The start of a new school year is one of the special experiences in every educator's professional career.
Whether you do it once or 40 times, it is always special to meet the kids, to get to know them and their families, and to begin to imagine the great things that will happen throughout the year.
In the early grades, teachers cherish a child's beginning to read or gaining confidence in dealing with math facts or having fun with an art project or singing with a group for the first time.
In the secondary schools, as students grow in control of their own learning, the excitement is just as great to watch them begin to create and construct special modules or robotics projects or to complete special FFA projects and enter them for the first time in competition at the Washington County Fair.
To be on a team is more powerful to a student than one can possibly imagine.
Football, basketball, track, baseball, soccer, etc., are all available to Springdale students. The sense of "team" is ever present in the band program, choir program, speech-and-debate program, and so many other enrichment offerings.
The academic programs are also being organized to create that sense of family around the learning.
Great examples such as the Environmental and Spatial Technology programs, robotics, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, academies, etc., are structured in such a way that students work in groups or teams.
Every member of the team has a job, and the process is becoming sophisticated to the degree that teams of Springdale students are continually being recognized for their academic work at both the state and national levels.
Our Springdale schools are fun places to be. Our students are engaged in the learning, and their academic performance is constantly increasing.
From my perspective, I can hardly wait to see what the new school year holds as the Springdale school system continues to grow in prominence at the local, state and national levels.
What I am very sure of is that Springdale students love to compete, and they will continue to lead our schools and this school system forward in the year ahead. The foundation and the school culture are in place for the 2014--15 term to be the very best school year ever in the Springdale School District.
The additional essential link is for moms and dads, grandparents and other family members, and our district patrons to be full partners in the educational process.
It will take all of us pulling together and supporting the learning of each child for the district to continue to make excellent progress. I know that each of you, in your own special way, will contribute to that effort.
Great communities deserve great schools. To me that sentiment has always applied to Springdale. Springdale parents, patrons and business leaders help this school system take care of our kids.
I believe taking care of kids is the best thing we do. That opportunity is ours again as we open school on Monday, Aug. 18.
Thank you, Springdale, in advance for all the support and encouragement you will provide for our teachers, our support staff, our building principals, and all of us who are privileged to work in the Springdale school system.
Together we will make educational excellence happen for Springdale students in the year ahead.
Commentary on 07/31/2014