Another way to “Pay It Forward”
I am a proud principal, proud alumni and a proud father. Sure, there are a lot of reasons—and I don’t take credit for very many of them. For me, it starts with the “Blue Devil” pride that students feel—both while they’re students and long after they graduate. That pride comes from our culture of caring for each other; for being there for each other; for protecting, even guarding the traditions that were gifted to us to sustain for the next generation of Blue Devils. I know that I feel that as a proud member of the Class of 1990 and I also know that this is something that my wife and two of our three kids also feel. I am sure, too, that our future graduate will embrace it as she crosses the stage at graduation in just two more years.
Becoming principal at Springfield High School came with a lot of behind the scenes responsibilities. I’d like to talk a little bit about one— something that in this new role I accepted with more than a little trepidation. I am responsible for the Springfield Schools Scholarship Fund. I call it “the fund” and like my predecessors, I am tasked to encourage supporters to share treasures which allow us to present a few scholarships for graduating seniors. I learned, and I’m proud to say, that there are several K-12 staff members who donate a portion of every paycheck; alumni who send a check or two, and even a few parents who choose to donate. Last week, on the day that many of us were scheduled to receive our second dose of the vaccine, I felt especially up to the task as an idea came forward to allow a “jeans” day for those making a donation with the dollars going to the fund.
Jeans days are, as you might imagine, pretty popular at SHS and on that day, our staff donated $309. These dollars are an investment in so much more than the few students who are selected as recipients. These dollars are an investment in the school pride, culture and traditions that I talked about at the beginning of this message. It is, in the broadest sense, a visible example of how the people associated with our school “Pay It Forward.”
You’ve got to believe me, as a principal, Blue Devil, and dad when I tell you how great it feels to invest in all the todays and tomorrows that we share with our students.
