Pathways to the Prize, District Winner | Page 19

tremely knowledgeable, proactive in anticipating needed changes, and driven to have Hamblen County Schools become the best in the nation. According to his colleagues in the central office, Dr. Lynch is committed to recruiting the best teachers and leaders, helping them grow as professionals, and rallying everyone in the district around common goals. “He is committed to making sure we know what to do,” one colleague said. “He’s always looking for the best ways to do things. He tries to recruit the best, help individual growth, and rally us around themes each year. His enthusiasm is contagious.” Dr. Lynch believes in selecting and supporting the right leader for each school. He believes that schools succeed when they are led by individuals who possess particular attributes and skills, especially: The district recognizes that leadership needs to be cultivated and sustained. To that end, Dr. Lynch and his colleagues at the district level provide coaching and mentoring, opportunities to collaborate, and targeted training and professional development. Coaching and mentoring. The district has hired instructional coaches to mentor and coach principals on topics related to instructional leadership, such as use of data for improvement, effective instructional strategies, and crafting professional development to meet the needs of the school. • A passionate drive to ensure that all stud