Stating that her first introduction to the Chipley Woman’s Club was as a member of the ‘Chipley High School Little Women’ – where she served as Historian, Martha Compton recently opened her address to the Chipley Woman’s Club at their regular monthly meeting in downtown Chipley, Florida.
As a candidate for Superintendent of Schools in Washington County, Compton stressed that the role of education is multifold, and inclusive of:
• Preparation of students for college and the workforce, including preparation for jobs that may not yet exist, due to rapidly changing technology.
• Helping children fulfill their diverse potentials.
• Enabling students to become well-rounded individuals, focusing on the whole child and not just mastery of academic content.
• Preparing students to live a productive life, becoming good citizens and hopefully returning to live in Washington County.
Compton pointed out that, as an educator and administrator, her four key areas of focus included, firstly, Teacher Recruitment and Retention, which must include improved teacher salaries and a solution to the high cost of family insurance premiums.
Secondly, Compton said, is Effective Communication, encouraging employee feedback as a vehicle for boosting loyalty, building alignment around goals and creating a culture of value.
Thirdly, High-Quality Instruction, ensuring that students are engaged in school, motivated to attend every day and prepared for future challenges, is very necessary.
Last but not least, a Safe & Supportive Environment, inclusive of the safety and the mental health of our staff, teachers and students, is a necessity for a quality and effective education.
Compton explained that everything she has learned has been through her parents, the public school system and the people of this community, and that she was truly a product of Washington County, where her heart lies.
‘Serving Washington County as Superintendent of Schools offers opportunities and challenges to serve my home community and impact a community with talented, educated individuals, which will foster growth and pride for Washington County’, Compton said.
‘We must design a community and create opportunities so that our children will return to work and live here. We must show the Florida Panhandle what makes Washington County unique’.
‘I have really prayed about this and I have asked for confirmation on my journey’, finished Compton, ‘and each day, I strive to be better than I was the day before. I don’t know what the result will be, but I know that I am supposed to take this journey’.
Compton was met with rousing applause and words of encouragement from the attendees.
