(September 3, 2024) The Rochester City School District officially launched the 2024 – 2025 school year with a Superintendent’s Conference Day held Tuesday morning at James Monroe Upper School. Staff tuned in via live stream to be part of the event, setting a hopeful tone for the year ahead.
Interim Superintendent of Schools Demario Strickland opened the day by introducing the District’s vision, “activating dreams and unlocking potential,” which underscores the commitment to fostering a culture of academic excellence and nurturing a community characterized by empathy, equity, and accountability. Strickland emphasized a shift in mindset, focusing on moving from a “got to” to a “get to” attitude. “You don’t got to go to work, you get to go to work,” said Strickland. “Got to makes it sound like an everyday task; get to is a service-like mentality. We are all in this work, and we get to serve our students every single day.”
The day also featured remarks from New York State Regent Adrian Hale, a proud graduate of John Marshall High School, and Deputy Superintendent of Administration and Supports, Ruth B. Turner. Their presence underscored the importance of community and support in achieving the District’s goals for the year.
The highlight of the day was the keynote address by Dr. Chris Emdin, a renowned professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the visionary behind the HipHopEd movement. Dr. Emdin’s energetic and engaging presentation challenged the staff to think creatively about their approach to teaching. “What is the soundtrack, the playlist that you are bringing to the classroom to move students across the threshold from outside the school to inside?” he asked. “If you want to see something different, you got to do something different.”
Staff are prepared to welcome students back to the classroom on Thursday, September 5. With renewed enthusiasm and a clear vision, the Rochester City School District is poised to have a year of unprecedented growth.
