Public schools have been at the center of several controversies in recent years. It’s no wonder people have strong feelings about education, especially when it touches and impacts children. We need to care deeply and be involved.
I believe that public education is the most important thing that all of us, our communities, our state, and our nation do together. That’s a big reason why I’ve remained an educator throughout my career. Yes, this job is very important and can be stressful, but it can also be a great joy.
This year, more than ever, I am focused on the joy I experience when I am in our schools and programs, when I am with my students, families, and colleagues in District 191.
I have particularly focused on the joy I have felt seeing the steps we have taken as a school community.
● Work to implement a new, more rigorous mathematics curriculum.
● We are dedicating resources to credit recovery and helping more students graduate early.
● Our work on early literacy has had a huge impact, moving from a pilot to a district-wide implementation this year.
● The continued expansion of the Pathways model allows students to feel amazed and excited about their strengths, potential, and future.
I also love that we are defining our identity and who we want to be as a school district. I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a truly strong community that has come together so clearly around a set of core values as an identity.
There’s something special about a community that comes together around the growth and learning of its members. From early childhood education to K-12 to adult education and senior centers, we help people of all ages explore their interests, discover their strengths, and pursue their passions. With roles ranging from direct involvement in the classroom to support through administration, food service, custodial duties and more, everyone contributes to this impactful work in a real and meaningful way. .
I can’t express in words how fulfilling it is to be a part of that work. I’m really happy.
So what brings you joy? Whatever it is, it’s worth feeling, and it’s worth feeling as big as you can feel.
In her poem “Don’t Hesitate,” author Mary Oliver writes about the importance of embracing joy: Give in to it. …Joy is not made to crumble. ”