DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — Dothan City Schools Superintendent Dr. Garrick Askew released his 100-Day Report today, November 24, offering a detailed look at the district’s early progress and the work still ahead as he nears his first 100 days in office.
The report pulls from community listening sessions, more than 100 school and classroom visits, one-on-one meetings with students, educators, families, and business leaders, as well as evaluations from national experts in literacy, math, and special education. It serves as a roadmap for what the district has accomplished and where improvements are most needed.
“I am proud of the work going on in Dothan City Schools. We have dedicated educators who are providing instruction for our students each day,” Dr. Askew said. “This plan provides coherence for our work and allows us to significantly address our students’ needs in areas where data show we are not strong.”
A major portion of the report highlights needs in literacy, math achievement, instructional consistency, behavior support systems, and overall staffing capacity. Even with those challenges, Dr. Askew said the district has solid strengths to build on, including committed staff, positive school environments, and strong community partnerships.
He noted literacy as a central priority. “Literacy is one of the keystones in the educational process. Moreover, it is a life skill that students will use in college, career, and the workplace. This plan addresses our need to increase our students’ proficiency in literacy,” he said.
Additional recommendations include improvements to organizational structure, technology systems, behavior support, and teacher recruitment and retention efforts. Dr. Askew said these moves are designed to boost student outcomes and align district resources with the needs shown through the data.
“The strategic initiatives articulate the needs in our district as evidenced by numerous data points,” he said. “The initiatives provide the direction and support to channel our resources and amplify our efforts to best educate our students.”
The superintendent also noted ongoing work to strengthen special education services. “We are also addressing special education through this plan. An expert panel is currently engaged and is analyzing our structures, processes, and instructional practices and will make recommendations in those areas that we will consider as well.”
Dr. Askew said the release of the report marks an important milestone as Dothan City Schools continues shaping a unified vision for the future—one focused on stronger skills, stronger students, and a stronger community with brighter futures.
