Hope Kiwanis Hears From Hope School Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley

The Hope Kiwanis Club heard from Hope Schools Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley on Tuesday (12-17).  Dr. Crossley’s primary topic was academics and facilities.  He had some very good information for the club.  Dr. Crossley noted Hope is beating the state average in literacy scores at Clinton Primary, noting these scores are the highest in a decade.  Dr. Crossley also shared students learning English as a second language are beating the state average at every level between Pre-K and 12th grade.

Dr. Crossley noted the Pre-K program has grown by 40%.

Dr. Crossley talked about reading levels and noted some officials check 3rd grade reading levels when planning the need for prison beds in the future.  He noted Clinton Primary reading scores for Pre-K through 3rd grade have expanded 70% in recent years.  He talked about a program called “The Science of Redding” being shared in Pre-K which gives youngsters the building blocks of reading (i.e. learning letters, etc.).

Great things are also going on in higher grades.  Dr. Crossley noted Hope led the state this year in graduating students who receive a high school diploma and an associates degree from college concurrently.

The club greatly enjoyed Dr. Crossley’s update on the Hope Public Schools.  He’s shown here with Kiwanian and school board member Jimmy Courtney and Brian Berry from UAHT with whom the district works closely on the Collegiate Academy.