What are the current strengths of your organization and how do you continue to move forward?
Yesterday was the last day my school existed as a middle school. We are becoming a 3-5 building, and only myself, a principal, a music teacher, and the custodians will remain come August. The feeling is surreal. The rational part of me understands how the district needs to restructure and consolidate buildings to create a more financially sustainable and equitable experience for our children.
Most of my colleagues are remaining with the district and will be assets at their new schools. Others are leaving, off to new experiences in the annual rite of spring where stronger districts cannibalize the weaker ones in siphoning off talent. I'm not resentful of that. It's a market economy, and St. Louis has 26 different districts and plenty of turnover. It's reality.
Our current strengths revolve around human capital. We have some amazing educators who see teaching as a vocation. My district lacks financial resources, but we have incredible human resources. Moving forward entails empowering teachers and trusting us to follow our hearts, our instincts, and our passions. We have operated as neighborhood schools for decades, and for some of our kids, next year will involve going to schools outside their neighborhoods. They are losing their sense of immediate community.
We have staff who will recreate new communities, forge new identities, and build on the strengths of our past.
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