Welcome to another year of teaching and learning in Premier DeKalb County School System. As Superintendent of Schools, I am both excited and encouraged about the district’s progress. The Board of Education and I continue to make student achievement the number one priority for all schools. In order to demonstrate commitment and fidelity to that priority, the school system has worked to ensure that highly trained administrators and highly qualified teachers are in place in every school.

As a school system, we are embarking on several initiatives that are both consistent with our mission and align DCSS schools with the Board and Superintendent’s priorities. One of the initiatives is the America’s Choice design. This program will be implemented in 40 of our elementary, middle, and high schools. The America’s Choice design is a rigorous research-based initiative that has proven to be effective in improving student learning.

Through the school climate project, we are revisiting the student dress code and are placing a renewed emphasis on discipline in every classroom in all schools. We expect students to attend school each day dressed appropriately and ready to learn.

We are also focusing on the Parental Involvement Initiative. We need and welcome your presence in our school buildings. You are encouraged to visit and utilize the services offered in the 11 Parent Resource Centers located throughout the district. Additionally, the DCSS is developing an E-Parent Communication System, which will enable the district to send text messages via cellular phone and/or text voicemail messages via home telephone in the case of an emergency or important occurrence.

The DCSS is excited about the opportunities awaiting students who are enrolling in one of our newly constructed schools. The Dunwoody 4/5 Academy and Arabia Mountain High School will open their doors to students for the first time in August 2009. Additionally, we look forward to the continued success of DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts, DeKalb School of the Arts, and Elizabeth Andrews High School as they begin the new school year in their relocated sites.

As a school system, we have not changed directions; but we are, however, taking a more comprehensive approach to educating the whole child. We will assist parents in building character in our students, and we will strive to provide a positive school climate that expands creativity, improves thinking, and enhances student performance.

We believe that by having a strong vision, engaged parents, effective administrators and highly qualified teachers that the DeKalb County School System is positioning itself towards moving forward in order to achieve academic excellence for all.

I am confident that the greatest accomplishments of the DCSS are ahead of us and within reach of our ultimate goal which is to graduate at least 95 percent of our students.

Thank you for your continued support of Premier DeKalb County School System. I encourage you to visit our website at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us to learn more about this year’s initiatives. Together, we can accomplish our goals. Have a great year!

Dr. Crawford Lewis is the Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District