As summer progressed we realized that even though a positive move in the right direction was made, the climate of the district hadn’t really changed at all. We had a building without a principal, the school board and administration butting heads, and a Blue Ribbon Task Force looking at ways to retain teachers without better pay. This shows us we need to keep this fire burning; we need to continue the movement to revive our schools.
It is evident there is still work to be done. Rapid City needs to know the culture of our schools is not good. There is still a breakdown of communication between everyone involved and it seems there is a competition for power. Everyone has an opinion but no one really has a voice. It is frustrating to go to meeting after meeting and get no direction, no definite answer. Circles are run daily and they are exhausting and uninspiring. I am not used to this kind of district.
I had the honor of working for some fabulous principals in two awesome buildings. I worked in a “culture of greatness” at both buildings. I learned it all starts with leadership. Great principals, amazing teacher leaders, and wise mentors shaped my path. I may not have agreed with every decision these leaders made but they were the kinds of people who inspired me to follow and trust them. They pushed me to be a better educator. They offered me opportunities to highlight my talents and further my career. I learned, sometimes the hard way, but I still grew personally and professionally. They would not steer me wrong. They understood the concept of making a decision and following an ethical process in that decision making. There was no passing the buck, there was never another meeting; they made the decision, relied on the building experts, and we trusted them. Where has that culture gone? Why has it gone? More importantly, how do we bring it back?
We continue to follow this path because we know something is amiss in our district. We are desperate to be the voice of our children; all of our beautiful children, with their different needs, talents, and educational levels. We see them slipping through the cracks, we see them losing great teachers, we see them unchallenged, and we see our leadership going to meetings. Meetings, meetings, meetings! We say, “Action!” We say, “What is being done? What will help, inspire, and challenge my child?” We are here to state what we want our schools to look like. We are here to have a say in how things are being done. We trust you with our children, our tax dollars, and now our input. What are you doing with them? Are you being respectful of that responsibility?
We are still here, and doing our best to work within the system. We are not giving up on it, we are crafting a dream for it; one of what could be. It could be a phoenix, rising from the ash. It could be a mecca for the best and brightest educators and students. It could be a place that is an example on how to work together. It could be a place where leaders are grown and make an impact in the world of education. It could be a place where there is a culture of confidence and comradery; where trust, innovation, creativity, and excellence are cornerstones of our schools. This isn’t far-fetched, it isn’t idealistic, and it isn’t unattainable. This is our goal. This is why we are fanning the fire .