Socorro County educator Vannetta Perry has been hired to replace Mike Chambers as superintendent of the Magdalena Municipal School District following an in-depth interview process by the Board of Education.
John Larson - El Defensor Chieftain: Socorro County's Vanetta Perry begins her first year as Magdalena superintendent.
Taking over Monday, she told the Defensor Chieftain she was humbled to have the opportunity to serve the community of Magdalena, and is “excited to be back in the arena of educating children.”
“Magdalena Municipal Schools, a true community school, has exceptional staff and a warm, welcoming environment that extends into the far reaches of our community,” she said.
Perry credits previous superintendent Mike Chambers – along with the staff – for leaving the district fiscally sound and the physical plant in good shape.
“These aspects create a friendly environment into which I enter, with few critical issues, for which I am grateful,” she said.
With a master’s degree in chemistry from New Mexico Tech and Ed.D. from UNM, Perry is no stranger to the inner workings and requirements involved in public education. For 10 years she worked for Socorro Consolidated Schools, first as Director of Curriculum and then became Human Resources director and finally Associate Superintendent.
Before that, she taught biology at New Mexico Tech, coordinated the student research internship program for Sandia National Laboratories, and was coordinator of Educational Outreach Programs at Tech.
Perry said the foundational basis of her educational philosophy is that all students can learn.
“Providing an environment rich with diverse, creative learning opportunities facilitates the expansion of students’ perceptions of their world, hence, their understanding,” she said. “Understanding solidifies knowledge.”
Her philosophy on education focuses on seven characteristics of a school district’s instructional program that she believes supports the inclusive learning environment.
“The first is to provide an environment in which each student feels safe to question and be empowered to take control of his own learning,” she said. “It’s my goal to see each student experience and feel the empowerment of growing intellectually and socially.”
Perry said another philosophy of hers is to “begin with the known and move to the unknown.”
“Providing relevant and highly articulated PreK-12 curriculum effectively delivered by high quality instructional leaders is absolutely necessary to engage the student in learning,” she said. “Each student is unique, with her own lens of the world, and being able to respectfully connect through that perspective with what students know and understand is necessary to promote knowledge acquisition.
As for the Common Core state standards Perry said, “Specific expectations established by the district will guide instructional leaders in the comprehensive, aligned instruction.
“Educational leaders at all levels need to generally understand the Common Core State Standards as a whole, and specifically for their grade level/subject and adjacent grades and be able to guide students’ learning accordingly.
She said staff development in the standards and instructional strategies are necessary for effective instructional delivery.
Aligned assessment of what students learn, Perry said, is important to determine instructional effectiveness and ensure continuous student growth and achievement.
“Frequent classroom assessment that guides each student in setting educational goals, understanding quality school work, and evaluating their own work is important in assessing learning,” she said.
But education and learning should not be confined to the student body, according to Perry.
She said continuous and relevant learning by each member of the educational community, from the custodian and cook to the Board of Education, is imperative in providing the most support possible for students.
“In this world of constant and rapid change, the ability and willingness to continue to learn is vital,” Perry said. “Flexibility, adaptation and cooperation are what individuals need to survive and thrive in the 21st century. It is our job at Magdalena Municipal Schools to create the environment that engenders the students’ desires to be lifelong learners.”
In a back to school message to students, Perry said she believes the most important voices to be heard in the educational community are those of the students themselves.
“I welcome you to drop by my office, speak to me in the hallways, your classrooms, and out in the community,” she said. “I am interested in learning from you what is important to you about school and being prepared for your chosen post-secondary experiences and what barriers may exist that prevent you from entering that exciting journey and achieving your dreams.”
“It is important to me that you are empowered to be responsible for your own learning. We will provide the best educational environment possible to enhance your learning,” Perry said. “But at the end of the day, it is up to you to take charge of your learning. I challenge you to build your repertoire of skills and knowledge while at Magdalena Municipal Schools that will take you far in your journey of life.”
“I am excited to be working with you this year and look forward to meeting and getting to know each and every one of you,” Perry said.