Recently, I had the pleasure of welcoming our staff back from summer vacation. I entitled my remarks People, Place, and Learning, or All this Everyday. I hoped that my message would be motivating and thought provoking. The next few paragraphs will summarize my thoughts as we begin another school year.
Education is a people business.
Our success depends on how well we work with a wide array of people. Our guiding principles should be respect, courtesy, and empathy. These are key to forming positive, supportive relationships with our colleagues, our students, and their families. Last spring, I attended four different graduation ceremonies. At each of these, it was apparent that students enjoy and respect the teachers who challenged them.