Taken literally, this is obvious, but there’s more to it than a simple statement of fact. For educators, it makes us pause and think about how important the beginning of a new school year is to our overall mission.
Yes, there’s much to be excited about as a new year school year approaches, but, more importantly, it signifies the beginning of new efforts to bring about change and improvement.
Many of you have probably heard the old maxim, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Certainly, change for the sake of change is not healthy, but that’s why we have in-service training, staff evaluations, a testing program, and other forms of self-reflection.
We must constantly look within our organization at what we’re doing, determining what works and what doesn’t work. It’s not prudent to continue doing something “because that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
If, after careful consideration, it is deemed that change is necessary, then we must find different and better ways of doing what we do, or we’ll find ourselves far behind in a world that is forever in a state of change whether we choose to be or not.
Recently, I spoke to our administrators and congratulated them on the successes of the past school year. Test scores are in the process of coming in at this time, and the positive results are one evidence of the high quality of accomplishments by our students and staff. However, we reminded ourselves that we are never to be satisfied with where we are. Instead, we have challenged ourselves to seek better ways to serve our students and strive for an even higher level of success in the coming school year.
So, with the opening of a new school year just a short time away, we know how important it is that we are well-prepared to receive over 12,000 of Moore County’s most precious resource — our children. As the students begin the new year, we want them to be motivated and enthusiastic about the opportunities that await them in our schools. Our teachers and administrators must challenge students to be the best they can be, and, of course, students must challenge themselves, as well.
Parents should not underestimate their role in a successful school opening, either. I encourage you to talk to your child about hard work, dedication and the importance of giving 100 percent to his or her studies. I encourage you to see that your child has the appropriate materials when he or she arrives on the first day (many schools have posted and/or sent home supply lists). I also encourage you to follow your child’s progress closely throughout the year, discussing each day’s work and having regular communication with your child’s teacher.
The 2005-2006 school year holds much promise for all of us in Moore County. Teachers are enthusiastic, the instructional program is better than ever, organizational changes have been made to provide better support to our teachers, and additional efforts are in place to continue analyzing and assessing what we do for even greater success.
Our once-a-year opportunity for the opening of another school year is almost upon us. Join me in making it the best ever for Moore County Schools.
Purser is superintendent of the Moore County school system.
