Education For All
Ultimately, each student must set their own academic goals. Work and determination then truly chart their path to success.
Ultimately, each student must set their own academic goals. Work and determination then truly chart their path to success.
Chip Sharratt's background info - (Charles R. Sharratt)
Born and raised – Richfield MN. Richfield High School grad -1970
Graduated US Naval Academy (USNA) – Annapolis MD 1974 (BS Aero Engineering)
Flight School, Flight Duty, Engineering Assignments
Mediterranean Carrier Deployments on USS John F. Kennedy (2); & USS Forrestal (1) - (1977-1980)
Systems Engr at Joint Electronic Warfare Center – San Antonio, TX. (1980-82)
Retired from Navy Reserves as a Navy Captain in July 2009. (35 years of Service)
Community Support of Education
USNA College Admissions Rep. (1992-2013); (Guided hundreds toward Academy Educations; and toward millions in scholarships.)
US Navy League (VP, Youth Prgms Dir., & Commissioning Committee for SSN-783, & LCS-21) (’07-’22)
US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Directors and VP, (2008-2020)
Created a PL Glendale Kindergarten and 1st Grade music intro program called The Sound Safari. (2000-2004)
Taught Mad Science for after school tech learning in about 6-8 area Districts, Including PLSAS (2004-2007)
School District Support (ISD-719). Substitute Teacher/Mentor/PLSAS Enthusiast (2001-2011)
Asked to mentor Wolf Ridge 5th grade boys twice for Glendale at ELC (Two 5th grade daughters, '06-'07)
Activist to retain the Wolf Ridge Program in PLSAS - 2008-09.
PLAY Soccer and Softball Coach - (2000 to 2008)
Prior Lake Schools – Strategic Planning Committee – (2007-2012)
Prior Lake Schools Arts Booster Club - PAA (2010-20); VP, 2013-15 (Lifetime Achievement Award - 2016)
Helped build a gifted immersion program for grades 4 & 5 at ISD-719. (’07) Sage Academy
Prior Lake Schools Gifted & Talented Program (SPAN - Member and Mentor) 2005-22.
Submitted two teachers for VFW Teacher of the Year in 2012 and 2014. (Prior Lake & St Michael)
Mrs Kelly McDermott (Math-PL) won - MN State Middle School Teacher of the Year Award - 2012.
And she also won the VFW National Middle School Teacher of the Year Award. (2012)
Mrs Peggy Skon – St. Michael, won a MN State Elementary Teacher of the Year Award. (2014)
Post Active Duty - and while a Navy Reservist
Worked as a Defense Contractor for Texas Instruments (1982-87, Proj. Engr/Prog. Mgr)
Lockheed-Sanders (1987-90) (DC Mktg, Western Region Mktg Mgr )
And with Litton ATD, as well as Goodrich Aerospace.
US Navy Reserves - Naval Air Systems Command. Three Navy Command Assignments (Denver and Minneapolis)
Six different US geographic assignment locations. Multiple Command Awards. Led hundreds of Sailors.
Civilian Side
Primary Care Giver for 2 daughters born in ’95 & ’97. (House Dad) (1995-2015)
Youth Baseball Coach – Cooperstown NY - Summer Baseball Camp – 1992 to 2010
Active PLSAS Fundraiser for the Arts (PAA) thru' the PL Musicfest - Coordinated raising over $50K.
Hobbies
Writing and Recording Classic Rock music – Chroma-Soma Productions (1990-2022)
Neighborhood Sports teams (Softball & Broomball) (1998-2022).
Coaching/playing baseball; Cooperstown NY. ("Cooperstown Baseball Camp", and "Legends of Baseball")
Establishing and teaching a curriculum that inspires and motivates young learners of all abilities is a District imperative!
Student learning thrives in an organized and predictable academic setting. Realistic study goals, successes and opportunities will enhance student motivations.
Instructional excellence from our PLSAS teachers must continue to be a daily standard. Similarly, a student's #1 job at school is to be a passionate and attentive learner. Respect and appreciation of each other's roles will garner the optimum rewards. Teachers will be proud of their students' fresh academic perspectives, while student's will hopefully employ that newfound knowledge into their daily lives. Ultimately, that's education's greatest reward.!
Years back, I questioned the athletic policy that allowed for three occurrences of substance abuse/experimentation before dismissal from ECA participation. Fentanyl and other opioid derivatives often don't offer users three chances. This policy should be revisited and revised.
Teachers generally have restrictions on foul language use in schools. Students should be held to those same standards.
To demonstrate the success of the STEM initiative at PLSAS, I'd love to honor those graduates who continue on as undergrads in the Science, Tech and Math disciplines. Similar to athletes who are recognized at a college commitment ceremony, STEM graduates should be equally acknowledged since this is a stated learning objective for our District.
The ECO Team (or other science students) should write articles for the local papers on their research about environmentally sound 'natural resource' initiatives. Topics like Plastics in the waste stream; Cleaning contaminates from our water systems; Energy needs and resources during times of distress; Wind turbine use and efficiencies; Changing weather patterns; and 'the balance of nature with human expansion' are great launch pads for this important initiative. Our students could become community teachers to demonstrate the "E" of E-STEM. Coincidentally, English teachers could award students with extra class-credits for these published articles.
Many homes immerse their families in a foreign language at home. How about filming the school language courses our students take, putting them on Educational TV and stream them into those homes. The kids could then become English teachers for their families. (?) And the entire families would be the beneficiaries of learning and speaking their new homeland language.
I've noticed sports teams in the PLHS Sports facility late in the evening. How about mandating study hours, unless interrupted by scheduled competitive events? Certainly, a re-focusing on academic achievement is needed - since we've seen academic declines over the past 8 years. In 'PLHS Activities' own words, only 2% of our kids actually go onto playing college level sports. A course-correction is likely needed.
I've seen lists of Honor Roll students at the Middle Schools where recognized students are sometimes in the bottom half of their classes. As a college admissions person for several decades, colleges recognize and account for that 'academic grading inflation' (grade creep). Ultimately, if uncorrected, the perspective of college-ready students coming from PLSAS is lessened. Stricter curriculums and tighter grading standards can correct this grading anomaly.
A wealth of talent exists in PLHS graduates, who've realized significant academic successes. Inviting them back to talk to our current students about how their PLHS experiences paved their career paths could be a huge motivator. They started from the same school, classes, and opportunities, but realized great successes in college and beyond. Role models for all.
Podcasting former PLHS student career-success stories would be equally telling and inspirational. One great female PLHS grad is now flying fighter jets off of US aircraft carriers overseas. Another family friend is teaching English in Indonesia on a Fullbright Scholarship. A third grad taught English in a high school in Spain for a semester, with just 5 years of Spanish instruction in Middle and High School. As the PLSAS Mission references, "...productive members of our ever-changing global community."
Consequences for littering in the parking lots? We pride ourselves on environmentally conscious students and graduates. PLHS lots are often trashed. That disregard is not representative of the graduates we hope to celebrate.
Back to basics: Teach students 'the foundations' of our nation again. Our founding documents were transformational. In spite of certain new narratives, millions from around the world are still desperate to come here. That which may be missing from our conversation is "perspective".
Mandate that class hours are 'hours to be in classes'. Minimize excuses and substitutions.
PLHS students who are in AP, PSEO, and work program curriculums should visit Middle Schoolers and talk first-hand about those high school opportunities.
Consider separating PE classes by gender in Middle in High School. Boys and Girls hardly ever compete in mixed events as adults. Let's mimic the pros in our physical training and competitions.
School Board members should never have to ask permission to visit a school. In fact, they should get certified to sub teach, and visit one District school once a month to do just that. It would be eye-opening, and they'd gain the trust and confidence of the teachers by experiencing their daily challenges and rewards. Supt Tom Westerhouse did that once each month, years ago, just to gain that insight. And he gave that one faculty member that day off. A great idea!
An important fact; The District works for and reports to the 'elected' School Board. Not vice versa. We don't need another Board that just nods in agreement.
Just some thoughts to ponder.
Let me know of your ideas and concerns on improving the PLSAS learning processes. Or any other District 719 issues of concern. Similarly, those policies worthy of praise or commendation are equally important, too. Please let me know. Thanks!
Chip For Education
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