A successful school district must work as a well-oiled machine. Like any machine, all parts must function for the machine to work. Without competent administrators and teachers, students would not excel, and without students performing, the school district fails as a whole.

Orono’s administrative staff is a well-working team all under the direction of how the superintendent carries through the school board’s plans.Superintendent Dr. Karen Orcutt is a highly intelligent, hard working, and vital member to the district and the community as a whole.

“To even qualify for the position of superintendent one must complete many levels of higher education. One must have a masters degree in either education or teaching, possess an additional specialist degree, and many have obtained doctorate degrees,” said Dave Benson, OHS principal. According to cga.ct.gov, candidates must also have “at least 80 months of successful teaching.”

While students and teachers each cover their own variety of specialized work, the superintendent must be involved in all levels of the district’s academia. According to greatschools.org, “the superintendent is the CEO of the school district.” He or she must promote open communication with the community and students, financial planning and budgeting, as well as promoting productive teaching methods and keeping standardized test scores steady or improving.

The size of a district is an important factor. If it is too large then students will be ignored and receive less individual attention, but if it is too small, the school loses money for programs and other financial aid.

“Orono Schools is at a perfect equilibrium,” said Orcutt. It is large enough for the proper funding and small enough to pay attention to each student and keep track of their academic future. This idea is backed up by sophomore Keegan Johnson who says that, “the size of the student body is just right.”

Getting proper education leads to graduation, which directly affects the community. The graduation rate at Orono has always been at least 99 percent, and in 2011 it was 100 percent.

“Every student is vital,” said Orcutt, “one student not graduating is a concern.”

Students meet with guidance counselors, teachers and anyone that can help them stay on the best path for them and their education.

A superintendent, as well as any high-level administrator, must oversee teacher performance. The superintendent has the responsibility to maintain and improve the instructional effectiveness of each teacher.

“Teachers are always in staff development,” said Orcutt. No teacher is better than another teacher who is still making an effort to learn and bring new approaches to the classroom.

The Orono district works consistently to update programs and classes for the betterment of the student body. “We have added many AP classes, including all of the AP science classes,” said associate principal Caryn Boyd.

Orono constantly improves all of its programs from English to science and everything in between at all levels of difficulty. Not only is the district increasing the number of AP classes, but the number of enrollments, and the scores on exams is increasing steadily.

The staff and administrators all meet on a regular basis to come up with the best methods of teaching. Principals meet with teachers at least weekly, and sometimes more often to work as a team, to improve teachers as professionals.

Like any administrator, Orcutt is a real person, and she has a passion for teaching and interests in reading and animals.

The truly caring, motivated, and hard-working staff at the Orono School District is what keeps it a top-notch school both academically and as a community.

Alec Morin is a Staff Reporter for The Spartan Speaks.