So many reasons to appreciate our school staff

Appreciating our school staff

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and in South Bend this is the week we dedicate to celebrating all our school staff members, teachers and support staff alike.  As in many other schools across the country, we do a variety of rituals during this week:  coffee day, daily drawings, various food items in the staff rooms, and an all-staff BBQ at the end of the week.  But in reality, this is so little compared to the recognition they truly deserve.

As school superintendent it is all too easy to get distracted by so many things occuring on a daily basis.  And speaking for myself, these things can often get in the way of remembering the unending challenges facing teachers and staff members day in and day out, and all the critical responsibilities for which we rely upon them to oversee.

So in an effort to reflect on why I appreciate our school staff members at South Bend School District, I offer the following in hopes that you will remember to appreciate them too.  Some of these reasons you might not always think about...

Teachers

It is an awesome responsibility to be charged with educating children.  From preschool to high school, teachers are faced with the daunting task of not only teaching kids specific academic skills, but also teaching them how to learn, how to ask questions, how to interact with others, and how to apply knowledge to their lives.

Easy right?

Here's what a lot of people may not understand...

Imagine yourself with a class of 20 to 25 elementary students.  Many of your students come from homes where their physical and emotional needs are met, they are well fed, their medical needs are met, they have clean clothes, their parents are present in their lives, they feel safe.  These students, for the most part, come to school ready to learn.

However, some students do not come with all these basic needs met.

Did you know that in South Bend over 80 students are classified as homeless?  Did you know that in many cases, the only nutritious food some of our students receive is at school, and that some students are given food to take home for the weekend?  Did you know that some students face circumstances in their everyday lives that are impacted by drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, abuse, unemployment, loss, lack of sleep, cleanliness, and overall poverty?

Imagine how this might impact the learning of a 5 year old, or a 10 year old, or a 15 year old, or a 3 year old?  It doesn't matter the age level or grade, these circumstances exist, through no fault of students.  And yet, our teachers come to school each day and teach with care and love, providing many of the essential needs students require.  Our counselors come to school each day and support kids with care and love, providing individual assistance and family support.  Teachers and counselors adapt to all circumstances and strive to provide the best for each individual student. They spend hours planning, grading papers, evaluating curriculum, meeting with parents, setting up learning activities, collaborating with peers, and so much more.  They all provide so much to our students, and it shows.  They care for all.  They love all.  They teach all.

There are additional challenges.  I believe some in society emphasize the wrong things in education, some of which include:  standardized test scores, a "one size fits all approach to teaching and learning", and that all students must attend a 4-year university to be successful.  These ideas can negatively impact our outlook on education, but our teachers strive to work beyond these notions.  Though our teachers most certainly believe in student achievement and the importance of postsecondary education, they also value and acknowledge the importance of teaching the whole child, and they believe student success to be much more than test scores and achievement statistics.

I appreciate our teachers.  To all, thank you.

Support Staff

What would we ever do without our support staff?  Paraprofessionals, office secretaries, kitchen staff, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance staff, technology staff, specialists, and coaches.  For so many reasons, school could not function without our classified staff members.  They safely deliver our students to and from school.  They prepare our students' breakfast and lunch.  They take care of our students when they are ill.  They provide our students with supplemental instruction.  They provide safety, care, and love.  Our support staff are vital, and school could not function without them.

Thank you to our bus drivers for your skill and care.  Thank you for saying, "good morning", when you pick students up and, "have a great day", when you drop them off.  Thank you for driving in all weather conditions, for driving the late night athletic trips, and for being such a fun crew.

Thank you to our paraprofessionals for all you patience.  Thank you for working with students in the small groups, monitoring recess, supervising the hallways, reading to students, and providing so much care.  Thank you for opening milk cartons for the little kids and helping the older kids with their school work.

Thank you to our office workers for your attention to detail.  Thank you for "knowing" all students, advising students, and listening to students.  Thank you for your professionalism, skill in working with the public, and keeping our buildings running.  Thank you for your organization and your willingness to serve.

Thank you to our custodians, maintenance, and technology staff for all your work behind the scenes.  Thank you for your vigilance, your hard work, and your skill in ensuring our infrastructure and facility systems are functional.  Thank you for your great personalities and your unending willingness to do what is needed at all times of the day and night.

Thank you to our cooks and kitchen staff for providing for our kids.  Thank you for your great food, your smiling faces, and your unending care.  Thank you for the environment in our cafeteria that is so inviting and your willingness to start early and stay late.

I appreciate our support staff.  To all, thank you.

Early Learning, preschool, & child care

Second to parenting, I believe early learning pre-k programs to be the most vital component to school readiness.  In my career, I have never known a more caring and competent early learning staff than the ladies we have in our ELC.  Dedication, hard work, commitment, and all with a smile.  It is no wonder the "littles" at South Bend have so much fun and learn so much in our early learning programs.

Did you know that South Bend serves close to 100 pre-k students at our preschool buildings each day?  In addition, our staff also supports our neighboring school districts' preschools in Raymond and Willapa Valley.  Did you know we have home visitors that travel all over the local area providing supports to parents?  Did you know our early learning staff provides child care, organizes medical, vision, and dental care, and ensures alignment of our programs to an always changing state bureaucracy?

I am so thankful for the wonderful environment our ELC staff creates and sustains for our pre-k kiddos.  Thank you for your unending patience and ability to do something I could never attempt.  You all are rockstars.

I appreciate our early learning staff.  To all, thank you.

South Bend, A great place for kids

There is no way I can write enough in this article to give a full understanding of what all our staff do each day at South Bend School District.  All I know is that I and all our administrators depend on them, and they do not disappoint.  Our students depend on them, and they always deliver.  Our parents and community depends on them, and they do our district proud.

I know that I speak for our board of directors, for the entire school administration, and for all those for which our teachers and staff do so much.  We appreciate all of you.  You make South Bend, "A great place for kids."