Superintendent’s Office

The Dover Area School District continues to work diligently to bring its mission and vision to life by aligning our curriculum, instruction, programs, and services in order to challenge and support each student. DASD faculty and staff members strive to partner with our families and community organizations to meet the needs – academic, emotional, physical, and social - of the whole child.

To that end, the District’s 2023-2026 Comprehensive Plan, which the School Board approved on August 22, 2023, includes six major goal areas and has established priorities, action plans, and action steps within each goal: Early/Elementary Literacy, Process Writing, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, High Standards and Expectations, Guaranteed & Viable Curriculum and Math Intervention.

The new Comprehensive Plan, required every three years by PDE, also revised the District Mission and Vision statements:

MISSION STATEMENT

Educate, empower, and inspire all students to become contributing citizens in an ever-changing world.

VISION STATEMENT

DASD students will achieve success by engaging in rigorous and relevant instruction, exploring a broad range of opportunities, and discovering unique pathways to a productive future through the supportive collaboration of the entire school community.

My aspirations for the District dovetail with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. Within these goals are several objectives, and within each objective are many actions and steps.

Goal 1: Excellence in Teaching and Learning

DASD provides a high-quality education for all students, maintaining high expectations for all students and emphasizing the 9 Characteristics of High Performing Schools

• Objective 1: Strong Foundation for Early Learning
• Objective 2: Curricular Alignment in All Subjects K-12
• Objective 3: Instructional Delivery
• Objective 4: Assessment Procedures and Use of Data
• Objective 5: Preparation for Career, College, and Life

Goal 2: Positive Culture and Climate

DASD fosters positive school communities in which students can develop their academic, emotional, physical, and social skills in a learning environment that is developmentally responsive to students’ strengths and needs, with an emphasis on the 9 Characteristics of High Performing Schools.

• Objective 1: Safe, Supportive, and Engaging Classrooms and School Communities
• Objective 2: Family and Community Engagement

Goal 3: Efficient and Effective Operations

DASD employs best practices to maintain efficient and effective organizational operations, retaining an emphasis on the 9 Characteristics of High Performing Schools.

• Objective 1: Consistency, Communication, Collaboration and Coordination
• Objective 2: Maximize Human and Fiscal Resources

Goal 4: Future Focused Decision Making

DASD plans for the future of the district by applying sound practices for the present, responding to needs and adjusting as appropriate to accomplish the district’s mission and vision while maintaining an emphasis on the 9 Characteristics of High Performing Schools.

• Objective 1: Retention of a Highly Qualified Staff
• Objective 2: Mutually Beneficial Community Partnerships

DASD is blessed with dedicated employees who love kids, teaching, and Dover – and want the very best for Dover Area School District. We strive to celebrate, honor, and build upon the effective practices already in place in Dover with a culture of growth, a culture of excellence, and a culture of well-rounded, rigorous curriculum and instruction that prepares our students for careers and college – their futures.

Sincerely,

Kelly K. Cartwright, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools