State superintendent says achievement gap is biggest challenge

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said more emphasis and funding is needed for early childhood education programs to increase student success in the classroom. Flanagan gave his remarks during a February 10 panel discussion held on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, sponsored by the College of Education.

Flanagan said one of the biggest challenges in education is the student achievement gap in poor rural and urban school districts. He said his greatest hope is that Michigan will have the best prepared teachers.

Flanagan also said he plans to write a book about his experiences when he leaves office. “There is a story to tell and it’s not pretty,” he said. ”We’ve got the system that’s in place, but it’s not kid-oriented. My view is that you’ve got to be kid-oriented first, and a close second is to be teacher-oriented.”

The event also featured superintendents Nick Ceglarek from Hudsonville and Dirk Weeldreyer from Fennville and Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Evans from Grand Rapids. Evans said the greatest challenge is finding a way to give all students a quality education, regardless of their zip code. Weeldreyer said the teaching profession needs to be lifted up in society and talented people need to be encouraged to become teachers.

Flanagan praised Grand Valley for having quality students and programs in the College of Education. Flanagan praised Grand Valley for having quality students and programs in the College of Education.

“Teacher-prep programs at Grand Valley are nationally recognized for excellence,” said Flanagan. “One-hundred percent of programs seeking recognition by national accrediting bodies received that, and that is unheard of. Year-by-year, Grand Valley graduates nearly 10 percent of the teachers in our workforce and that is a gigantic contribution to the future of this state.”

 

The event was part of the College of Education’s 50th Anniversary Golden Lecture Series. The next event, “A Celebration of the College of Education: Reflections & Predictions,” will be held March 24.