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Superintendent's Message » Superintendent's Message

Superintendent's Message

A Message from Superintendent Robydek

 

Welcome to the Potterville Public School website. I was fortunate enough to join the Potterville family in 2018 and I am truly delighted daily for the opportunity of becoming a Viking! Previous to being the Potterville superintendent, I have served as a Principal, Assistant Principal, Special Education Teacher and coach. My experience prior to entering the field of education consisted of working with at-risk youth in a residential setting. I have also worked with adolescents in some sort of facet for over 20 years. Living in multiple foster homes and the challenges I have faced throughout my childhood, has equipped me with empathy and understanding and has driven my passion for students and teachers alike. I have experienced first hand the ways a school can positively impact a child’s life and strive to deliver this to each of my students at Potterville. 


As your superintendent, I have committed to create an emotionally and physically safe environment where students feel secure and loved in the classroom, as well as in all areas of the district. Capturing Kids’ Hearts is one of the key components used at Potterville to help the district to continually work towards maintaining a positive learning environment for students and staff.


Potterville teachers and I have collaborated to create a Capturing Kids Hearts district and it is now a part of our school culture. The Capturing Kids’ Hearts process is utilized to help build meaningful connections between staff and students, students and their peers, and between staff and families. Capturing Kids’ Hearts stands for the following...


The EXCEL Model* Emphasizes: Potterville teachers and staff to care about each student and their experience here at school. 

ENGAGE: Administration greets students walking in the front doors in the morning with a smile, a handshake, high-five or fist bump. Teachers personally greet students at the classroom door with a welcoming smile. 

X-PLORE: Teachers and staff provide opportunities to interact and listen to students about their lives in and outside of school. Every class begins with teachers starting with “Good Things”. This is a chance for students and teachers to share what might be going well in students or teachers lives. Teachers affirm student experiences and demonstrate a genuine interest in the students thoughts and feelings.  Students and teachers sharing good things also creates an environment that is positive and helps build relationships.

COMMUNICATE: Our belief is that interactions in classrooms should be a dialogue between teachers and students, as well as between students and their peers, with the teacher serving as a resource and facilitator of learning. 

EMPOWER: Teachers and staff empower students to self-manage and peer manage behaviors in school when appropriate and to problem solve on their own when suitable.

LAUNCH: A conscious effort is made each day to close the day with a positive thought and inspirational quote/video/activity or with affirmations. The goal is to provide hope for the future. 

Teachers and students work together to build a social contract in each classroom to establish guidelines and expectations for how students and teachers will treat one another. The social contract is intended to help students internalize and practice character traits and employable skills needed in order to have future success. It also provides a visual representation for acceptable behavior in the classroom. The goal is to help our students build “self managing” skills.

Four Questions:

  • What are you doing?
  • What are you supposed to be doing?
  • Are you doing that?
  • What are you going to do about that?

These are the Four Questions Potterville uses to help students focus on good behavior, demonstrate they know what behavior is expected, take responsibility when they are not doing what is expected and determine what they should be doing instead. These questions are used to help students stay on track and to be productively involved in their learning experience.

It is my responsibility to ensure that Potterville Public Schools maintain and to continue to build a supportive and collaborative spirit at our schools. Together as a school community, we will build on the traditions of the past and meet the challenges of the future in innovative and exciting ways. I am dedicated to the success of our students and will continue to do the things needed to increase opportunities for all students. As always, thank you for your support. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Kevin Robydek Ed.S

Superintendent

Potterville Public Schools