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Beginnings

I am excited to begin my journey as Director of Schools in Cheatham County, TN. In thinking about my vision for this wonderful school district, I think perhaps I can best describe myself as the Lead Learner in the district, thus the name for this blog. What is my vision? What do I hope to accomplish this first year? Let me first begin with the term LEARNER:


L-I will be a solid listener. I want to learn about what is working, what the stakeholders are most proud of, and what the areas of need are. I will learn about the culture and the politics of the community. I want to hear about the principals' and directors' hopes and goals for the schools, for the children, and for Cheatham County as a whole. Once I have gathered all of this qualitative data I can begin to craft a plan collaboratively as to where we want to be in 5 years.


E-I hope to empower others to use their strengths and talents to collectively create a think tank of innovation for the district. What are staff members' passions? How can we leverage the gifts that are right here in the district? Rural districts must look within for professional development to move staff members forward towards reaching our goals.


A-Academic Achievement is on the forefront of everyone's mind. Good is not good enough. We want great! We will not be satisfied until all of our students are meeting the academic standards with high levels of proficiency. We will begin with a focus on literacy and math.


R-Relationships are the foundation from which all positive things are built, both personally and professionally. It is critical that we have strong relationships with each other, with our students and families and with our community partners. We know that without having a positive relationship built on trust and respect in place, an organization will never meet its potential. It is paramount to build these relationships and nurture them daily in our every interaction.


N-A narrative is a story. What is our story? How can I be the chief storyteller to the community? Communication is key to ensure that everyone hears the messages, the information, and the successes/challenges that we face. I am responsible for sharing the narrative.


E-We need to continue engagement in the community, in the classrooms, and with each other everyday.


R-We will reach outside of our borders, to those not only around our state but across the nation. We will collaborate with educators from around the US learning from each other and sharing ideas in a global fashion. This is best practice for rural schools as sometimes they can feel isolating. This will be possible through district wide technology.


I am a lifelong learner. I am passionate about education. I am honored to join this amazing team and have  the opportunity to Achieve Excellence Together!

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