What is suffering and what does it have to do with school and education?
Happy to debate and discuss the purpose and my own personal beliefs on suffering in private. For our public forum I would simply like to reflect on the reality of suffering and how we as professional colleagues respond to it.
I don't know about you but for me our school family has seen an unusual abundance of suffering outside the work place. As many of you know my father n law has been battling terminal cancer for some time. On March 28th, 2012 he was given 3 months to live, 3 years later he is still battling. Through this struggle there have been many ups and downs and many nights of suffering. A couple of things I have noticed through my own family's struggles is just how honest people get. Suffering brings with it opportunities for vulnerability from those that are hurting as well as opportunities for sincere service and compassion from those that are outside looking in. In this process real trust can be established; Trust that is earned through experiences...
Our administrative team has only been in place for 8 months but my hope is that the one thing that has come out of this time is trust among the administrative team, the staff and the faculty. Clearly the administrative team will have to continue to earn this trust as we pursue this adventure together. Soon we will be entering a season of change together and though this can be a frightening time, please know that we as administrators are making decision with the plum line of "What is best for students at DMS". Often this makes for very challenging and difficult decisions that are not enjoyable or popular. In the past several weeks, we have tried to communicate in a way that prepares you for change and gives you a voice in these changes through surveys and conversations with your grade level representatives.
WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS at DMS? I say it again because it is what we continue to look at in discussing possible changes.
Though no decisions have been finalized, these decisions concerning personnel and schedules will be made and communicated in the coming weeks and months.
I ask that you trust us to make the necessary decisions without fear or favoritism and though you may disagree with the decisions that are made, please trust that we are making them in an effort to grow our school forward. And I ask that if you have any questions or comments at any time in this process of change, you direct them to me. My commitment to you is to always be a willing listener as we work together to raise the rigor, strengthen the culture and define our identity.
Happy to debate and discuss the purpose and my own personal beliefs on suffering in private. For our public forum I would simply like to reflect on the reality of suffering and how we as professional colleagues respond to it.
I don't know about you but for me our school family has seen an unusual abundance of suffering outside the work place. As many of you know my father n law has been battling terminal cancer for some time. On March 28th, 2012 he was given 3 months to live, 3 years later he is still battling. Through this struggle there have been many ups and downs and many nights of suffering. A couple of things I have noticed through my own family's struggles is just how honest people get. Suffering brings with it opportunities for vulnerability from those that are hurting as well as opportunities for sincere service and compassion from those that are outside looking in. In this process real trust can be established; Trust that is earned through experiences...
Our administrative team has only been in place for 8 months but my hope is that the one thing that has come out of this time is trust among the administrative team, the staff and the faculty. Clearly the administrative team will have to continue to earn this trust as we pursue this adventure together. Soon we will be entering a season of change together and though this can be a frightening time, please know that we as administrators are making decision with the plum line of "What is best for students at DMS". Often this makes for very challenging and difficult decisions that are not enjoyable or popular. In the past several weeks, we have tried to communicate in a way that prepares you for change and gives you a voice in these changes through surveys and conversations with your grade level representatives.
WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS at DMS? I say it again because it is what we continue to look at in discussing possible changes.
Though no decisions have been finalized, these decisions concerning personnel and schedules will be made and communicated in the coming weeks and months.
I ask that you trust us to make the necessary decisions without fear or favoritism and though you may disagree with the decisions that are made, please trust that we are making them in an effort to grow our school forward. And I ask that if you have any questions or comments at any time in this process of change, you direct them to me. My commitment to you is to always be a willing listener as we work together to raise the rigor, strengthen the culture and define our identity.