Superintendent's Welcome
Dr. Cheryl McCarthy
Superintendent
The Role of the Superintendent
The superintendent is hired by and serves as chief executive officer to the Board of Education. It is her responsibility to provide creative, dynamic and effective leadership and secure maximum educational opportunities for children by constantly striving to improve the quality of instruction.
The superintendent endeavors to obtain and develop the most competent staff to carry out the schools’ purposes. She provides leadership in securing and managing funds and facilities needed for an effective instructional program. She encourages and maintains communication between the school district and the community.
The Joliet Township High School District 204 consists of two schools: Joliet Central High School located on Jefferson Street; Joliet West located on Larkin Avenue. There is also an Alternate Campus located on Collins Street.
The JTHS Administrative Center is located at 300 Caterpillar Drive in Joliet.
Superintendent's Letter to Parents and Community
Dear Joliet Township High School Families,
It is with great excitement that I welcome you to the 2012-13 School Year. This is truly a wonderful time to be a student at JTHS. With the guidance of our Strategic Plan, we are confident in our ability to provide innovative and rigorous instruction in an academy structure. In addition, we are proud to offer a wide variety of extra-curricular programs and activities. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the JTHS band program this year, we remember the tradition of opportunity that continues today.
The confidence in our approach to education comes from the ability to assess the performance of our students. With professional development aligned to the Common Core, JTHS teachers have learned to accurately use test data to track student growth and plan lessons to meet the individualized needs of all students. Teachers have been trained to use the Performance Plus Data Management System, which makes data analysis efficient and accurate.
Full implementation of the Common Core is scheduled for 2014 and includes a strong focus on the technological skills essential for the 21st century learner. The Common Core assessments will be computer-based and requires students to be technologically proficient. To ensure that our students have the skills necessary to stay competitive in our digital society, JTHS has begun implementation of the 1:1 Computing Initiative.
The 1:1 Computing initiative will provide all incoming freshmen with laptops that will be used in school and at home. Our long-term goal is for every student, grades 9-12, to have a computing device; however, we are beginning our implementation with freshmen only. This initiative bridges the digital divide and provides students with state-of-the art technology and wireless internet connectivity throughout our buildings. 1:1 Computing provides anytime/anywhere learning and opens the doors to the critical thinking and problem solving skills, while motivating and engaging students. JTHS is excited to join school districts throughout the country in the move towards eliminating printed materials and textbooks through the incorporation of technology in the classroom. For more information about the 1:1 initiative, please visit http://www.jths.org/district204/1_1computing/main.aspx.
While the focus on academics is an essential component to our educational approach, we also believe in the development of character. All students at JTHS learn that seven words CAN make a difference. The seven character attributes of Confidence, Compassion, Respect, Responsibility, Tolerance, Integrity, and Perseverance are unique to our Joliet community. They were carefully selected by a diverse group of community members, business owners, parents, guardians, Board of Education members and high school staff as part of the Joliet Township High School Strategic Plan. The words represent who we are and what we strive to be.
If you would like additional information regarding JTHS programs and offerings, please view our Annual Report at http://www.jths.org/district204/annual_report.aspx. I look forward to working in partnership with our families and community. Together we will provide our students with the skills and opportunities necessary to compete and contribute in our local and global society. Welcome to the 2012-13 School Year!
Your Partner in Education,
Dr. Cheryl McCarthy
Superintendent