Page 5 - The Edge - Back to School 2018

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BY JILL BARRAGAN

Remembrances and Re ections

As I write this article, it is the time of year where the summer followed by contracts, AZMerit, the end of the school year — and
conference has just ended and we are gearing up for the start of another then another summer conference is upon us.
school year. And, as I re ect on a truly incredible time together in Yes, each year ies by faster and faster, as we o en concur when
Tucson, most salient to me is the gratitude I have for everyone who catching up with folks at the start of each year. However, we know
participated in the conference in any way: track chairs, session there is so much more that happens between all of these milestones
speakers, keynote speakers, special guests, conference attendees, in the annual cycle. ings other than those we see as “musts” to
AASBO sta , and others. It truly takes all of us to make a check o our to-do lists. So I ask you to remember and
conference come together and be successful. re ect on those things, too.
Sadly, the world around me continues to Remember the celebrations of our school
move at a hectic pace, so I don’t have sites for excellent AZMerit scores.
the luxury of lingering long on the Reflect on how well your audit
conference or the satisfaction I went last year. Remember the
feel in having the planning, celebration of years of service
preparation and execution for you or your fellow
of that huge event employees. Remember
behind me and under how many incredible
my belt. No, because students your district
what comes next is promoted to ninth
perhaps the most grade or graduated
important time from high school.
of any year in Reflect on the
every district and fact that they
charter across are our next
this great state. generation who
Supply ordering will do incredible
has ramped up, things beyond our
school renovations imagining, and
are being worked remember that you
on around the clock, played some part
cleaning up after in that. Reflect and
the latest monsoon remember why you do
is ongoing, student what you do on a daily
registrations are coming basis for your district. ose
in at a feverish pace, emails are the remembrances and
y back and forth, etc. All in an re ections that will put a smile on
e ort to ensure everything is perfect our faces and get us through this day
for the students who are arriving daily – and on to the next one. It’s not the annual
and none of us has a moment to scarf down cycle that keeps us going, rather, it’s everything
our egg salad sandwich. that happens in between those milestones.
Nonetheless, I will pause just a moment to savor this special I’d like to pose a small challenge to each of you. At the next bi-
window of time. I am keenly aware of being smack dab between monthly, I ask that you stop me and share one of those things that’s
conference completion and the start of the school year. A moment not on your checklist or part of the cycle. Share with me what keeps
in time of our continuous annual cycle — a cycle which next brings you coming back each day, working and ghting hard for the best
audit, then AFR, the November elections, budget revision, then interests of our amazing students. I can’t wait to hear what you all
the next legislative session (I predict we’ll have another big year), have to share.

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