THE GIFT OF A NEW YEAR

By Willette Johnson

I thank God for the gift of today, for this New Year, and for all of His blessings. The winds of change are upon us; and because change is a constant in our lives, we do what we do and make it work. For the students and staff of the Springfield Public Schools, we continue moving forward. Our focus on teaching and learning has not changed. We’ve got to believe that the vision of all students being proficient is attainable. There are no other viable options.

A new year is always a good time to reflect on the years gone by. We are conditioned to never dwell in the past and to move beyond all that is behind us. Yes, I agree and promote that moving forward is great advice. However, it would be foolish and irresponsible to never examine the path we’re on and the decisions we’ve made to get us there. It’s okay to reminisce and remember where we’ve been. What accomplishments are we celebrating? Which decisions got us the biggest bang for our bucks? What situations created havoc in our lives and we dare not go there again? I challenge all educators to think long and hard about the work we do and rediscover your place in that work. How do you figure into the equation of proficiency for all children? What are your beliefs about the learning capacity for the children that we serve? What responsibility do you take in teaching them the skill sets that they must have to approach the threshold of success in the years ahead? On which side of the fence do you sit when it comes to supporting the work of the Superintendent and the Springfield school district?

I can say one thing for certain and two things for sure: the work of educating all students is difficult, the resources are always inadequate, and it remains a challenge to get and keep the right people in the right seats. Nevertheless, I’ve discovered that the level of dedication remains high among the professionals with whom I work. It is commonplace for me to observe something, hear something, or participate in planning something that reassures me of a strong sense of commitment to continuous improvement. Many classrooms in many of our schools are exciting places. Students are identifying with best practices that scaffold their learning. They are being taught to interact with peers and adults in a collaborative, respectful way. The New Year holds promise for all who believe it does and who are willing to work for it.

In a few short months, we will take our state assessments. These MCAS tests provide data that we analyze and use to inform instruction. It helps us to determine if the strategies we’re implementing for increased student achievement are working. Every day is another opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, weigh every decision, avoid potentially negative situations, and continue to believe that it is our collective, effective effort that will help us to reach our goals of success for all. I resolve to remain hopeful. What about you?

Happy New Year!!