Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- The new school year is off to a fast start, with some new standards in place for students and teachers as they begin day one.
State Education Commissioner John King made a visit to Syracuse’s Ed Smith School to mark the opening of school on Tuesday. Albany is implementing new college and career standards as well as teacher evaluation plans. King says you have to mix thoughtful patience with a sense of urgency when it comes to the changes.
"I think the Superintendent's leadership here in Syracuse has generated a lot of momentum around education, has focused people on college, career ready standards and on how the work around teacher evaluation might improve teaching and learning, so there's a lot of energy and excitement,” King said.
Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras said, "We want to make sure we're moving in the direction of closing the gap between the average of the ‘big 5 districts’ and where we are in Syracuse and become competitive with large school districts around the nation."
Contreras says the school’s new strategic plan, called “Great Expectations,” will get some high standards for students and teachers to work towards including targets for third, fifth, eighth ninth and eleventh grades.
