MAY 11, 2023 – A message from Dr. Barr:
Good afternoon,
This morning I walked down the hall, saying the typical “Hello” and “Good Morning”, when I was approached by a colleague asking for a quick chat. I listened, as the staff member shared an obvious anxiousness regarding negativity being perpetuated about our schools.
I could feel the concern as thoughts drifted from discussions with colleagues to comments by the community, and from social media to face-to face discussions. The hurt in that person’s eyes when saying, “people, including our own staff, sometimes demean ‘the school’, but we are ‘the school’ and we are crushing it.”
It is with these thoughts in mind that I started to write up a message for Staff Appreciation Week.
As I reflected on this conversation, and recent events, one belief shined through. Don’t let anyone else’s narrative impact your reality. We are doing AMAZING things in this district. And it isn’t ‘the school’ doing these things or providing these opportunities, it is you, the staff members. ‘The school’ didn’t pitch a Credit Recovery program which brought back multiple students that dropped out and help them earn their diplomas, it was Mr. Daucher. It wasn’t ‘the school’ that committed time, energy, and effort to secure donations for the Food and Goods Drive, it was Mrs. Bookmiller, her students, and our community. ‘The school’ didn’t commit to creating engaging opportunities that doubled the amount of students wanting to take chorus, or make connections that resulted in more participation in our arts programs, or start our first FFA Chapter, it was our amazing staff members.
When I see my former students like the Jordans, Jessica Desius, Michaela Shaffer, (yes, even Tony Franklin), and others working with the next generation, it makes me so proud. I see the little ones in the Elementary School dressing like their favorite teachers with sheer joy, as they aspire to someday be as awesome as each of you. I notice the hard work of our Support Staff team as we catch up on each other's families in between their time ushering the big kids out of the hallways or working on letter sounds with the littles. I am impressed by our maintenance staff, who not only get the grounds ready, but the instructional spaces as well. And they do so with professionalism and consistency. Our kids are better off because of the encouragement and smiles of our transportation staff as they deliver our kids for the day, or the laughter and excitement of getting to high-five Mr. Mike and others as they greet them at the elementary school doors.
I hope that when you think of ‘the school’ you think of your colleagues. The ones that retired, yet came back to meet the needs of our kids, still meticulously grading papers at 5:00 at night. The administrators and coaches that balance leadership and guidance with providing support and direction. The cafeteria staff members that take on the Herculean task of feeding a thousand people a day while providing a welcoming environment for our kids. I think of our mental health staff that deals with crises that will make your heart break, yet answer the call every day to help put the pieces back together.
When I think of that conversation this morning, I know that individual was right. We ARE ‘the school’, and we ARE crushing it. As a result, I want to sincerely thank each of you.
Better yet, thank each other.
Staff Appreciation isn’t a one-time week when you get snacks and trinkets from your administrators. Appreciation is a mindset. Communicate your appreciation for each other. Do it in a way that makes you feel comfortable… but do it. Write a note, an email, or a postcard. Make a drawing, a picture, or my personal favorite, a poem. Speak up. We each have extremely tough jobs, in an increasingly tough environment, and we must support each other. We are ‘the school’. Celebrate it. Show your appreciation, because if there is one thing that I have learned over the past months studying positive psychology, it is that appreciation doesn’t just make the recipient’s day, it will make yours as well.
Sincerely,
Matthew Barr, Ed. D.
Lyons Central School DistrictSuperintendent
MatthewBarr@lyonscsd.org
(315) 946-2200 x 2010