Office of the Superintendent
Hello Region 12 - welcome to a brand new school year! Each autumn I remember the way I felt as a student, with all those years of excitement (and perhaps some trepidation) on the first day of school. In some ways, I am envious of all the students, from kindergarten to graduate school, who still get to bask in that poignant feeling. At the same time, however, I know we all continue to experience “firsts” in our lives - new learning, new experiences, new challenges. Because we are all always works in progress, it is very important that we teach our students how to treat discovery and resilience as life long projects.
I chose “discovery” as a theme this year at our convocation. One of my teachers, back in graduate school, told me “the greatest gift you can give your students is to discover them.” I think he meant that teachers can see things in students they cannot always see in themselves, and helping students discover their potential is a great benefit. Extending that idea and conforming it to the way we want to teach, perhaps the greatest gift we can give our students is helping them build their own capacity to discover themselves; to mine their own essence to discover the ore of its inner light.
Students make these self-discoveries by doing, as Eleanor Roosevely once enjoined, “the things they think they cannot do.” Such transcendence happens when teachers set high expectations for student achievement, in developmentally appropriate ways, then provide tons of feedback, guidance and support to help students reach those ambitious expectations. Only through the authenticity of that experience, which can sometimes feel like a crucible, will students develop the kind of self confidence that will support a lifetime of growth and actualization.
In Region 12 we are dedicated to that process. We want each child to do the things they think they cannot do, with the support of faculty, staff and families, and to emerge with a vigorous sense of self-efficacy and agency. During their time here, our students discover their own capacity to question all things, believe in their power to impact the world, and proceed with courage and empathy. I welcome an open dialogue about this process, in all its complexity, with all our stakeholders. Please feel free to connect with me to ask questions, offer insights or share concerns. I wish us all a year full of light, love, learning and discovery.
Respectfully,
Donald R. Schels, Ed.D.