THE TIME IS NOW!

The holidays have come and gone. This month we in the Springfield Public Schools welcome in a brand new year and acknowledge five months into the 2006-07 school year. Where does the time go? Our students and staff are still referencing their New Year resolutions which, by now, are either in full swing or have long since been put on the shelf for a “try again next year.” I’m hopeful, however, that the resolutions about improved test scores for all students have remained on the list of must dos. MCAS is four months away.

This time of year is significant for many of us in education because it is NOW that the work and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us how fortunate we are to be here, teaching, and influencing the lives of students -- future working adults and productive citizens. When I pause to think about what might have been if Dr. King hadn’t fulfilled his purpose, I remember to thank God for every blessing of education and opportunity for success.

For several months, I have used my column to share with you a number of the structures in place within the Springfield Public Schools that have been designed to insure a quality education for our students. It’s a serious endeavor. I often wonder if the students of today ever think about the sacrifices that were made or really internalized the price that many have paid to pave the way for their freedom to learn. In this climate of accountability, students’ learning needs are being given great consideration because it is simply politically incorrect to think about leaving any child behind. Our nation is in the midst of an educational reform tidal wave. NOW is the optimum time to set our sights on achieving excellence and being all we were created to be.

We educators must continue to be a distinctive, relentless, persuasive voice that repeatedly tells the story of how important it is for students to grab hold of their future NOW! As much as it sounds like a cliché, it’s true. We began this school year with the end in mind—all students reaching proficiency on MCAS testing, all students attaining mastery of skills in core subjects, and all students positioning themselves as life-long learners.

I recommend that students and staff take advantage of the onset of this New Year and of the goal-setting process:

1. Decide where you want to be and then [begin with the end in mind];

2. Utilize data to inform next steps;

3. Design a plan to reach your goal; and

4. Use your energy and effort to work the plan for the here and NOW.

It’s like making a resolution and coupling it with action steps.

We are only half way through the excitement of this school year, which will continue to unfold. The coldness of winter won’t stifle our determination. We won’t put off for tomorrow what we can do today. The world that Dr. King envisioned can be a reality for those who desire to make it so. The time is NOW! n