Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell’s 100-Day Transition Plan Summary, presented on January 21, 2025, provided a comprehensive evaluation of Somerset County Public Schools' current strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. The summary was based on extensive engagement with key stakeholders, including parents, students, teachers, administrators, community leaders, and government officials, combined with an in-depth review of data on student performance, staffing, and operational efficiency.

We organized the feedback from our stakeholder community into six key themes:

1. Diverse, Quality Teachers, Leaders, and Staff
   The report highlighted the pressing need to recruit, retain, and diversify staff to ensure equitable representation and effective leadership across the system. Challenges include insufficient certified teaching staff, particularly in critical areas such as math, reading, and special education. The plan calls for developing a leadership pipeline, enhancing compensation, and implementing strategies to attract and retain diverse, high-quality professionals.

2. Rigorous, Quality Instruction and Innovative Learning for Students
   Student achievement in core areas such as math and reading remains a concern, with trends showing stagnant or declining proficiency. The plan emphasizes curriculum alignment, fidelity in implementation, and increased access to advanced and innovative programs such as AP courses, dual enrollment, and STEM initiatives. The proposed actions aim to elevate instructional quality and ensure all students have equitable access to challenging learning opportunities.

3. Improving Access and Opportunities for Students
   Dr. Tasker-Mitchell underscored the need to expand student program opportunities, Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID), specialized pathways like cosmetology, and enhanced arts, music, and CTE (Career and Technical Education) offerings. There is also a focus on increasing access to mental health services, field trips, and apprenticeships to provide students with broader educational and life experiences.

4. Safe, Healthy, and Supportive Learning Environments
   Building a positive climate and culture is essential for student success. The community provided feedback and insight about the need for  strengthening social-emotional learning (SEL) supports, refining the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and enhancing behavioral intervention strategies. These initiatives aim to create environments where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.

5. Effective and Sustainable Organizational Effectiveness
   The stakeholder community expressed the need for improvement within the central office and districtwide operations, including policies, communication, and the need to upgrade our systems. The plan proposed an organizational redesign to streamline processes, develop a countywide strategic plan, and improve communication with all stakeholders.

6. Differentiated and Relevant Professional Learning
   Professional development emerged as a critical area, with feedback from the stakeholder community indicating the need for targeted, inclusive, and impactful training for all staff members. The superintendent’s plan includes creating opportunities for collaborative learning, aligning professional development with system priorities, and building the capacity of leaders, teachers, and all staff, to support improved instructional outcomes for ALL students.

Strategic Importance

The 100-Day Summary serves as a foundational roadmap for Somerset County Public Schools, setting the stage for the 2025-2029 strategic plan. By aligning these findings and proposed actions with budgetary priorities, the system aims to address critical gaps and build a sustainable model of excellence that empowers students, staff, and the broader community.