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Duplin County Faith-Based Leaders Gather for First Meeting of the Year
Duplin County Faith-Based Leaders gather for the first meeting of the school year.
KENANSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – September 13, 2017 – Duplin County Faith-Based leaders gathered this week for the first scheduled meeting of the school year. The leaders meet 3 times yearly with Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan to share ways they can work to support students, teachers, and administrators and to pray for the school system.
Each geographical school district within Duplin County Schools (DCS) has Faith-Based Liaisons available to answer questions and coordinate events. The 2017-18 Chairman for the Faith-Based Leaders is Pastor Paul Dean of Potter’s Hill Advent Christian Church. Reverend Dr. A.J. Connors of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church is the liaison for the James Kenan District. Representing the Wallace-Rose Hill District is Pastor Brad Carter of Kingdom Builders. Pastor Tom Penny of Pathway Church and Pastor David Walker of Pinhook Pentecostal Freewill Baptist Church serve as liaisons for the East Duplin District. North Duplin liaisons are Reverend Nick Nielsen of Calypso Presbyterian Church and Pastor Andy Beard of Faison Baptist Church.
Chairman Dean welcomed all to the meeting and encouraged them to invite additional Faith-Based leaders to attend future meetings. He also thanked Rev. Nielsen for his leadership last year. Dean then introduced DCS Special Advisor for Accountability, Improvement Systems, and District-Wide Early College Kevin Smith who shared the school system’s academic progress for last year. Attendees learned that DCS overall Performance Composite is up 1.5 percentage points to 44% (the state is at 59.2%), five schools improved by at least 10%, and 13 of 16 schools met or exceeded growth. Smith said there is a forward momentum across the school system and all efforts are directed at graduating 100% of students ready to succeed in college, career, and life.
When asked about the criteria for admission to Duplin Early College High School (DECHS), Smith explained that each spring all eighth grade students are eligible to apply to the school.
“Early College representatives go to each school that has eighth graders. They share with students a presentation about the Early College and give every student an application” said Smith. This year, he said, there were 171 applicants, 50 of which could be accepted due to space limitations at the school.
Smith noted that in order to apply to the Early College, students must submit a written application that includes two teacher recommendations and basic student information. A committee then interviews all applicants and it uses the application, recommendations, and interview results as the main criteria for admission. Other factors, including whether a candidate is identified as economically disadvantaged and will be a first-generation college student, are taken into consideration as well. A student’s previous academic performance does not impact their eligibility for selection. He also shared that DCS is committed to ensuring that the student body demographics at DECHS mirror those of the district. Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan explained that the number of slots allotted for admission is proportional to each high school’s upcoming ninth grade student enrollment.
“Students who attend this school come from all walks of life. In fact, the population of students at Duplin Early College High School is reflective of the student population across the county. Regardless of their level of achievement when they enter our Early College, or any of our schools for that matter, we strive to personalize their education. We in Duplin truly believe that with the right support, love, and prayer all students can be successful. This has been proven time and again with the success of the Early College Model.”
Duplin Early College High School has for the last four years maintained a graduation rate of 100%, is the first school in the county to earn a School Performance Grade of “A,” and has the highest student proficiency rate in the county. Which, Dr. Obasohan notes, is why DCS works diligently to extend the same opportunities and model of support to all students across the system.
Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan thanked all members including past charimen Reverend Nielsen, Pastor David Smith, and Pastor Paul Dean. He also shared his appreciation that Pastor Dean has agreed to serve as Chairman this year. “We are truly blessed to have people of God praying for our school system. We are thankful for the work you are doing across our county. You and your prayers are so very important to us. We want you to know we also keep you in prayer. We pray for your strength and we just thank you so much for what you are doing.”
As with tradition, all present dedicated the remainder of the meeting to small-group prayer focused on Duplin County students, families, teachers, support staff, and administrators.
All Faith-Based Leaders or their designees are welcomed and encouraged to attend these meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for January 23 at 9:00 AM at the O.P. Johnson Board of Education Building in Kenansville.
Chairman Pastor Paul Dean welcomes leaders.
DCS Special Advisor for Accountability, Improvement Systems,
and District Wide Early College Kevin Smith shares Duplin County Schools
acheivement data with Faith-Based Leaders.