John L. Barry’s first day on the job started at 6:30 a.m. with a brief meeting. He then went to an informal reception where he met more than 100 APS staff members. |
| Next, Barry joined Assistant Superintendent of Instruction William Stuart as they attended math, literacy and enrichment summer classes at North Middle School. |
| Students shared with Barry one project they completed in John Diliberto’s creative enrichment class. The students wrote, designed and starred in their own comic books. This unique literacy project featured topics from conflict resolution to school responsibility. Barry asked students about their projects, their classes and their goals. |
| Barry praised students for giving up some of their summer break. |
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| When Barry told math students it was his first day and asked how he was doing, they gave him a resounding assessment of “GREAT!” |
| After leaving North, Barry and Stuart visited joint summer school classes with Altura and Elkhart students, who are taking their classes at Sable Elementary while their schools undergo bond-funded improvements. Photographers from the Aurora Sentinel and Denver Post and a Sentinel reporter joined Barry at this stop. |
| Barry listened to students who were reading independently and in small groups. |
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| Barry also spoke with teachers and administrators about their views on curriculum and how to best meet the needs of APS students. He asked teachers how they meet the challenges of a highly mobile student population. “I am going to listen and learn to be sure that we are fully supporting our teachers and principals so we help all our kids become successful,” Barry said. |
| Barry then gave three media interviews— one to a radio news network, one to a Channel 7 reporter and one in preparation for Aurora 8’s Dateline Aurora monthly news show. |
| Barry was the keynote luncheon speaker at the Aurora Education Foundation golf tournament. Barry commended participants— the largest in the tournament’s history— for their dedication to APS and students. |
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| “Tiger Woods' father recently passed away, but he left his son with a commitment to caring and service. That’s what I see here today with this group of golfers— caring and service to the Aurora Public Schools and the Aurora Education Foundation— and I thank you for that,” said Barry. |
| Barry also introduced VISTA, his 90-day day entry plan. “My goal is to listen to all of our key stakeholders— the board of education, students, parents, teachers, principals, classified staff, union leaders, business leaders, community members, elected officials and media,” Barry said. |
| Barry shared that APS will now have the support of two of the nation’s top superintendents, Carl Cohn and Tom Payzant. Barry also highlighted his confidence in APS and its future. |
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| Barry finished the day with another three hours of meetings with key instructional staff, including William Stuart and Director of Assessment Lisa Escárcega. “Our guiding principle— our compass— our true north— will always be student achievement,” Barry said. |
| Barry’s schedule continues with ongoing meetings— or listening sessions— with staff, board members, business, community, political and elected leaders, parents and students. Please visit the new superintendent Web page at
www.aps.k12.co.us/boe/superintendent.htm
for regular updates on John L. Barry. |
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Staff
Picking up the PACE!
