 Remarks
by
Robert A. McKanna, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Community Consolidated
School District 15
March 9, 2004
President Bush, Secretary Evans, members of the Baldrige family,
and distinguished guests:
Community Consolidated School District 15, in Northwest suburban
Chicago, is honored to receive this award on behalf of the 2,300
employees who educate our 13,000 students.
Without a visionary former superintendent, who had the trenchant
zeal of a crusader for the Baldrige process and a strong administrative
team, we would not be here. Without the support and commitment of
an outstanding board of education, we would not be here. Without
exemplary teachers, the number one factor in student achievement,
and the team effort of our 2,300 employees, using systematic data
driven processes and quality tools, we would not be here.
Through our strategic planning process we created a compelling
mission “To Produce World-Class Learners by Building a Connected
Learning Community.”
One of our criteria that defines world class is all second graders
will read at grade level, provided they have been in our district
since kindergarten. We are proud to say 96% of our second graders
are reading at grade level. That is more than 35% above the national
average. This is a rigorous goal when you realize we have a student
population consisting of 37 percent minority, one-third at the low-income
level, and 79 different languages spoken in students’ homes.
The implementation of the American Society for Quality “Koality
Kid” program has resulted in deployment of quality tools and
process in all of our 19 schools. Our teachers and students have
become data driven, seeking out root causes of problems, using Plan
Do Study Act improvement cycles, run charts, Pareto diagrams, and
a host of other quality tools. Walking into any of our 537 classrooms
you will see students using these techniques, which is an astonishing
experience.
Performance excellence is a conscious choice made by organizational
leaders. We are a district of talented and dedicated professionals.
I thank our 2,300 staff members for the discipline and hard work
that have resulted in producing world class learners. They are a
fantastic team. I am proud to work with each and every one of them.
Thank you.
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