Linden school leaders look back to move forward during Administrative Retreat

Linden Public Schools held its annual Administrative Retreat from August 10-13, 2026 at School No. 4. About 50 administrators attended the four-day event, which featured a "Back to the '90s" motif with participants wearing tracksuits and bright colors.

The retreat was led by Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y Perkins, Assistant Superintendent Annabell Louis, and Dr. Kayla Lott, director of human resources. The event operated under the theme "Back to the Basics with a Future-Focused Vision," aimed at returning to effective practices while confronting persistent challenges and turning district priorities into measurable gains for students.

Superintendent Perkins outlined four district-wide goals for 2026-27: student achievement, safety and security, climate and culture, and community engagement. She emphasized that student outcomes must improve and that every school and department shares responsibility. She noted that achievement extends beyond test scores to include student growth, consistent attendance, graduation readiness, and the district's ability to prepare learners for success after high school.

Leaders were instructed to align their schools' and departments' work with the four priorities and clearly communicate the district's strategic roadmap, values, mission and vision. Data-driven instruction was identified as central to this effort, with leaders challenged to examine benchmark results and daily information that can reveal concerns early and guide action.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against official sources.

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against source records.