Principal Appreciation Month

Dear Principals,

This October we celebrate you, our incredible principals!  You lead with commitment, compassion, courage, and conviction for your school community.  This is your brand and you represent it well.  We are grateful to have such dedicated leaders.  Your actions establish your school’s climate and culture that support our students in reaching their potential.

Leadership matters.  Your position is the most important position in your school.  You are your school’s gatekeeper.  I feel very confident in each of you as building leaders.  Your instructional leadership builds a safe and thriving school culture and ensures a high-quality instructional program.  You are steadfast in your pursuit of excellence.  I know you work tirelessly to set high expectations, achieve academic goals, and meet the unique needs of our students and families.  You maintain a positive attitude and a keen instructional focus amidst expectations of COVID-19 testing, reporting, and communication to families.

As you face challenges, mistakes may be made.  However, as Ziad K. Abdelnour notes, “Your past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you.”  Dust yourself off, acknowledge the error, learn from the experience and continue to strive toward excellence.  We do not expect our students to let their past define their future.  The same holds true for you.

I truly believe in you.  You have the strength, skills, and capacity to be the difference-maker for your students and your staff.  Keep your expectations high.  Remember that having hope in the future gives you power in the present.  As Nelson Mandela notes, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”  In other words, the impossible is purely subjective.  Muhammad Ali said, “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.” 

As a gesture of our appreciation, please accept these gifts on behalf of the Board of Education and Superintendent’s Cabinet.  Thank you for your leadership, compassion, and perseverance.  Leadership is hard, yet you make it look easy.  Thank you for ensuring your school is a beacon of light for each student every day.

Sincerely,

Arthur R. Culver, Superintendent