It's Been a Long Time

Since I started my blog in 2008, I don't believe I have ever had a month when I didn't have at least one post--usually many more.  However, it has been almost four months since I have written anything.  Facebook keeps us posted on daily happenings and it seems that it has been my way of communicating lately--although I don't do a lot on it.

I have missed posting on this blog.  I think I may have a case of "writer's block" as much has happened, I just haven't written about it.

The summer went quickly.   Things at work are always busy and it doesn't seem that there is much down time.  Even when I get away for a few days, I still have to deal with issues that occur.  And you never know from one moment to the next what could happen.   As a teacher and then as a principal, I thought I knew about how a district works.  But it is certainly different at this level.   So much is expected and politics can sometimes be very difficult.   However, despite all of that, things are going well.   The budget is still tough because the legislature still doesn't understand the importance of education in Arizona.   Our scores are slowly starting to show gains.   We have a plan in place that I believe will really make a difference.   I have a leadership team that is top notch and we work together so well.  Our principals and teachers doing an amazing job under some very difficult circumstances.  There is definitely not a level playing field in Arizona.

There has been time for some fun, though.  I was able to get away with my "principal" friends for a few days in San Diego and then on to Las Vegas with two of my very dear friends to see Bill Maher.  

I then attended three days of training for the incredible Family Leadership Institute with several of our parents.  This program is amazing and I feel so blessed that we are participating in it here in Douglas.   Please look at the video that is posted right above this.   The FLI part is about 9 minutes into it.  These wonderful parents did this video for a Governing Board Meeting. 

Labor Day weekend we all attended the wedding of my cousin Ted's son, Kevin, and his beautiful bride, Roxanne.   It was a great weekend.  The wedding was awesome and getting to visit with all of the cousins is always so good.

Teresa stayed in California and was able to visit with all of the Northern California cousins for a few weeks.  Lena, one of our cousins, came back with her and stayed here for two weeks.  She left on Friday.  It was so nice to come home to dinner and a drink all ready when I got here!!!  

Last Sunday we drove up to the cabin for a few hours as Lena hadn't been there in years.  It is absolutely gorgeous up there.  There has been so much rain and the countryside is so green.  As always, this is where I love to spend time.  I will be going up next weekend with friends and I look forward to a few days with a cell phone!!!

I am hoping writing this little bit will help me get my enthusiasm for writing back!!!

An Amazing Few Weeks!

The last two months of the school year are always incredibly busy.   This year was no exception.  Because I have been so busy, I haven't taken the time to write about all of the events that have occurred.     So today I will do a summary of the exciting events that have occurred.

The week of April 22, two 4th grade classes from the school where Kerri teaches 4th grade, came down on their southeast Arizona field trip.  They spent the night at the  Ray Borane Middle School gym which is just a block from the house.  The past two years, the three 4th grade classes have had  pen pals with classes at Joe Carlson here in Douglas.  So I had them all for dinner so that they could meet their pen pals.   It was so cool as the Douglas kids lined up in the front yard waiting for the bus.  As soon as they saw it, they started cheering, jumping and waving.    The 4th grade teachers and Cyndy, the principal, came to help each night!   I really appreciated their help.  I made beans and salsa and we also had hot dogs.  The pugs thought that all of the kids were there to see them!

The next week I had two Gilbert El 5th grade classes on Monday and Tuesday and Kerri's class on Thursday.  Dottie's class and Angi's class made the decision to come down here a little late to have pen pals.  But we will make sure they have them next year if they come down here. I could hardly wait to see the kids as they were in 2nd grade when I left.  And it was so nice to visit with the parents that I knew.

On Saturday (27th), we had our Family Leadership Institute graduation at DHS.   Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch was there, along with Cynthia Rocha.   Consuelo started this program and Cynthia is the CEO.  I truly believe that this is going to be something that will make a difference in our entire community.   The ceremony was so touching as parents shared their vision boards.  And Consuelo was inspirational as usual.  I am always amazed at how she connects with people.  She is truly the epitome of what "servant leadership" means.  She came by the house to see Teresa before they left.  She is truly "My Hero" and so many ways.  I feel blessed to know both she and Cynthia!

On the Monday that Dottie's class came, we had our Diamond Scholar Night where we honored 4th through 12th graders for their academics, citizenship, and attendance.  We had two sessions--one at 5:30 for elementary and middle schools and at 7:00 for DHS.   Rosella Melgoza, an academic coach, did an incredible job decorating.  The auditorium looks absolutely amazing!!  Daniel Hernandez, the aide who helped to save Representative Gabby Giffords' life that Saturday in 2010, was the keynote speaker.   Daniel is a phenomenal young man who I believe will be go on to many bigger and better things.   He recently wrote a book and has been on television doing a lot of interviews.  His speech to the students was right on target and he was able to give the same message to both groups, but a different levels.  Daniel talked about giving back to the community and the importance of kindness.

He stayed after the high school ceremony and had his picture taken with many of the students who were honored.  I invited him to the house to meet the 5th graders and he came.  He talked to them and told them about visiting the White House and about the State of the Union that he went to.  He then stayed around and had his picture taken with many of the kids.  What an incredible young man he is!!

On Wednesday of last week, two authors came to Douglas to present at DHS.  They are Adam Rex and Mac Barnett.  Although they write for younger children, the high school kids were really into what they were telling them about how they were published.   Adam is both an author and an illustrator.  He and Mac met when he illustrated one of Mac's books.  Mac is hilarious, so the high school kids really enjoyed that.  I went to lunch with them and they are really nice and very down to earth.

All in all, it has been an amazing few weeks.  The positives of this job truly out weigh the negatives and the negative people always trying to pull you down.   I truly feel that I am making a difference here in Douglas and it comes from my heart! 

A Tribute to Educators, Support Staff and Volunteers

Each year Cochise County has an awards dinner celebrating teachers around Cochise County. Douglas Unified always has three teachers up for awards because we are one of the biggest districts in the county.   We have an elementary teacher, a middle school teacher, and a high school teacher submitted as nominees.    My first year as superintendent, I felt that we should honor the teachers who were nominated from each school at a reception.  In addition, I thought it would be nice to honor an administrator.  So we had a very nice evening honoring these wonderful people.  

Last year, we added a support staff employee and parent volunteer from each school for our Douglas ceremony.  It was a very nice reception held at the Douglas Visitor's Center.  One of our academic coaches, Ken Cormier, did all of the work for the reception and everything was great.

What I didn't think about was all of the support staff who are at the District level.  So this year, we added an employee from food services, district, maintenance, transportation, etc.  Ken and his crew really out did themselves.  Ken had a catered dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall last Thursday to honor all of these wonderful people who do so much for the students in our District.  

What an incredible evening it was!!!  I was so proud to be a part of this ceremony for so many reasons.   There are so many dedicated employees here in Douglas who truly want what is best for our kids.  And they do this without the compensation that they deserve.

Our Governing Board President, Mike Ortega, gave out the awards. Two of our Board Members helped us in congratulating the honorees.  They were Patty Lopez and Natalio Sabal. 

Ken had local merchants donate gift certificates.  They ranged from $25 Walmart cards to a free oil change.   He is an amazing person and he gets his entire family to help with this event.  What a great human being he is!!  I am  privileged to work with him.

This quote is a familiar one, but I think a powerful one.  It sums up our evening last week.  So many people in attendance that night embody what this quote states.

One hundred years from now,
It won't matter what car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like,
But, the world may be a little better
Because I was important in the life of a child. 

 

A Tradition of Love and Family Friendship

I have done a number of posts about the importance of family and traditions that are so meaningful.  In January I did an entry on the passing of our wonderful family "friend" who was a wonderful friend who was truly part of our family --Dennis Reidy.  The Reidy and Scott families go way back to the early days when our families were first in Douglas.  They all lived on the 800 block of 14th street in the early days where Teresa and I still live.

Our families were in each others weddings and were godparents to each others children through the years.   I   don't ever remember the Reidy's not being a part of our family.

My mom was the Godmother to Adena Reidy, Jerry's daughter.  Jerry's good friend, Art Atonna, served as the Godfather.   I know that there were others who were Godparents over the years.  When Kerri was born, I asked Jerry to be Kerri's Godfather along with Judy as her Godmother. 

   

Recently, Adena and her husband, Rich,  asked Kerri and Eric Atonna (Art's son) to be the Godparents of Maddux, their son.  

So this past weekend, Teresa and I went to Tucson for the baptism.  It was so good to get together with Jerry, Marilyn, Janet, and all of the family for such a happy occasion.   We all stayed at the same hotel and had dinner Friday night together and talked, laughed, and reminisced.    

Saturday afternoon was the Baptism at St. Odelia's Church.  After that, we went to the house to celebrate.  There were a lot of little kids there and it always warms my heart to see how Cameron interacts with little kids.  He loves them and is so good around them.   The kids had a wonderful time, as did the adults.

Needless to say, this was an important event for all of us.  I was proud of Kerri.   I know it meant a lot to everyone to see this  tradition continuing.  

Susan Lieberman says that "family traditions counter alienation and confusion.  They help us define who we are.  They provide something steady, reliable, and safe in a confusing world."  And yes, the world is confusing in so many ways.  Even though all of our elders except Teresa are gone, it is so meaningful that our children see the importance of these family connections!  When our generation is gone, I know that our families will still be important and continued.  I am grateful for that in many ways, but most importantly for Cameron!   The Scott Family will live on as strong and as caring as it is today, I have no doubt!

Dena holding Kerri in Douglas.

 

Chicago, March 2013

Over the course of the time that I have been here in Douglas as superintendent, I have attended several conferences.  The majority of the ones I have attended have to do with school law, Governing Board protocols, and mandates.   

My job description is all-encompassing.  However, first and foremost, it is as the instructional leader of the district.  A typical day in my life is very busy with many diverse issues, most of which aren't curriculum related.  However, teaching and learning is what we are all about.

I had the opportunity to attend the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development international conference in Chicago last week.   I am not sure how many people were in attendance, but I am thinking it was in the thousands.     So many respected voices in education today were there doing workshops, keynote speeches, etc.  I attended an all day session on academic coaching, which was excellent.  

On Saturday my hero, Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, was one of the invited speakers.  We had talked earlier and I was able to get to her session a little early so we could visit.  Consuelo spoke to a packed room with probably  1000 people in attendance.  I have heard her speak so many times now, but I can honestly say that I could listen to her every day.  Her message is so powerful!!  In the middle of her talk, she asked me to come up and introduced me to the audience.  She asked me to speak of what we are doing in Douglas with our Family program that is part of her company--The Family Leadership Institute.   I was touched and honored to be able to do this.    I truly believe that this program is powerful and I believe that it will make a long term difference in our community over the years.  I feel privileged to be a part of it and to call Consuelo my friend.  She is AMAZING!    

The keynote speaker on Sunday was Maya Angelo.  The room she presented in was HUGE and you could hardly see her.   They placed television screens all around so that she could be seen.  Her message was inspiring and very supportive of educators.

On Monday, another invited guest speaker was Tim Shriver.  I was so excited to get to see and listen to him speak about The Special Olympics that his mother, Eunice Shriver, started.  He also spoke about teaching values and compassion to our children, not just reading, writing and math.  I was disappointed that not many people attended that session.   Tim was great and so personable.  They had a presentation from a group of high school students and Tim was up dancing with them.   He is a genuine person who truly   believes in what the Kennedy family has always stressed--the importance of giving back.   I wish more educators could have heard his message.  

It was a great conference and I am glad I went.  It reinforced to me that we are doing a lot of things right and it rejuvenated me in many ways.  

Chicago was cold and I am not a cold weather person.   It was nice to get away for a few days, even though I was "learning" most of the time I was there!

Carmen Agra Deedy--Storyteller and Author Extraordinaire

"Storytellers are the most powerful people on earth.  They might not be the best paid, but they are the most powerful.  Storytellers have the power to move the human heart--and there is no greater power on earth." --Laurie H. Hutzler

I love to read and always have.  My grandmother instilled this love of reading in me.  I remember sitting in her chair with her while she read books to me.  I was very young and she always took the time to read whatever book I brought for her to read to me.  My Aunt Teresa also contributed to my love of reading as she had me enrolled in several book clubs as I was growing up.   Books would be delivered in the mail on a monthly basis.   Although my mom was not a reader, she also contributed by never questioning anything that I ever read. If I was reading, whatever the book was fine with her.

After becoming a teacher, I saw first hand the power of children's literature.  There are so many picture books and children's books that are amazing and very powerful in many ways

Several years ago, I found a book that to me is the most beautiful book I have ever read.  It is called "The Last Dance" written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Debrah Santini.   

This book is about the cycle of life, the importance of family, and the limitless power of love.  

I was so excited to meet Carmen several years ago when I went to the International Reading Association Conference.   She gave me her card and phone number and I had hoped to have her come to Gilbert El sometime.  That never happened, but she visited Douglas Unified School District on February 6.   

Carmen is a warm, funny, sincere human being.  She told three different stories to our fifth graders and then to parents and families after school was over.  I was fortunate to hear two of her stories.  The children were totally into the stories she told.   There was so much laughter and joy that day.

I had the great fortune to go to lunch with Carmen.   And she is a warm, funny, sincere human being.   I love all of her books, but I shared with her what "The Last Dance" has meant to me.   Through the years, I have given this book to friends after they have lost a loved one, particularly a parent.   In the book, the grandfather tells his grandchildren that every human being has the right to three things in life:

TO DANCE.  The great thing in life is   not so much to dance well,

but whether one is willing to dance at all.

TO SING,  Even if you   sing off-key.  The crow has as much right

to a voice as the nightingale.

TO TELL STORIES.  Those we love are 
 never  really gone as long as their stories are told.

Every October, we try to get together as a family and tell stories about my mom.  She died Oct. 6 and her birthday was Oct. 8.   Although Cameron was only four when she died, I believe that the times that we have told her stories makes him think that he remembers her more.  "Those we love are never really gone as long as their stories are told."

Through the years, I have been honored to deliver eulogies for special friends and relatives.  I have used this quote often.  And this is so true.

Last week, I got an email from our cousin, Allyson, who teaches in Atlanta.  Carmen is from Georgia and she was at Allyson's school.   She told Allyson that she loved coming to Douglas and is looking forward to coming back!  What a small world it is!!

Meeting Carmen and seeing what a wonderful person she is means so much to me.  I feel honored and privileged to have been able to share her with our kids and families!!

"After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world."--Philip Pullman

I couldn't agree more!!   

'S'now Joke!

During the last 2 1/2 years that I have been back in Douglas, there have been two weather "crisis."   In all of the years I was in Gilbert, the worst thing we ever had were heat advisory days.    

I had forgotten how cold it gets down here in the winter.  My office is 3 1/2 blocks from the house and I wear a heavy coat and gloves most mornings.  In addition, there are many days that it takes me ten or so minutes to get the ice off of the car windshield so that I can see to drive!

Two years ago this month, we had the coldest temperatures on record down here.  It was 0 degrees and was below freezing for two days.   That was my first really big decision as superintendent when we cancelled school for those two days.  

A couple of times this school year, snow has been in the forecast, but didn't happen.  On Monday, the weather forecast was for some possible light snow showers, but it didn't appear to be really going to happen.

I woke up about 4:00 a.m. and looked outside and there was snow!  At about 4:30, I got a call from our Transportation Director.  All of the highways coming into Douglas were closed.  That meant that he couldn't send any buses outside of Douglas and we have a lot of kids who live in outlying areas.  In addition, we have 30 or so teachers who don't live in Douglas, so they wouldn't be able to get to school.   There was no way we could find 30 subs!  So I made the decision to call a snow day!!

We called all of our principals who started calling their staffs.  I called all three of the Tucson television stations to ask them to announce it, as well as our local radio station.  We had it posted on our website and sent out messages to parents.  We have enough academic minutes required by the state, so we don't have to make up the day.  

My puggies didn't know what to do when I let them out.  They have never seen snow before.  It was really funny watching them trying to figure out what to do.  Of course, Lucy, didn't like it at all.  She would rather stay in where it is comfortable no matter whether it is winter or summer!

I had to drive up to Tucson yesterday.  Although it is winter,  the desert between here and Tucson is absolutely gorgeous.  It was a clear day and you could see snow on the tops of the several of the mountain ranges around us.  I wish I could capture that beauty with photography.  Maybe someday I will learn how to do that.  For some  people, it is natural.  I don't have much artistic ability so I am thinking I will need to take some classes.  Maybe that will be a goal when I finally retire down the road!