Jump. Just jump.

As we get closer to the end of the school year, I always begin to feel the strain of conflicting emotions. While I’m happy to see the successes of our departing seniors, I lament the loss of the day to day interaction with them that defines our positive school culture.  I know it’s time to say goodbye, but I struggle mightily with the act of doing so.

In the majority of American high schools, the month of May is filled with the traditional rites of spring…testing, prom, final exams, and graduation. While the first of those feel familiar for our students, the last one is a mystery.  The event itself, with its symbols and rituals, is not as nearly confusing as what it signifies.  The cocoon of safety and comfortability that existed only hours before disappears one by one as each student shakes a hand and grabs a diploma.  This ticket to the world arrives abruptly, a boarding train with a blowing whistle.

There are many books that make perfect gifts for graduates, including This is Water by David Foster Wallace and the classic Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss.  My favorite, however, is Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt.

Scaredy Squirrel is the perfect reminder for the Class of 2016 and, really, people of all ages in all places. Whether you’re leaving high school, finishing college, considering a life change, or just need a nudge, this is the story for you.

Scaredy Squirrel lives safely and comfortably (remember that from earlier?) in his tree, far away from the dangers that lurk below. He fears Martians, germs, poison ivy, and tarantulas.  He even fears sharks.  When a killer bee (graduation) comes too close for his liking, Scaredy jumps from his tree into the unknown. It’s in that moment he finds that he has wings.  He’s a flying squirrel, and the things he feared weren’t so scary after all.

Life is series of paths and decisions. Some work out well; some don’t.  It’s all part of the growth process.  But growth never happens if we aren’t willing to take risks.  In the Bellevue Independent Schools, we encourage each other to take risks.  I believe it is incumbent upon us to be fearless in our pursuits and to champion our students as they attempt their own brand of fearlessness.

The BHS class of 2016 now has the world in front of it. Those of us who crossed that stage years ago still have the world in front of us.  There will always be Martians and tarantulas, but we need to believe in our skills, talents, and abilities.   We need to be fearless.  So irrespective of your status in life, jump.  Just jump.  You have wings.

 

One Bellevue

Part of my daily routine is to walk through our school buildings. I enjoy this time as it allows me to speak with students and teachers about school life…from the academic to the extra-curricular.  I’m energized by the hope I hear in their voices and the passion I see on their faces.  Earlier this week, I was making a round when a locker on the second floor stopped me.  Upon closer inspection, I inferred that it was the locker of a football player that had been decorated in preparation for the upcoming playoff game.  Most of the pictures and homemade placards of encouragement were familiar enough to be found in many high schools.  However, one picture was a display of pride that I’ve never seen.  I captured it on my phone.

My thoughts wandered to who might have created this sign. My experiences told me that it was probably a member of the cheer squad, though I didn’t ask.  More important than who created it were the circumstances of its creation.  What life experiences did a teenager recall the moment this sign was made?  How does a young adult come to understand that, in Bellevue, the city and school are irrevocably intertwined?  And finally, how did a high school student arrive at the mature understanding that the immediate success of a few in our school is really the success of everyone?

There is a vocal minority in our region who would have you believe towns like Bellevue are better off by shuttering their school doors and climbing aboard a larger county system or banding together with similar independent districts. I can’t argue the financial efficiency angle of that proposal.  Fewer superintendents, fewer principals, and fewer teachers would definitely trim the bottom line.  I’d argue, though, that civic pride and identity have no price tag.  The synonymy of school and community is what makes many of our towns unique and extraordinary.  There are communities in Northern Kentucky who bleed the colors of their local schools.  Include Bellevue on that list.  Go ahead; cut us open and watch the black and gold leak out from Memorial Parkway to the Ohio River.

I may never know who made the sign on the locker, and at the time of this writing, I didn’t know the outcome of the football game. But win or lose, I’m incredibly proud to be a Bellevue Tiger, and as long as I am the superintendent, we will be one with our town.

One Year in One Picture

On Friday, April 24th, I went to prom. I had neither a date nor a bowtie, and I showed up well past what would be considered fashionably late, but I went to prom. The last time I went to prom was 26 years ago. My hair was darker then, and, from what I remember, my life was consumed with the ending of high school and the many pieces of impending adulthood that needed to be assembled. I have the privilege of age and experience these days, which has also afforded me the time to reflect. I was an 18 year old senior in the spring of 1989, so in that regard, going to prom seemed like old hat. I’ve lived it, and thought I knew all about its symbols and traditions. I was wrong. 

I entered the reception hall with about an hour left in prom just as the king and queen were being announced. After the crowns were placed and hugs were finished, the DJ played a song for the court. It’s a scene played out thousands of times each year across the county, and it felt right. I enjoyed the moment, wondering if the thoughts in the heads of our students matched mine from so many years ago. My reminiscing was interrupted by the DJ asking for the entire junior class on the dance floor. They walked out and circled, arms around each other, for an entire song. This was followed by the senior class. I tried to take a picture with my phone but distance and lighting gave me a poor result. The image, however, stays with me. Fortunately, resident photographer Mr. Seward was on hand and captured it for all of us.

 

 

If I had to distill my first year as superintendent down to one picture, this would be it.  Around that senior circle I saw fight songs and drama productions.  I saw hot summer days at band camp and letterman jackets shuffling to school on cold January mornings.  I saw mentors to Grandview students and volunteers in the community.  I saw second and third generation Tigers interlocked with newcomers.  I saw the fragility of life and the strength of steel.  Mostly though, I saw togetherness and inclusion. 

Looking back over the last 10 months, I now notice the circle, both literally and metaphorically.  I met with this same senior class back in September in an attempt to get to know them.  They told me about their school and community and their dreams for the future.  I asked them for advice and what they expected from me as their new superintendent.  They asked me to be present and support them, to talk with them and to listen to their stories.  What I didn’t understand at the time was that they were inviting me into the circle. 

There is a soulful intimacy about Bellevue Schools that is difficult to define.  The generosity and empathy displayed by our students and staff permeates my reflection of this school year and is so aptly captured by Mr. Seward’s picture.  On Friday, April 24^th, I went to prom.  I wasn’t named prom king in 1989, and 26 years later I lost again, but it surely doesn’t feel like it.

Bellevue ISD Test Scores Explained

There is a scene that plays out every fall in every school in the state. I know it all too well. I’ve been part of it and I’ve watched it from a distance. In fact, I could probably give you a script. It begins with a group of administrators huddled around a computer, eyes closed, fingers crossed in anticipation of the impending state test score release. I’ve seen prayers and the subsequent jubilation. I’ve seen prayers and tears of dejection. The fact that prayers are even part of the equation speaks to the weighty consequences of the results, both emotionally and on professional practice. The script then moves to teachers, who are even harder on themselves, the majority tethering their self-esteem to a few pieces of data from a week’s worth of testing in early May.

The merits of standardized testing will be debated for years to come, but, that isn’t the purpose of this column. This isn’t a plea of sympathy for educators, and it certainly isn’t an attempt at ignoring or deflecting our recent results. No, this is about embracing our results for all the right reasons…719 living, breathing reasons, to be exact. It’s about celebrating our successes and owning our deficiencies, all the while staying true to our core beliefs and the mission of Bellevue Independent Schools.

If you’ve read any of my previous columns, you know that I place a high priority on educating the whole child. I believe that academics are crucial to a productive future, but I also believe that a productive future is rarely possible without social competencies, sound vocational skills, and emotional health. When we analyze test results through that lens, the numbers take on a much more meaningful context. Please don’t misunderstand me; of course I expect us to perform well academically. I love seeing kids beam with pride over their achievements. For that reason alone, the higher the number, the better. I hope kids in the surrounding districts feel just as successful. The stronger our neighbor, the stronger are we.

Bellevue students have many reasons to feel good about the scores from 2013-14. I won’t get into the actual numbers and how they are calculated in this column, but the latest overall score is greater than the year prior. The department of education expects one point of growth; we gave them almost eight! When broken down into grade levels, all three (elementary, middle, and high) improved their overall scores. In addition, our performance in the arts was outstanding. We also graduate our students at a higher rate than most schools in the state.

A critical analysis of the test results also revealed we have an issue with the difficulty of tasks given to our students. We call this lack of rigor. In a practical sense, this means students are not always being pushed beyond a basic understanding. This doesn’t mean rigor never happens; it means it doesn’t happen enough. Symptoms of lack of rigor include students not achieving at a distinguished level, students not showing as much growth over the year as their similar peers (yes, we measure this), and students not meeting the recommended college acceptance scores on the ACT.

The script I mentioned earlier typically ends the same way. The same group of administrators crafts a presentation for interested parties and talks, mostly in cliché, about “digging in” and “rolling up their sleeves.” While that may be true, I don’t believe post-test result is the time to get serious. Late this summer, the entire district discussed urgency and the implications for our students. As a result, we adopted a “Go now!” attitude that began the first day of classes and will continue well into the spring. In my August column I outlined a number of superintendent assurances. One assurance is that attention will be paid to individual student need. Another is high expectations. The dedicated staff of Bellevue Independent will take the recently released test data and do exactly those things, designing instruction to address our diverse learners and placing a priority on rigor. We are pleased with our improvement in 2013-14. However, we will never be satisfied. Our work continues. We have an obligation and a passion for equipping 719 Bellevue students with the knowledge and tools for future success, and we enthusiastically embrace this responsibility.

If you should have any question about our accountability data, please contact our office at your convenience. A member of central office would be happy to provide a more thorough explanation.

Ready for Day 1.

July 1, 2014

Bellevue Community,

I can’t thank you enough for the warm welcome I’ve received and open arms I’ve experienced over the last few weeks.  I consider it an honor to be superintendent of Bellevue Independent Schools and vow to make you proud of the school system through hard work, divergent thinking, and a commitment to our most precious resource, our children.

Bellevue schools have a rich history of excellence both inside the classroom and in the many athletics and extra-curriculars in which our students participate.  It is clear that this community has laid a foundation that prioritizes the success of our students and support for those who have worked to ensure it.  As we move forward in the 21^st century, we will honor those who have gone before us and crafted an impressive legacy while providing every available opportunity for those with us now and in the future. 

During my first tour of the district, I noticed the capital B on the curtains above the stage in the high school.  I was taken by the stateliness and how this lone letter B acted as a visual symbol of this marriage between our past tradition and future vision.  Let the Old English B symbolize all that is good.  Let it be a pledge to uphold the values which create a positive school culture and greater community.  Let it be an obligation to our youngest Tigers as they gain a strong foundation of skills and knowledge.  Let it be a promise to work diligently toward a positive life after high school.  Let it be the badge we bear on the athletic fields and wear on our chests.  And let it be the courage we carry as we break molds and innovate, pushing for deeper understanding.

The future of Bellevue Schools will be replete with visionaries and discoveries.  Creative thinking will be valued and celebrated; persistence will be commended.  Speaking on behalf of the professional staff in our schools, it is our duty to unlock our students’ capacity by allowing them to think differently.  To do so, we must also think differently.  This is my mission and charge.

Old English.  New language.

I look forward to working with you.