This week I would like to provide you with some information pertaining to Goal 3, Motivated, High Performing, Diverse Workforce. Outcome A, Personnel Management Practice, states: In support of student achievement, administrators at all levels will continually recruit, hire, support, evaluate, and recognize personnel in order to retain a highly motivated and committed workforce which reflects the diversity of the school community.

     Approximately 3,032 employees served DoDDS Pacific students at the area, district, and school levels during School Year 2001-2002. Of those employees, over 73 percent worked directly with students as classroom teachers and specialists. And, I can say with great confidence that our DoDDS Pacific workforce is comprised of highly trained and experienced professionals dedicated to providing students a quality education that prepares them for success in the global environment of today and the future.

     We have engaged in extensive efforts toward the achievement of Goal 3, Outcome A, continuously improving our recruitment, hiring, support, evaluation, and recognition programs and practices. In an endeavor to recruit a diverse workforce, DoDDS Pacific personnel attended job fairs locally and also participated in DoDEA sponsored job fairs at universities and colleges across the continental United States. During School Year 2001-2002, my Personnel Division expanded recruitment efforts to reach more minority educators in the Pacific. We recruited 129 local educators, 25 percent of which were minorities. Recruitment efforts by the DoDEA Personnel Center resulted in 188 stateside educators being hired in the Pacific, of which 31 percent were minorities. We continue to make considerable progress in raising the number of minority educators hired in the Pacific from our previous level of 17 percent.

     For new teachers and teachers transferring into DoDDS Pacific, we provide support via our well-established DoDDS Pacific Mentor Program. The purpose of the program is to induct new teachers into the norms and expectations of the school to enable them to have a successful beginning. Another way we provide support to our employees is through professional development opportunities. It is my belief that ongoing professional development for all of our initiatives results in our being able to provide a high quality education for our students.

     The new DoDDS Educator Performance Appraisal System will enhance the ability of DoDDS Pacific to recruit and maintain a group of teaching professionals who can provide all students with the knowledge and skills required for high levels of achievement. It was designed to improve instructional delivery, educator evaluation, and student achievement. The goal of this new evaluation program is to build trust, promote self awareness and self-assessment, and also promote professional growth to better serve our young people.

     The final element of Goal 3 Outcome A is recognition. DoDDS Pacific employees are recognized through performance and incentive awards. My office and our district offices distinguish employees with 10, 20, and 30 years of service with certificates and pins. However, there are neither enough words nor tokens to cover the appreciation that I have for your daily efforts for and in support of our children. The dedication, time, and energy you put into your work is immense. The outcome for children is incalculable. I sincerely thank you for doing such an exceptional job of preparing our children for future success.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific