The 2005-2006 school year will be marked by challenge and change. Even though many issues confront us, we must continue to focus on teaching and learning and setting high expectations. There is a dire need for paradigm shifts to be made in order for our district to move forward. The process can begin by reiterating the need to hold all staff members accountable.

Our district is not where we want it to be, but if we synchronize our efforts, share our ideas, and encourage our wills, we, as a team, will move the district forward. I strongly support Professor Roland Barth, who believes "the quality of adult relationships within a school has more to do with the quality and character of the school and with the accomplishments of students than any other factor." In too many schools, personal relationships tend to be adversarial: teacher against teacher, principal against teacher, and school people against parents. The most memorable schools are the ones that have begun to find ways of transforming these adversarial and parallel play relationships into cooperative and collegial coalitions.

As Superintendent of the Greenville Public School District, it is my goal to provide the best in quality education. The administrative team and I will put forth great efforts to provide students with all of the needed resources to improve their learning and increase their educational growth. The link that supports positive, creative, and resourceful learning is that of a community where togetherness and collaborative decision-making occur. The ultimate outcome will be students becoming productive citizens and learning to live together in harmony in a diverse society.

Mr. Estes Taplin, Superintendent