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Tom Ferenc 2012 MetLife/NASSP High School Principal of the Year for the State of Vermont Contact information: email: tferenc@wswsu.org Phone: 802-875-2146 Cell: 802-356-1728 Home: 603-924-8546 Fax: 802-875-3183 Hello and welcome to my web page. It is at this site that I have posted information that I trust you will find useful such as my philosophy of education. I will try to update information regularly and I encourage you to contact me with any questions you may have. Our school website is up to date and regularly maintained and you should check there for the latest information. It is at http://gmuhs.wswsu.org. Principal's Updates Tom Ferenc February 19, 2013 NECAP SCORES: Necap scores have been released and they show some growth on our part but also some backsliding, which we continue to address.  GMUHS NECAP STUDENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS2012.pdf As you can see, compared to the State we are doing well with 7 of the 10 categories at or above the State average. We can and must however do better. The best way to measure a student's performance is to compare the student to themselves over time, in different classes with different teachers. The current method of testing compares cohorts of students. For example this year's 7th graders compared to last year's 7th graders. Also, this high stakes test is but one leg of the stool. The other legs are local assessments and class work.   For more information on necap scores go the Department of Educationís website where you will find a great deal of information. ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS: GMUHS has been designated as a school in need of improvement, having not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) on the state NECAP test last year. We came up short in Math and we have identified a student's ability to read and comprehend what is being asked of them as a contributor to not making AYP. For example, look at the following 8th grade math test question and see what you think. It is complicated and must be 'chunked' that is, taken apart and done in steps. You will notice that it is a lengthy word problem with math embedded. Students must be familiar with a broad vocabulary and the ability to do 'close' reading and read complex text. This problem is an example from the new State test called the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), which is replacing the NECAP test (New England Common Assessment Program).         sbac math problem .pdf To meet our State obligations as a school in need of improvement, we have developed a school wide improvement plan that we have been implementing. We also have a State coach who comes to our school and helps. For more information on AYP go to the Department of Education website where you will find a great deal of information.   In closing, I am always interested in your input. Please contact me with any questions, concerns or comments about your school.   Biography: I was born in Port Chester, New York and raised in a section of Greenwich, Connecticut called Chickahominy. I am a product of their public school system. Upon graduating from Greenwich High School, I attended Norwalk Community College and transferred to Southern Connecticut State College where I earned a BS in Biology. I earned my Masters Degree in Education from Antioch New England Graduate School and my Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Plymouth State University. I am certified as a classroom teacher, school Principal and Superintendent in multiple states. I have been married to my lovely wife for 32 years. We have one son and two cats. My Philosophy of Education: What I Believe: I believe in America's 200 year old experiment called public education. I believe in equality and that each and every individual child should have access to an education. I believe that Americans want opportunity, so they can become all they can be. We are a nation of achievers and we believe in the possibility of going to the White House from a log cabin. Americans believe in excellence. We expect to be the very best at everything we do. I believe that there is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals. I believe that each child deserves a personalized education plan. I believe in differentiating instruction to reach the full range of learners. I believe in preparing our students to thrive in a global economy. To that end, I believe in the expansion and use of technology. I believe that children must be taught to learn and create, not just memorize and regurgitate. I believe that children must be taught to be curious about the world and themselves. I believe that children will achieve in direct proportion to the level of your expectations. I believe that with good teachers anything is possible, even overcoming poverty. I believe that all children must have access to the most rigorous curriculum possible. I believe good teachers understand that it is relationship first, task second.     I believe in these truths because I am a product of them. Having been raised in a public housing project, I am living proof that education is the most valuable gift you can give yourself and the next generation of Americans. And I owe it all to one teacher who believed in me and changed my life.          Green Mountain Union High School is a comprehensive middle/high school dedicated to improving student learning.   At GMUHS, student/adult connections are very important. It's all about relationships. Relationship first, task second. At Green Mountain we believe in educating the whole student. To do so, we strive to meet our student learning expectations as well as our social and civic learning expectations in many different ways.         Smart is not something you are or you aren't. It is something you become by working hard. Mr. Ferenc Principal, GMUHS          INFORMATION ON THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR: *Graduation Date: June 14, 2013 *Parent Teacher Conferences: March 21 & 22, 2013 *Always check the GMUHS web-site for updated dates and times, as things shift.   As Principal, my primary responsiblity is instructional leader, focusing on improving student learning. I am also expected to function as an educational visonary, an assessment expert, a curriculum innovator, a professional development leader, a community builder, a public relations professional, a budget analyst, a facilities manager, a technology leader, a special programs administrator, a restaurant manager, a safe and drug free schools administrator, a disciplinarian, guardian of various legal, contractual, and policy mandates and initiatives, and a leader in improving programs for students with special needs. I am also responsible for standardized test scores. This comprehensive list was shared with me by another administrator. I believe he covered pretty much everything except my job as a 'parent on site'- that is also very important. I take the education of our students personally and expect our fine staff to do the same and almost all of them do so all of the time. We are only as good as our people and at GMUHS we have very good teachers and staff. As Principal I am fortunate to work with a good team.