What a great time of year!

It is a great time of year to be Superintendent! I have been so blessed to get to attend the elegant and beautiful Teacher of the Year Banquet sponsored by Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation. Thank you, MEEF, and to all of the sponsors who made that evening so special for all of the Teachers of the Year. A special congratulation goes to Mrs. Christine Powell, teacher at Northside High School, for being selected as the Muscogee County Teacher of the Year. She will represent public education in this district so well! The top ten teachers of the year are a group that I can't wait to engage in conversation. I plan to invite them in as an advisory group next school year. I am sure they will tell me the truth, give me some advice, and lead the way in making us a stronger district.

I also had a wonderful visit to Waddell Elementary for their multicultural all-day event. The grade levels had selected a country to research and the halls were covered in student work. Many students were dressed in native costumes. The young men and women from around the world who are being trained at Fort Benning were also there and added an authentic touch to the day. It was a great culminating activity showing the excitement that a school-wide theme can generate.

The Kiwanis Club presented their T. Hiram Stanley Scholarships this week. To hear about the strengths and ambitions that a group of terrific, high-achieving, well-rounded eighth graders have was so encouraging. The Kiwanis Club recognizes an eighth grader at each middle school who receives a scholarship in the form of a savings bond. They select the top three who receive additional amounts. What great dream planters they are! It was a very nice program to which the students could invite their principal and members of their family. Thank you, Kiwanis!

Then, the Page One Awards sponsored by the Ledger Enquirer and CB & T were held last night. There is no other gathering in the region where the very brightest students from each academic area are recognized in one program. The students are artists, athletes, musicians, actors, mathematicians, scientists, linguists, and all-around great kids! The competition is tough and the students prepare for this evening for many months. I was proud that the winners represented many schools in the region, both public and private. That tells me that there is good work going on in many places and that students are the winners! Congratulations to all of the winners, runners-up, and nominees.

It is at this time of year when two things happen. As Superintendent, I am invited to many awards programs, luncheons, scholarship programs, and other events where our students who have achieved great honors are recognized. I come away from each event so proud to be part of public education and know that this institution is partnering with families and community organizations to develop great citizens who will continue to promote our great democracy (or republic if you want to get technical).

It is also this time of year that test scores began coming in. Although our scores continue to trend upward in many, many subjects and grades, I mourn over those students we didn't reach, we didn't help to succeed at high levels, and I will have many sleepness nights trying to figure out what else we can do for them. It is a bittersweet time in the life of an educator.

One of the best parts of being an educator, though, is that next school term we get another chance - to do it better, to work harder, to reach more students, to refine our craft. To be an educator is a great profession; to be able to serve this community is a great honor! I am blessed.