Skip to main content

Best.Year.Ever.

Image result for 5 stars


It is that time of year once again. That magical time where everything feels new, feels fresh:new school supplies, new haircuts, new teachers, new hopes for a fresh start. Children enter their classrooms with hopes and dreams for success, for a teacher who cares about them, and for peers who will treat them with kindness, respect, and dignity. They deserve nothing less. We have the power to make that happen and it is our commitment to serve up nothing less than 5 star quality educational experiences for every child who enters our doors.

Teachers have been working hard all summer to craft lessons that garner excitement. We have been discovering new technology to use in the classroom that will excite the children.  Countless hours have been spent sprucing up the buildings with paint, gardening, and tlc! (Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with this!)

Our beginning of the year kick off cluster meetings featured introductions of staff members new to our county. We all jumped on a pretend roller coaster ride and we danced to music. We became connected educators and recognized longstanding teachers in our district. We discussed creative ways to use technology to open the doors of the world to our children.

Our Central Office has pledged to provide 5 star quality service to the schools, the families, and the community. We know that this means not only providing for an excellent education but also going the extra mile, offering the unexpected, and concentrating on the smallest details. Our job is to serve.

I have never seen such excitement from a district staff ready to begin the year with smiles, laughter and a determination to make this year the best year ever. These three words have become our mantra and we are dedicated to see them to fruition. The feeling is palpable and I am honored to be a part of it. Best. Year. Ever!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Five Star Quality

When you want to go to an extra special restaurant you might choose one that has a 5 star rating. And if you want to take that once a year weekend to a luxurious hotel you will surely look for one that is also of 5 star quality. It is our desire to offer a 5 star quality educational experience for every child and family in Cheatham County. What does that look like? I believe to get to a 5 star quality we must fine tune the details. It is the little things. There are many things that are expected and standard, if you will, in education: transportation, food service, newsletters, and reasonably sized classes. What gets you to the five star rating? Multiple forms of communication are expected by parents in a 5 star quality program including phone calls, emails, videos, and newsletters. Personal phone calls home giving a positive referral by the teacher should happen throughout the year. Up to date social media sites sharing happenings in the schools with pictures to spark dinner table...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Three Legged Stool

Education is like a three legged stool. For the stool to stand, the weight must be distributed equally with all legs holding up their portion. The three legs represent the school, the student, and the parents or caregivers of the student. All have an equal yet different responsibility in the education of a child. The school has the responsibility for providing a safe and respectful environment in which to learn. A guaranteed and viable curriculum must be delivered daily to all students. Classes and opportunities should be available to develop the whole child including art, music, physical and vocational education. Opportunities to develop 21st Century skills should be offered to give students chances to collaborate in meaningful ways. Students need lessons that require them to create, analyze and use higher order thinking skills. Finally, the schools should develop relationships with students that give them mentors, role models, and caring adults in their lives. Parents are their c...
Post a Comment
Read more