Welcome!
Let’s help freshmen succeed.
The Ninth Grade Initiative
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The Ninth Hour
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Meet the Team
Scott and Todd have over 60 years of educational experience in the area of freshman success. They started working closely together in 2019. They have done conferences and in-services throughout the Midwest over the last five years.
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Coordinator for Alternative and Online Programs | Salem, VA
10 years as Principal of Salem High School | Salem, VA
9 years as Assistant Principal of Salem High School | Salem, VA
National Speaker | 200+ Keynotes and Presentations in more than 15 states
Founder of The Assessment Network
Co-author of The 9th Grade Opportunity: Transforming Schools from the Bottom Up
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I’ve been in education for almost 35 years. I grew up all over the United States, moving 15 times and attending 10 public schools before I went to college. By training and experience, I think about transitions all the time. High school can be hard. I hope to bring a level of attention and assistance to teachers and freshmen in my building as well as those with whom I interact through blogs, conferences, and professional interactions.
Freshman Academy Coordinator @ Jefferson High School | 2021 - Present | Sioux Falls, SD
Freshman Academy Coordinator @ Washington High School | 2008 - 2021 | Sioux Falls, SD
Model School Presenter - Washington, D.C.
TEDx Talk: My Life Among Freshmen and the Adults Who Teach Them
District Recognition Video: Staff Stars - Todd Novak
Co-author of Connections: 10 Summer Days to Start High School Well
Contact.
Questions? Interested in working together?
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