The Ile Camera
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Board describes superintendent's work as excellent
PUBLISHED: July 4, 2008
Following is a summary of the Supt. Dena Dardzinski's evaluation as provided by the school board.
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Excellent. This single word most aptly characterizes the Grosse Ile Township Board of Education's assessment of school Supt. Dena Dardzinski's performance for the just-completed academic year.
On June 10, the board met to review Dardzinski's performance and to consider the parameters for her 2008-2009 contract.
Despite numerous challenges, trustees said that Dena performed at a superior level, in many respects exceeded expectations, and has served the students, parents, staff and the entire Grosse Ile educational community in an exemplary fashion.
To arrive at this conclusion, the board employed many tools including an assessment of Dardzinski's stated goals, an assessment based upon national benchmark performance standards, personal observations and input from students, staff, parents and community members.
Among many strong attributes noted was her extraordinary sense of conscientiousness, her flexibility in the face of an ever-changing educational landscape, her commitment to students and her kindness and decency.
Trustees recognized Dardzinski as a great ambassador for the school district, and said she has had tremendous visibility throughout the district and the community in person, in print, on cable television and online.
Further, she has developed a great "ear" for the community, they said, responding to diverse input with remarkable agility as evidenced by a dramatically revamped array of curriculum offerings for kindergarten students, the initiation of the world language program for grade three to five students, transitioning to a new middle school principal, and the selection of a new high school principal.
They said her focus on teaching and learning never wavered despite her simultaneous responsibility to oversee the construction throughout the district.
Dardzinski approaches each challenge as an opportunity, a teachable moment, with competence, expertise, and a smile, trustees said.
When the inevitable, difficult disagreements arise regarding important district issues, she displays the skills of a problem solver, without being disagreeable herself, they said.
Dardzinksi is a highly skilled administrator and educational leader who brings her "A" game every day (including weekends) and who seems to have a wealth of creative strategies in her tool box to promote the fundamental mission of the school district-teaching and learning, trustees said.
An example of this creativity, they said, was her recent inspiration to invite a furloughed teacher to pinch hit as the interim information technology director.
The move was so successful that the pinch hitter is now the full-time IT director, integrating her educational insights into 21st century technology for students and staff.
In summary, the trustees said they are extremely pleased with Dardzinski's performance.
In recognition of her superior performance, the board offered her a one-year contract extension, through June 2011, and the same salary increase negotiated for other employee groups in the district.
Board members said each school year brings its own set of challenges and opportunities; 2008-2009 will be no exception on Grosse Ile.
Some of those can be anticipated and the trustees have discussed several of them with Dardzinski to ensure that their guiding principles and vision are clear.
"Good enough" has no place at the table, they said, adding that Dardzinski is a leader who will not allow complacency to creep into the fabric of the school district.
The Grosse Ile schools are excellent, the trustees said, and will only get better under Dardzinski's leadership.
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