Creating the 'We' Part 2

I am writing to share the next video in the Schools Cannot Do It Alone series. I hope you enjoyed the last clip and found time to share it with your family, friends, and acquaintances. Simply by forwarding the link, you help us create conditions across our community that encourage student success.

In today’s six (6) minute clip, E Pluribus Unum - Part 2, Jamie offers a list of practical steps anyone can take to increase support for our schools. I encourage you to watch at you earliest convenience. You will find that his recommendations are easy to execute.

Here is the link: https://player.vimeo.com/video/471778990

I know you are busy, but I want you to know that your help in sharing these messages is greatly appreciated. As the title of the Network states, we cannot do it alone.

The Lovable Tree Octopus

Are you familiar with the Octopus parabolis, or the animal more commonly known as the tree octopus? It can be found in the pacific northwest and while it is not currently on the endangered species list, advocates are pushing for the designation. Oh, you've never hear of it? Frankly I'm not too surprised, especially considering it's completely fake. But, that doesn't mean there isn't a whole website dedicated to this made up creature. I suspect most who stumble upon this site or otherwise examine it with a critical eye are be able to quickly discern the absurdity of this fiction. Perhaps there couldn't be a better example of this phenomenon we have come to call 'fake news'?

Now, maybe we believe a website about a fake octopus is harmless. I mean who does it hurt? And frankly it is so obvious that this is not a real thing, I mean heck: look at the dang website! 

But suppose some people do believe it. Further, let's assume they believe this so called 'endangered species' isn't getting the protection it deserves. What if they believe the octopus is endangered because of man made reasons,  you know, harvesting trees in the forest and that sort of thing? The group attempts to have their concern heard by those in power. Those who have the ability to write laws that can protect their beloved octopus. But those in power don't want to hear it. They keep saying over and over again: this isn't a real thing. It's totally fake!!!

Yet our octopus activists don't want to hear that. The fact is, they believe with every ounce of their being this species is in real danger. In fact, they have proof. A few fuzzy photos captured of the elusive critter in the wild. Testimonials from like minded friends, neighbors; and they are even able to find an expert with a PhD to take up their cause. Finally, in an effort to curry favor with this small but growing constituency they are able to convince a few policymakers to take up their plight and introduce legislation to protect their beloved cephalopod. But they can't garner enough support for their 'pet project' so their momentum is stalled and they are doomed to fail.

Except of course that failure isn't an option. These folks are passionate and simply won't let it go. Regardless of the fact there is insurmountable evidence the tree octopus isn't real, they are dug in and willing to do whatever it takes to have their voices heard. Their cause is just, righteous, and noble. They will make those in power listen and bend to their will. Violence ensues.

A year ago this would have been pure fantasy. On January 6, 2021 that fantasy became a reality. Claims were propagated online via social media channels, websites, and influencers that were simply not true. No matter how much, and how many times those claims were debunked didn't matter. Many became swept up in the hysteria and people were hurt, even killed. I don't know about you, but as I watched what happened as that day unfolded, I found it very upsetting and unsettling. 

In our school district, we addressed this issue cautiously and, frankly with hesitation. Partly due to the political divisiveness that has become so engrained in our culture. Partly because, well, we just didn't know what to say. The Monday following the riot on the Capitol I shared this message with our employees: 

How does the saying go? ‘Last week was a long year!’ I think we can all agree that regardless of who we supported in the recent election, what happened on Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol was horrible. Attempts to disrupt the electoral vote confirmation were an attack on our Republic and the U.S. Constitution. Luckily, the guardrails put in place by our framers held. There is no doubt this was difficult to witness and caused many of us a great deal of stress. At the same time, your students may have questions and want to discuss what has happened in class. It is important during this time that we remain calm. Here are a few resources that may help facilitate a dialogue. 

In the coming days, additional challenges and civil unrest may rise to the surface. I encourage you to remind our students that we are here to protect them and that they will be safe. Please remain optimistic! A peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of our democracy and has endured for over two centuries! It will this time too. 

My attempt in this message of course was to strike just the right balance, because let's face it: When you read my words, sometimes you may wonder if I wear a red jersey or a blue jersey. When we visit with our neighbors, talk on the phone with family members or meet someone at the grocery store we probably wonder and carefully consider the words they choose: which side are you on? You probably do it, and I do it to. But we forget the most important fact, and that is that we are Americans first. 

Our public schools have an important role to play in the exchange of ideas and of the preparation of a well informed citizenry. Indeed, our system of public education in this country, for all the push for reform, leaving no child behind, racing to the top (pick your initiative); it is the elixir that binds us together and the cure for the rage in our society.

I began my career over 25 years ago, fresh out of college and thrilled with my first job in a small private Catholic school. For the next 15 years I would stay in that system and loved every minute of it. To this day, those friendships run deep. For sure, it is part of me and who I am. We share the same values, same faith, and for the most part ran in the same social circles. We all believe in the same things. [But] that last sentence was part of the problem and one of the reasons why I thought it so important to return to my public school upbringing. As a product of Iowa public schools, it was so obvious that I was living in an environment that did not represent what Iowa looked like. That my values weren't your values. That your belief system differs from mine. I came to the realization that surrounding ourselves day in and day out with people who were exactly the same and held the same beliefs doesn't help us grow. It does, however harden our position.

Public schools, on the other hand are true melting pots in our communities. We come from a vast array of faith backgrounds. Our public schools are rich with diversity: racial, economic, and ethnic. It is through this interaction that we are able to understand where our fellow citizens come from. It helps us to frame our thinking. It helps us to develop empathy. Where our system of beliefs, values, and faith life come from our families and churches, our public schools help us to understand our way isn't the only way. Our public schools help us to discuss, debate, participate in civil discourse. And above all else: get along with one another. 

Then again, our public schools also serve a much more practical purpose. In addition to the reams of curriculum, standards, teaching students to read, write, and 'arithmetic', we also teach these young people to think. Using these critical thinking skills they can separate fact from fiction. And understand with great clarity that yes: a tree octopus is not a real thing. 

We Are All in This Together

I am writing to share an exciting video. It is the first in a series that our district obtained when we joined the Schools Cannot Do It Alone Network, a coalition of educators and their allies working to defend public education and increase support for public schools. I will send additional installments at regular intervals throughout the school year.

These videos are informative, entertaining, and inspiring. Each is designed to provide a better understanding of how our schools contribute to the health and well-being of our entire community. I know you will enjoy them.

This seven (7) minute video is titled, E Pluribus Unum: We the people and public schools – Part 1.

I encourage you to watch it to the end and, if you find the content compelling, please share the video with the people in your professional and personal networks.

Here is the link:   https://player.vimeo.com/video/476061084

Every day, our staff and Board work hard to prepare the children of our community to thrive and prosper as adults. But, as the title of the Network suggests, we cannot succeed without your understanding, trust, and support. And the truth is, we all have a vested interest in increasing student success whether or not we have children in school.

I appreciate your continued support.

There Were Some Bright Spots

Well, it would be safe to assume most of us are pretty happy that 2020 is now behind us, right? With all we have witnessed and experienced, I think we are all ready to turn the page. It's funny though. On January 16, 2020 I mused in my blog post, 'What will be the big stories of our district in 2020?' I then proceeded to suggest how exciting it would be to find out. Uh, not so much. When looking back at my blog archive for 2020, the first two months of the year found me opining on those rather normal and mundane topics that you have come to expect in this column. There was/is a kind of rhythm to it all. First out of the gate: the legislative session. The general assembly begins in January so that gives me plenty of fodder with which to fill the pages of this blog. The year was progressing in a relatively routine fashion throughout January and February. March 3rd was the very first time the coronavirus was mentioned in this weekly missive. From that point on, this blog was all COVID, all the time. Of my 51 posts for 2020, 36 were focused exclusively on the pandemic or were thematically related. But, with all that noise we shouldn't dispute or acknowledge the fact that there were some great things that happened in 2020!

The one 'thing' that happened wasn't so much an event, but rather a feeling. I have always known this community was very supportive of their school district, and never did it become so apparent then when we closed for the year in March, and then the many months that followed. There were parades, lighting up an empty football stadium on Friday nights, Zoom calls, notes, and 'dropping by the house' with a care package. All throughout this most abnormal of years, our community rallied around our school employees: offering them words of encouragement and appreciation. As we stood up a remote educational system on the fly without any real idea how to go about it, the amount of grace given helped us all sleep better at night. At the same time, across this nation I think we all discovered the vital role schools play in our society, fulfilling not just our primary role as educational institutions, but also those things we don't often think about. Feeding our youth comes to mind as one example. Finally, as we undertook the painstaking process of developing policies and procedures for the reopening of our buildings we were afforded great patience by all of you. So the best thing that happened this year? I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to say the first day of school: August 24, 2020! And let's not forget, we were able to remain open all semester long without interruption. 

One of the greatest and most significant events of any school year is graduation day. Oh, what a graduation day we had! It was far different than any commencement we  have ever had, and hopefully will never experience again. For sure, the Class of 2020 had a memorable year. This class missed out on an awful lot. Spring sports, prom, and the thrill of marching into a packed gymnasium to Pomp and Circumstance while parents and grandparents proudly honored them. Their virtual graduation ceremony will live forever on YouTube. In fact, if you haven't had a chance to see it, you can view it right here. In my final words to the Class of 2020 I reminded them that while this is a moment in their lives, it is not and should not be the defining moment. 

This year we also finished up Phase III of the elementary renovation project. While we had hoped to have a grand reopening with a ribbon cutting and open house, the pandemic had other plans. We didn't get to have that opening, but we did finish the project on time and within budget. One can't discount the fact this was the first major construction project undertaken by the school district since the construction of the high school over 20 years ago. With a project budget of just over $5.1 million, we were able to update all our instructional spaces and HVAC systems (which proved to be very timely), with the centerpiece being the expanded commons and ADA accessible competition gym from both the north and south entrances. 

Hopefully you are able to find some bright spots in 2020 as you reflect on the year that was and look forward to a 2021 that is filled with hope and optimism!

My Word is Optimism

Hello 2021! Can I say that we have all been very much looking forward to meeting you? Your older brother, 2020 wasn't all that great to us so we have a lot of optimism that you are going to treat us better. I am very hopeful that you will! A  year ago when the calendar flipped to 2020, it was sure an exciting time. Not only were we marking the annual tradition of celebrating a new year, but we were also welcoming a new decade! That, my friends is something that only comes along once every ten years!

We weren't too deep into the new year when this thing called COVID-19 began to rear its ugly head. Admittedly we began to hear about this new virus in late December, and early January it was still on the other side of the world so we didn't pay too much attention. For us here in Iowa, it may as well have been on another planet. The first case in the United States landed on our shores on January 20th in the state of Washington. From there, while still far far away it was only a 'hop, skip, and a jump' from Iowa. By the time spring break arrived, we were in the thick of it, and basically have been ever since. For the last year, our daily lives have been driven by this thing. Everything we do and everywhere we go has to be carefully considered and in some instances choreographed. 

Early on, most of us probably didn't know who Anthony Fauci even was and had no use for the Institute for Health Metrics modeling program from the University of Washington. We were all aghast at this forecast and predictions that we would be dealing with this for a year seemed all but unfathomable. Unfortunately in retrospect, those prophecies appear to be largely coming true. The good news is that we are almost a year into it and the sun is beginning to peak over the horizon. My prediction is that spring break will mark a huge turning point for us, which ironically enough will mark the one year point in this saga. 

If you search this blog archive, you'll note that my one word for last year was 'connect'. I chose that word in an effort to build better connections with those around me. The idea, metaphonically, was when meeting people in the hall to really mean it when asking, 'How are you doing?' So upon reflection the question that needs to be pondered is how well did I do with this? In a lot of ways this was quite a challenge since those exchanges in the hallways were (and continue to be) quite rare. For the most part we have had to rely on making those connections remotely. In spite of the difficulty in making strong personal connections via Zoom, phone call, or any other socially distanced medium, I think I did pretty well in making connections. Truth be told, I really meant it when I asked people how they were doing. And when people asked me how I was doing, I think they really wanted to know as well. The fact of the matter was, even though we all put on a brave face, we weren't really doing all that well. But that was then. I wouldn't say that I'm great right now, but getting better for sure. 

I've heard it said before that as humans, we can pretty much endure anything for a year. As long as we can see an end point, we can make the sacrifices necessary in order to get through our current challenges. All through this pandemic I have been looking forward to that one year mark in my head. While we may not be completely out of the woods by spring break, I believe we are going to be well on our way. So then as we approach the one year point in this journey, the word I choose this year is optimism. All through this past year we have all had to endure enormous challenges. Some have had to bear much heavier crosses than I. Those folks, well watching them show the courage to endure has been inspiring to me to witness. Their strength give me hope and optimism!

Those who are students of history understand that the pandemic of 1918 helped usher in a decade that became known as the Roaring '20s. I believe we will see something similar begin to happen this year. Be ready, because I see quite a celebration on the horizon!