SPRINGDALE -- Commissioner of Education Johnny Key told Springdale teachers and principals Tuesday they succeed because they remember why they are educators and cautioned them not to forget.
"The 'why' is every one of those students who come into your classroom," Key said.
By the numbers
Springdale School District
• 1,700 teachers, principals and administrators
• 23,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade
Key joined all 1,700 teachers, principals and administrators of the Springdale School District at Springdale High School for the district's annual Back to School meeting.
Teachers and principals are preparing for students to return to class Monday.
Key, whose mother taught for more than 20 years in Springdale and whose wife graduated from Springdale High School, congratulated the staff for successes Springdale schools have experienced in the past, advised them to remember their purpose and told them they can do more than hope this school year is the best they have experienced.
"Decide that this is going to be the best year ever in your classroom, in your building, in your district," Key said. "You do that by focusing on the why, why you get up every morning."
Superintendent Jim Rollins told his staff he wants to continue to work toward a goal of graduating at least 95 percent of students in Springdale and to meet goals set in the federal Race to the Top grant of $25.9 million awarded to the district in December 2013, including closing the achievement gap.
Rollins shared a note he wrote to himself and asked his staff to recite it with him.
Together they said, "I have prepared myself throughout my entire professional life to teach them all. As I begin a new year, I have that privilege once again ...
"This time I am going to succeed," they said.
The most important task for teachers is to help students stay focused by giving them a vision of where they can go, said Kathy Morledge, assistant superintendent for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
"Look at those kids and think, 'That one might be the commissioner of education. That one might be a legislator some day. We just saw a violinist walk off stage,'" Morledge said.
Morledge referred to Kaitlyn Vaughn, who is going into the first grade at Smith Elementary School. Kaitlyn played a violin solo for the crowd.
The legacy educators leave as teachers, mentors and coaches stems from relationships, said Joe Rollins, principal of the School of Innovation and the district's career and technical education director. Relationships are necessary for personalizing education to help students become who and what they want to be, he said, telling teachers to expect to hear more about personalizing learning for students.
"They're all trying to get ready for a future," he said.
Turnbow Elementary School teacher Kerri Hester said teachers on her campus are meeting in teams to plan for the first week of school. She has taught third grade, but is moving up to fourth grade this school year. An ice cream social Thursday will give students a chance to find out who their teachers are.
Hester enjoys hearing from the superintendent and other district leaders.
"It's a good time for the district to come together," Hester said. "This is the only time we're all together."
NW News on 08/12/2015