Being Brave, Taking Risks and Following the Yellow Brick Road

As we reach the end of a very busy summer, I wanted to share my comments from our division-wide Convocation with you.   When you play the video, do not adjust your screen.  The person on stage in a tie-dye shirt, orange shorts and rainbow socks is actually me, the Superintendent for Isle of Wight County Schools.  It’s OK.  No need to worry.   The entire Central Office staff and I presented a new production of the Wizard of Oz.  Yours truly played a colorful Munchkin, which I hope explains what I’m wearing.  It was really my costume.  

 The skit focused on the importance of deeper learning and the 5 C: critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and citizenship.  I’m so proud of my staff for stepping out of their comfort zone and modeling what we expect all staff to do as we slowly move forward with our deeper learning initiative. We want our teachers to feel comfortable to taking risks, being courageous, and being brave as they work with our children.  We all need to serve as models for our children, not only on using the 5 Cs, but on the importance of trying something new, and understanding that it’s OK to fail sometimes.  That’s just part of the learning process.

Our teachers and entire staff have committed their time and effort over the last two years to learn and grow as we all continue to improve the educational experience for our children. Enjoy the video and be on the look-out as we will be posting our version of the Wizard of Oz soon. I look forward to another GREAT year in Isle of Wight County Schools.

Enjoy the Labor Day holiday!

Convocation Remarks  (video)

The Success of the Summer Stem Academy

For years, we have offered summer school for elementary and middle school students as a way to remediate children who need some extra help in certain content areas.  It’s never been a very popular program with students, especially the older ones.  These are kids who probably did not enjoy the regular school year and classroom setting, and our solution had been to put them back in a classroom over the summer.  We may have been giving students more practice in areas they were weak, but the program was not meaningful to the students.

It was time for a change.

The entire program was restructured to create an experience that would make learning fun and meaningful.  Instead of summer school, the program became the Summer STEM Academy.  The program  focused on science, technology, engineering and math, along with reading and writing.  The eight day academy followed a marine science theme.  Students picked an animal to research and used what they learned to write their very own book.  They took art classes to assist them with their illustrations for the book.  By the last day, students were beaming as they shared the book that they had authored.

All the students were able to participate in an incredible field trip to the Chesapeake Bay.  Along the banks in Hampton, students collected water samples and conducted testing for temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen.  IWCS Science Coordinator Heather Greer helped the students analyze their data and describe the health of the bay based on their findings.  Perhaps the best part of the field trip was identifying different types of organisms found in the bay.  Students waded into the water and used seine nets and dip nets to collect fish, crabs, and jellyfish.  They found clams, worms and shrimp, and a few fiddler crabs on shore.  

More significant than their discoveries were their comments about the field trip, and the program itself.  Students were excited, with one stating, “I wish this was school every day.”  One teacher commented on seeing the students filled with joy and how powerful that was for her. 

It wasn’t just about the field trip, but also relationship building by the staff.  They worked as a true team and promoted a caring environment throughout the program.  Students were supported and given an opportunity to learn in a safe setting complete with positive and accountable conversations.

The best testimonials to the success of the Academy is directly from the students and teachers.  I’ve shared some pictures from the program below.    Now we need to make that one students comment a reality:  “I wish school was like this all the time.”

Giving Students an Opportunity to Honor a Teacher who Influenced their Life

How good is your memory?  Do you ever walk into a room and forget why you went in there?  Or you are unable to find that important item that you put somewhere special for “safekeeping” that is really safe because you can’t remember where it is?  Even though we’ve all been there, it’s still frustrating.

But I bet I know something you remember without hesitation.  Can you recall a teacher who made a tremendous impact on your life?  I’m sure one teacher, or even more,  you had in school just came to mind and many memories about why they were special to you came flooding back.  Here’s the more challenging question:  Did you ever tell them how much they meant to you?  Probably not.

I realize students don’t often share with a teacher just how much they have influenced the student’s life.  Even when they do, it is typically not shared publicly.  On May 31, 2017, several of our seniors had a chance to do just that.  They honored a teacher who had made a significant impact on their life at our Senior of the Month Banquet.

Each month, Windsor and Smithfield high schools nominate a Senior of the Month.  The students are recognized at a school board meeting and also receive a $500 college scholarship generously provided by our business and community partners.  The Senior of the Month Banquet provides an opportunity for each of these 16 students to publicly thank a teacher who has made a difference in their life.  The students courageously stand before an audience of family members, scholarship sponsors and school officials and share why they are honoring their chosen educator.  They recall personal stories filled with poignancy, gratitude, and admiration.  Their heartfelt remarks bring about laughter, a few tears, and a tremendous amount of appreciation for both the teacher and the student.  The teacher receives a plaque to commemorate the occasion, but the remarks from their student are the real gift.  It is truly an incredibly special evening for all the guests.

Thank you to the teachers who were honored by the Seniors of the Month.  I know all of our teachers have had, or will have, a significant impact on many children throughout their teaching career.  Whether the praise is public, private, or even unspoken, there is an incredible satisfaction and validation when a teacher knows they have made a difference in a child’s life. Thank you to all IWCS teachers for making a difference in some child’s life each and every day.