Don’t Forget Why You Accepted the Call
This fall, I opened our convocation with one simple word: HOPE.
HOPE stood for Help. Opportunity. Protect. Encourage. Throughout the year, I wanted to remind our students, staff, and families that we are the HOPE of one another. I knew it was going to be a challenging year, and it definitely was. We adopted a new math curriculum while simultaneously updating our English Language Arts curriculum. That’s not something I would typically recommend doing at the same time, but I knew it was necessary if we were going to make the academic changes our students deserved. We also established new academic partnerships and pursued additional funding opportunities to strengthen our work while maintaining local control. Along the way, there were difficult decisions to make. They weren’t easy, but they were necessary. As the year progressed and I felt discouraged I found myself reflecting on my own purpose.
I believe my calling is to inspire, encourage, and lead. Some days that work is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Other days, I find myself questioning and wondering if we’re making the impact we hope to make. When I get distracted by the noise or lose sight of my purpose, I have to stop, reset, and remember why I accepted the call to serve in the first place. I had to do that several times this year.
When I finally slowed down long enough to reflect, here’s what I saw. I saw a district accomplishing amazing things. Yes, we adopted new curriculum. Yes, we made organizational changes. Yes, there were bumps, challenges, and a few missteps along the way. But we handled them together. We learned from them. We grew through them. And because of that, we became stronger as a system and as a team. As an educator, leader and superintendent, I have always tried my best to model leadership and authenticity. Even when things feel difficult, I am reminded that we are doing the right work.
This year we had more access and more opportunities for students. More students enrolled in dual-credit courses, and more students succeeded in them. AP enrollment increased. Attendance improved. Thirty-four students earned associate degrees while still in high school. I saw staff members achieve their own educational goals and earn degrees. I had the honor of speaking at my first college commencement ceremony. We celebrated first-generation college students pursuing their dreams. We hosted a signing day where we hired graduates from our Future Educator P-TECH program to return and serve as educators in our district. We celebrated academic gains across the system. Our retention rate has even increased. Everywhere I looked, I saw glimmers of HOPE.
I share these accomplishments not to brag, but to challenge you. Take a moment and think about all that you have accomplished this year. Think about the obstacles you have overcome, the lives you have impacted, and the ways you have poured into others. Don’t overlook your victories simply because you’re already focused on the next challenge. Education in 2026 is hard. There is no denying that. As we navigate the ever-changing political landscape of public education in our state and nation, it can be easy to become discouraged. But please don’t stop doing the work. I’m saying that as much for myself as I am for anyone else.
So let this be a reminder to you, and me, that we are on the right path. We are trailblazers. We are trendsetters. We are changing families, communities, and generations. We are the profession that creates all others.
As this school year comes to a close, I hope you take time to refresh, restore, and reflect on all that you’ve accomplished. Celebrate the victories. Learn from the challenges. And remember why you accepted the call. We’ve got this!
#InspireExcellence
