RESERVE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District’s administrative team kicked off the 2018-19 school year by embracing “The Power of You” at its annual Administrative Institute.

“We wanted everyone to understand the power they have as an individual to impact a child’s life,” Superintendent Kevin George said.

“If you do your job well just imagine how you can change a child’s life. Everybody, individually, and as a team can make a difference.”

The Administrative Institute is held each July to plan, share information and build excitement for the new school year.

Participants include central office staff, principals, assistant principals and master teachers.

George said particularly exciting in the upcoming school year is year 2 of TAP: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement after learning much in the first year of implementation.

“We are set up to have tremendous gains in year 2,” he said. “We have found the gaps in the curriculum and standards and understand how to address them. We are having training throughout the summer and throughout the school year to set ourselves up for success.”

Created by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), TAP supports teacher effectiveness and student outcomes through multiple career paths for teachers, instructionally focused accountability, ongoing, applied professional growth and performance-based compensation.

George participated throughout the summer as a NIET Teach Factor Fellow, sharing stories of success through TAP in teacher leadership and proven methods that have led to increased student achievement in the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District with fellow educators, national political leaders and others throughout the country.

School for students in the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District begins for students on Aug. 8.