Superintendent's Office
Dr. Rizzo Saunders Presents Listen, Learn, Lead Entry Plan Report

As part of her Entry Plan titled Listen, Learn, Lead, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders fulfilled her commitment to engage with district stakeholders to gather valuable insights and input. The results of her more than 90-Day effort to engage with the Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) was unveiled at the monthly Board of School Directors' meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Born from a collection of qualitative and quantitative data as well as a historical analysis of key documents, the report is the result of over 70 one-to-one interviews, focus groups including 102 participants, meetings with key constituents and 4 past superintendents, and extended visits to all six school buildings.
Dr. Rizzo Saunders embraced the opportunity to immerse herself in the KCSD community by participating in local traditions like the Mushroom Festival and Light Parade, attending school athletic and cultural events, and engaging directly with parents and students.
The report highlights the District's strengths, challenges, and opportunities and offers twelve recommendations toward meeting the needs unearthed in her research.
Read the contents of the report below. Be sure to choose your language for this website to read in English or Spanish.
Your Entry Plan Report
Review the report embedded below or download the PDF files in English and Spanish.
Listen, Learn, Lead Entry Plan Report January 2025
- Letter to the Community
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities: Strengths
- Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities: Challenges
- Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities: Opportunities
Letter to the Community
Executive Summary
Introduction
Methodology
Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities: Strengths
Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities: Challenges
Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities: Opportunities
Findings and Analysis: Strengths
- Strong traditions, community pride, and celebrated diversity
- Committed educators and supportive parents
- Recognized excellence in extracurricular programs, including athletics and the arts
- Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center
- Fiscal Health
Strong traditions, community pride, and celebrated diversity
Committed educators and supportive parents
Recognized excellence in extracurricular programs, including athletics and the arts
Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center
Fiscal Health
Findings and Analysis: Challenges
- Equity gaps in academic performance, resource distribution, and program access
- Variability in facilities quality and access to advanced academic opportunities across schools
- Turnover rates among key staff positions
- Insufficient systemic support for student mental health and behavioral needs
- Addressing the needs of the middle
- Lack of a guaranteed, viable curriculum
- Outdated policies and lack of procedures, protocols, systems, and structures
- Communication
Equity gaps in academic performance, resource distribution, and program access
Variability in facilities quality and access to advanced academic opportunities across schools
Turnover rates among key staff positions
Insufficient systemic support for student mental health and behavioral needs
Addressing the needs of the middle
Lack of a guaranteed, viable curriculum
Outdated policies and lack of procedures, protocols, systems, and structures
Communication
Findings and Analysis: Opportunities
- Bilingual programs and promoting cultural immersion initiatives
- Leveraging community partnerships
- Strengthening district-wide alignment in policies and professional development
- Investing in equitable upgrades across schools
- Improving Transparency
- Strategic planning
Bilingual programs and promoting cultural immersion initiatives
Leveraging community partnerships
Strengthening district-wide alignment in policies and professional development
Investing in equitable upgrades across schools
Improving Transparency
Strategic planning
Recommendations
- Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Strategic Plan
- Perform an Opportunity Audit
- Develop a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum
- Enhance Equity in Academic Opportunities
- Invest in Consistent Professional Development
- Improve Communication and Transparency
- Strengthen Systems, Policies, and Procedures
- Expand Bilingual and Cultural Immersion Programs
- Address Facilities Disparities
- Enhance Mental Health and Behavioral Support Systems
- Focus on "Middle-Tier" Students
- Leverage Community Partnerships
Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Strategic Plan
Perform an Opportunity Audit
Develop a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum
Enhance Equity in Academic Opportunities
Invest in Consistent Professional Development
Improve Communication and Transparency
Strengthen Systems, Policies, and Procedures
Expand Bilingual and Cultural Immersion Programs
Address Facilities Disparities
Enhance Mental Health and Behavioral Support Systems
Focus on "Middle-Tier" Students
Leverage Community Partnerships
Conclusion
Superintendent's Office
Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Cassie Yang
Assistant to the Superintendent
Performance Assessment
The annual performance assessment for superintendent and assistant superintendent have been completed for the 2024-2025 school year with both individuals having met the agreed-to objective performance standards.
KCSD Board of School Directors
Learn More About the Selection of Dr. Rizzo Saunders as KCSD Superintendent
Want to read the 90-Day Listen, Learn, Lead Entry Plan and review the initial calendar? Go to the plan page linked below.
Did you attend the Entry Plan Report Presentation? View the slides that supported the presentation below.
