Giving Thanks

American Education Week always signals a special time of year for me, coming as it does just prior to Thanksgiving. To me, it provides the opportunity for all of us to be thankful for the educational system we have in place in the United States and, more specifically, for those students, staff and parents who comprise the Newton Public Schools USD 373. While we have the added challenges and opportunities associated with No Child Left Behind, we still need to take the time to pause and reflect upon the tremendous influences education has had on all of us.

We all have educators who have played significant roles in our lives and who have helped mold us into the people we are today. Much of that effort occurred in such a subtle way that we probably did not realize the influence that these significant adults had on us at the time. But influence us they did; assisting us in developing the intellect, work habits and character we possess as adults in 2008.

A number of teachers come to mind as I think of those who inspired me to do my best in school. I was fortunate to have teachers who provided a significant influence for me at all levels in my educational career; Mrs. McCracken at Will Rogers Elementary; Mrs. Coy at Truesdell Junior High; and Mr. Alfaro at South High School. They were living the axiom that all students could succeed long before it became the national byline.
In addition, I had the great fortune of having a class under Dr. Harry Corbin at Wichita State University. All of these teachers encouraged me to do my best; they challenged my thinking and helped pave the way to my career as an educator.

Those adults, in addition to my parents and extended family, made tremendous contributions in my life just as I know that there are educators who have done the same for you. So, at this time of year when our thoughts turn to giving thanks, perhaps we ought to pause and reflect upon those educators and staff members who have given so much of themselves to us, to our children, and perhaps to our grandchildren as well.

Education is the only entity which touches every other profession and chosen vocation in our country. That degree of influence is awesome, indeed. It causes us to reflect again upon the power of an educated populace and the tremendous contributions that all of our citizens make as a result of their educational experiences and the ability that they have to apply those lessons learned to the pursuit of their livelihoods as well as their lives.

As we strive in USD 373 to make sure that no child is left behind, our challenge is to build on our excellent education tradition to continue to make the education of our students the highest priority in our country in the 21st century and to support those who are charged with this responsibility.

I would strongly encourage you during American Education Week to visit a school, write a note to an educator who influenced your life, eat lunch with first graders, make a donation to the USD 373 Endowment and volunteer to help a student with reading or math. Working together, we will continue to sustain the high level of support that education has enjoyed in the Newton community and to provide the foundation for continued progress as we continue to move into the twenty-first century.