I imagine that most schools have rituals for saying goodbye to staff members who will not be returning the next year, whether to retirement, job changes, or life changes. I clearly remember the English department chair at the large high school where I taught, who always made a point to include those who were leaving or had already left who were not physically present in the room. She emphasized that while these people might not be in the room, it was essential that we pause as a staff in gratitude for the work that they had done for our school community. I hope to never forget that gesture of consideration and thanks.
We unexpectedly lost some district team members this fall, and it has been inspiring to see the outpouring of support and gratitude amongst members of our SAUSD family. It seems particularly appropriate during Thanksgiving season to reflect on the things in my professional life for which I am grateful, a few of which I thought I would share.
Santa Ana Unified
SAUSD. There is a common joke amongst staff that each year in SAUSD has an equivalent measure in dog years. Our interim superintendents are just here for 6 months, but we think that qualifies for about 3.5 years of experience. The volume and pace of the work is relentless, but for those of us who work here, we have come to thrive on the urgency around the work we do for our students. If there is anything that defines our school district, it is passion. We share a passion for the work and a passion for improvement. We have passion for anything and everything that will create pathways and possibilities and opportunities for our students, both now and when they leave us as graduates. That sense of passion and urgency starts with our board members and moves all the way down and through the organization. Our collective sense of purpose is present in every conversation. Not everyone has the opportunity to be in an organization that has such a strong sense about its core purpose. Of course there are as many opinions about how to move the work and where to focus as there are employees, but what unites us is a shared commitment to the young people of Santa Ana, and that is always something worth being grateful for.
Mentors
I’ve written in the past about the men and women who have, for whatever reason, taken the time and interest in my development as a professional educator. Sometimes those mentors had a formal supervisory responsibility for me and the work that I was doing. In other cases, the mentor had less formal ties to my day to day work but still seemed interested in me and my future. Sometimes, even the title of mentor seems a bit formal for those people who demonstrated care for my professional welfare and were willing to share resources and insights without any explicit expectation to do so. Just like a child may not recognize the sacrifices and gifts of a parent until becoming a parent himself, I am coming to recognize the commitment and courage that was necessary in those who provided me with time and opportunities to grow and develop as a leader. I now find myself in a leadership position of signficant responsibility, wondering if I am making the same type of investments in others that mentors of my past made in me.
Public Service & the Rising Generation
Education is a field of public service that focuses specifically on the development and needs of the rising generation. The opportunity to work with and for young people is truly a gift. Whether I was working as a classroom teacher, as a site principal, or even now as a district administrator, I regularly have the opportunity to interact with, learn from, and be inspired by young people. Perhaps that is part of the reason why I try to start every day walking classrooms at one of our schools. I often tell people that working in education keeps you young. Even on days when you wake up and may not be feeling the work vibe, as soon as you are around the kids, it’s hard not to have a smile on your face. I am especially inspired by students who themselves are struggling to be there and overcome the myriad challenges of the day. How can I not embrace my walk through life when so many around me are rising above their own challenging and circumstances? To work in a place where that type of inspiration is a daily occurence is a tremendous blessing.