Page 5 - The Edge - Fall 2017

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BY RICKY D. HERNANDEZ

Every Student, Every School, Every Time

Every day I walk into
my son’s school, I am
greeted by the curiosity
of every student ready to
learn and to engage. Yet,
sometimes we get a little
cynical about what role
we play in supporting
those beaming students
who are ready to
learn. Undoubtedly,
this is probably one
of the busiest times of
the year for all of us.
Between audits, annual
nancial reports, budget
revisions and planning
the next budget cycle, it
is easy to get caught up
in the numbers game of
our day-to-day lives. We
need to make sure that
we take the opportunity
to focus on each of those
students and each of
those schools – every PHOTO/DAVID_FRANKLIN
time! sometimes be pervasive in our communities. We have a responsibility
Recently, we have seen articles surrounding Arizona’s special to bring the conversations back to every student, every school, every
education funding gaps among our students and between our time. One of the core ethical standards at AASBO is, “Make the well-
public schools – a story that our own Anabel Aportela helped to being of all students, sta and fellow members a fundamental value
provide ample research. We have seen articles about nancial in all decision-making and actions.”
accountability in charter schools and around recruitment, retention When we have discussions surrounding education, among
and compensation for teachers. ourselves or with others, take them out to a school and show them
ese are important topics and they need to be addressed. But what is going on in your classrooms. Even when you or your sta
even with that type of blistering information about our schools, get a little down in the dumps about what you are doing, go out to
we need to make sure we take a step back to focus on how these a school and see the di erence you are making. Believe me – the
conversations impact each of our students’ ability to learn and engage power of a smile from a student, whether they are 5 or 15, is like
in their schools. e answers tend to be obvious and as school business nothing in the world to make you feel amazing about what you do.
o cials we tend to gure them out relatively easily. However, how It is easy to get caught up in the adult arguments surrounding
o en do we make sure that part of the questions we ask ourselves are what is lacking in our schools and to brush up against people who
– how does what I do impact the life of our students? don’t believe in what you believe. When that happens, invite them
With all of the conversations going on around us we need to onto your campuses, tell them about your schools, and let them know
make sure that every single conversation is an advocacy message for that it’s about every student, every school, every time! ank you as
our students. We need to help break the cycle of cynicism that can always for what YOU do! ¡Adelante!

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