SHS’ Exceptional Faculty and Staff
As many do, I took a moment to reflect on all that took place at Springfield High School during the year 2021. On January 4, classes resumed virtually after a much appreciated winter break, and we continued to support our students in many new ways. Certainly, we learned together–faculty, staff and students. There isn’t one person associated with our district that didn’t learn many new things over the past 525,600 minutes. And while there are several who have tried to cast a negative light on the varied learning models we employed, the continued and increased mitigation strategies, and even wish to focus on what was “lost,” I am choosing instead to focus on what we “found.”
Throughout the year, we found that while our students can learn in any model, the vast majority want to learn in our classrooms. It’s a given that most want to be in the building, surrounded by their friends. It’s also a given they want to see and learn from their teachers, coaches, counselors, ladies who serve them breakfast and lunch, the pros who maintain their tech, who keep the building in great shape, the mentors who advise their clubs/organizations, those who help them perform in front of their many fans, the men and women who get them to and from school and their varied activities, and the many others who contribute life lessons and encouragement to make dreams come true.
That’s what being part of SHS is all about and why it was so challenging when we couldn’t be together. I’ve often heard education referred to as the “three Rs–reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic.” I’m here to tell you that whoever coined that phrase got it wrong. There is a fourth R that is equally if not more important. That “R” stands for relationships. Being there for each other, sharing the good and bad times, laughing and crying together.
Please join me in thanking the exceptional SHS faculty and staff for all that they have done (and will continue to do) for their students. 2021 proved to us that there is little that we can’t accomplish– well, that is as long as we take it on together.
