LEADING THROUGH LISTENING

It's official, we have reached the half way mark of the school year. Depending on who you talk to, you may hear that they can't believe it's half over already; but, you're more likely to hear that they can't believe it's only half over. This has certainly been a school year unlike anything that anyone has experienced. Our staff has worked tirelessly to adapt to the ongoing changes to ensure that our students are receiving the best possible education, under these circumstances. Our families have endured through the changes, hopes, disappointments, stresses of having to support their children while they adjust to the new world we live in. Finally, our students have been champions as they patiently wait and work their way through all of these unknowns in an effort to help everyone stay focused on what the goal is. Unlike any other year, we have all had to work together to keep things moving, regardless of any possible lumps and bumps that we experience. The last 6

  It's hard to believe that we are approaching another month of having to endure the uncertainties, twists, turns, and anxieties that have been thrust into our lives due to COVID. Just when you think you have something figured out, there's new research, rules, suggestions, etc. About the most certain thing that we have all learned to live with is that things are going to change (hopefully always for the better). The biggest concern and question that continues to be at the front of everyone's mind is when will school return to normal and will it be like it was before? Clearly, schools will be open 5 days a week for every student that wants to attend sometime in the future. President Biden has continuously said this week that he wants all schools fully open with 100 days, although he has not provided any detail on how this is going to happen or what it will look like. As you know, social distancing requirements within schools continues to be the number one barrier to schools

 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream for our country, and while his dream was related to equal rights and oppression, part of the intended message is to demonstrate that having a dream and working tirelessly to achieve it can be applied universally in society. We have come a long way over the years as a society, and while there is always room to grow, the world is clearly a better place. Dr. King was relentless in his pursuit of his dream, and it ultimately cost him his life. Equality, equity (which ever word you choose to use) doesn't mean that everyone has to think along the same lines or even believe in the same things. It means that we have to at least be open minded enough to hear an opposing viewpoint and be respectful enough to attempt to understand it. The art of respectfully disagreeing seems to have disappeared since the advent of social media. I am still hopeful that we as humans will continue to have empathy for each other and respect that conflict and disagreement a

While 2020 is most likely to go into the record books for being remembered by COVID-19, this was not the only major, global event of 2020. Last year also brought with it a rebirth and spotlight on social justice and equity like we have not seen in decades. Communities throughout the country, including Rome, spent a good portion of the year working on improving opportunities for all members of their community. 2020 brought with it some events that really cause us all to stop and think about the fate of the human race and just exactly what we need to do in order to be able to work together, regardless of background, to create a community where all people are valued as citizens. In the Rome City School District, we have been focused on improving equity, understanding, and awareness of all cultures for the past few years, as we work with our local NAACP. Recognizing that the work is never done, and there is a lot that school system to contribute to improving the issues of understanding and

Happy New Year to everyone out there!! I hope that the past several weeks have found you all well and enjoying time with your family, however, I know that reality is that COVID has begun to affect more of us on a very personal level, making each day a struggle. There are many good things to look forward to as we enter 2021, despite the extreme rise in cases in our region and community. With the vaccine on the horizon for our adults, it should help reduce the community spread issues that we have been seeing. Also, we are a few months away from getting back to the outdoors and better weather that is less conducive for illness to thrive. Finally, we are smarter and wiser regarding the whole situation, which should lead to improved outcomes as we work together to get life back to normal. 2021 will certainly begin with it's trials and challenges, but it won't be long before the tides turn and the things begin to resemble a world we once knew. There is a lot to look forward to in the