appropriate learning opportunities for students, teachers, and community are necessary to accomplish our mission.
• Educators use evidence to strategically plan and creatively prepare students for college, career, and life-long learning.

Our core values focus on four specific skills that are embedded in our classrooms specific to curriculum and instruction:

Critical Thinking,

Communication,

Creativity, and

Collaboration.

Our dedicated faculty and staff work tirelessly to ensure these specific skills are a part of what makes MSD of Pike Township a world-class education taking our scholars to the Next Level of Excellence.

The Next Level of Excellence

As we prepare for the end of the 2016-2017 school year, I feel a sense of joy for the wonderful doors

of opportunity that were opened for our scholars in the MSD of Pike Township family. Nearly 700 seniors will be taking their finals this week. They will be finishing their K-12 life as graduates of Pike High School and college and career ready for the next part of their journey.

Since accepting the responsibility of Superintendent on January 1, 2017, I worked diligently to get to know this cohort; to listen, observe what they do, and participate when I could. The 125th class, my first class to graduate from Pike High School. 

I discovered quickly what an amazing group of scholars they are and the many teachers, administrators, and support staff members who walked side by side with them on the journey toward their high school diploma.

It is the Class of 2017 who spent 4 out of 5 consecutive years that the Washington Post named Pike High School one of America's Most Challenging High School. They are the seniors who were present when PHS was named by the IDOE as a STEM certified school and when the STEM and Career Center was recognized as one of the largest in the state. This year will be remembered for the year that Governor Holcomb and the Pacer's Jeff

Teague were inducted in the Hall of Fame.

There are so many other exceptional examples of excellence that were a part of the Class of 2017. The Robodevils1018 went to the global competition for the first time! The Lady Red Devils were named runner up in the State Basketball Championship. Millions of dollars in scholarships were accepted, and our graduation rate continues to demonstrate the quality opportunities offered at Pike High School.

I feel unbelievable pride as the Superintendent of Schools for the MSD of Pike Township. As we begin the final days of school, I continue to be in awe of our phenomenal faculty and staff! I am excited to reflect on my last five months through my upcoming blog entitled "A Look Back. The Journey of my First 100 Days." I encourage you to join me in celebration along the way share your comments and photos related to these upcoming blog posts.

Life is a journey. It's not the journey that is most important but the people you meet along the way!

Best wishes to the Class of 2017 and thank you to ALL who were part of their journey.