LEADING THROUGH LISTENING

This is a time of year when we should all take a moment to pause, reflect, and remember all of the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. As a society, we have unfortunately moved more and more deeply into a world of entitlement. Entitlement is not the concept that our fine nation was built; nor was it the intent of everyone that has come before us. Our ancestors (some of whom are still alive today to share their stories) believed in hard work, dedication to your task/role in the world, and commitment to your fellow Americans. These ideals are what made America great during the 20th century because regardless of your heritage, our country bonded together. Unfortunately, there seems to be a growing trend of what can I do to avoid working hard or taking responsibility or helping a neighbor/colleague simply because it's the right thing to do. We have lost sight, as a society, of the concept of brotherhood and sisterhood and that we are all...

  Throughout life, we are constantly provided with opportunities. As adults, we are provided many opportunities, some that we create through our own initiative and hard work, others because of who we are or know, and others simply by happenchance. Regardless, an opportunity is one of the components that make up the American Dream. Our students in today's society also have opportunities. I think back to when I was in high school and I had 10% of the opportunities that our children in RFA have today. Whether it be in terms of access and opportunity to college-level coursework, opportunities to participate in curricular programs above the traditional program, the access and opportunities that students have through BOCES to the trades or our own engineering program, or the myriad of clubs and athletic opportunities that students have; the chance to find a sense of belonging and growth exists. And this only describes the high school level. More than ever, opportunities for student exper...

 Why? A simple word that means so much. It can be used in a negative connotation and in a positive way as motivation. It's a question and a statement of purpose. As teachers, we ask our students why all of the time. It's second nature to ask a student to explain their thoughts and push their thinking to go deeper. It's also used with colleagues to help understand one's point of view or clarify something if as adults we don't understand another's perspective. Perhaps the most important context of why is the purpose that we do something as a person. Why did we choose to work with children and in schools? Why do we consistently look for new ways to help students. Looking at this word, it's important that we don't forget our own personal "WHY" and we continue to inquire of each other when clarity is needed. When we question why certain practices exist, why policies are enacted the way they are enacted, and why decisions were made, the word is gener...

 Happy Mother's Day to all of our Moms out there in the cyberverse!! It is nice to see the sun shining in upstate New York this year, unlike some of the random Mother's Day surprise snowfalls that we are known to get. Today is a day where we take a moment to recognize, remember, and honor those that are hopefully the most instrumental woman in our lives. There is no doubt that there is no job more precious, more special, and more important than being a parent, and specifically a mother. Without their guidance, love, and unconditional support it is difficult to imagine what life would be like. Moms are there in a moment of need to support and at times, provide the honest truth about a situation or event. When looking back at your childhood, hopefully, you can realize all of the sacrifices and stress that our mothers endured making sure that we had the best childhood that they could possibly provide. Regardless of your situation or background, moms have always given of themselves...

  It's almost impossible to believe that we are entering the month of May, but as we do this month brings with it Teacher Appreciation Week! Over the last few weeks I have been fortunate enough to have ongoing conversations about what will be for next year and without fail, every person, whoever they are, is hopeful for a return to normal. And when we say "normal", we are not saying hit the reset button and make everything back to the way they were because all teachers have grown and found new methods and strategies that they can employ to help kids learn through the pandemic. At this point, "normal" means a year that is free of disruptions, major unexpected changes, and distractions that take away from their mission. Beyond the job of educating our students over the last two years, our staff has had the added challenge of doing so while facing additional adversity that no other community has faced. Yes, there have been frustrations, stress, and at times anger; ...