Sunday Scoop with the Supe

Sometimes in the position of Superintendent, I get caught up in having to deal with complaints, concerns, and issues that aren't always the best to deal with. Because of this, it is important for me to find time to get out of the office and into our schools to help remind me of why I entered education over 30 years ago.

This past week was one of those times as I, along with my leadership team, visited 8 schools and just took in the sights and sounds of morning take in, breakfast, classroom teaching and learning and all things that happen on a day to day basis. With all of the negative that social media brings out about public education, we tend to forget about the thousands of things that go right on a daily basis at our schools. Nobody is posting the story of the principal saying hello to over 500 kids each day, no one is talking about the positive interactions over the bowls of cereal in the cafeteria, and know one is tweeting about the great lessons that our teacher prepare and pull off day after day. To see it with my own eyes was a reminder of all the good things that are happening in our school system. We know things aren't always perfect, but I pretty confident that the good outweighs the bad everyday.

Most importantly this week, I also got to talk to 6 groups of student focus groups at these schools. I randomly selected students from grade levels and we just sat around the table and talked the good and bad from a student's perspective. 5th grades through seniors gave me many things to ponder and other topics for my staff to look into to see if we can be better at some of the things we do. Insights that you can't get from anywhere else. Thanks to all the kids I got to just have a casual conversation with and I look forward to more in the coming weeks.

Let's finish the nine week's strong, let's enjoy the fall break, and let's continue to share the positives about the district and be proud of what we do as "Vermilion"

Your Partner in Education,

Superintendent Tommy Byler

• Monday, October 9
• Virtual Learning Day (Grades K-3)
• District LETRS Training
• Tuesday, October 10
• BESE Committee Meetings -Baton Rouge
• Friday, October 13
• Gueydan High Homecoming
• Saturday, October 14
• Local Elections. Various Schools will be serving as election sites.

• LOOKING AHEAD...
• October 16th and 17th is Fall Break (ALL SCHOOLS AND OFFICES CLOSED)
• November 6th - Parent Teacher Conference Day

In an era where education is constantly evolving to meet the needs of students, Louisiana stands out for its commitment to early literacy. Recognizing the profound impact of early literacy skills on a child's future academic success, the state has embarked on an ambitious mission to provide intensive training to all K-3 teachers in the early foundations of literacy. This initiative, embedded in Louisiana Senate Bill Act 108, represents a significant step towards ensuring that every child in Louisiana has a solid foundation in reading and writing, setting the stage for lifelong learning.

Early literacy skills are the building blocks of a child's educational journey. These skills encompass the ability to read, write, and comprehend written language, and they are critical for academic success across all subjects. Moreover, early literacy lays the foundation for effective communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are essential in today's complex world.

The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that early literacy proficiency is a key predictor of future academic achievement and career success. Children who struggle with reading in the early grades often face significant challenges later on, leading to a higher risk of dropping out of school and limited career opportunities. By addressing early literacy comprehensively, Louisiana aims to break this cycle of academic disadvantage.

The Vermilion Parish School System dedicates four days within the school year to embed this training for all K-3 teachers. Monday, October 9th is our first training. Students in grade K-3 will have a distance learning day. Lessons will be provided through the student’s Google Classroom.

60.8% of our Vermilion Parish 3rd grade students scored Mastery and Above on the ELA portion of the LEAP assessment last year. This was a 10.3% increase from 2022.