A perusal around Dr. Clay’s EMSD#63 Blog-site tells a great deal about the disconnect between some educators and education. Let me show you what I mean.
On January 24th, 2011 Dr. Clay wrote…
| “Congratulations Gemini Students |
| Congratulations goes out to the Gemini Jazz Band and the Jazz Combo for two excellent performance at the North Shore Jazz Festival. All of the judges and clinicians were amazed with how well they performed for a junior high band. Not only did the jazz band earn a first division superior rating from all three judges, but with a nearly perfect score, they also won second place overall out of the nearly 20 junior high school performing groups. An additional congratulations goes out to Kevin Alba who was one of only 5 junior high students to earn recognition as an outstanding soloist.” |
On January 14th, 2011 Dr. Clay wrote…
| “Congratulations District 63 Schools! |
| Six of our schools have been recognized by the Illinois Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Network for reaching one of five levels of implementation during the 2009-2010 school year (start-up, emerging, implementing, fully implemented, exemplar). Emerging
Implementing
A big thank you to all staff members for making PBIS work in our district. Special thanks to Lori Naumowicz (our external coach), all of the internal coaches, and the principals for leading the way in this endeavor.” |
On November 15th, 2010 Dr. Clay wrote…
| “School Board Member Day: November 15, 2010 |
| School board members are ordinary people who wear many different hats in their everyday lives. They might be farmers or bankers, homemakers or doctors, truck drivers or professors, business owners or retirees. But they all put on the same hat when they get to the board room. It’s a hat that represents an extraordinary dedication to our public schools and it’s time we thanked them for their untiring efforts. The time school board members spend in board meetings represents just a fraction of the actual hours that they devote to leading the district. They attend meetings and seminars to learn how to be better board members. They attend extracurricular events to support our schools. And often they are involved in other community activities, representing themselves, our community, and our district. School board members are charged with a unique job. They must listen to the voices of their community and then craft a vision, mission, and goals for the district that accurately reflect those voices in the design. They must guard two of the community’s most precious resources – our children and our tax dollars – while they create the best educational environment possible with the money available. Too often school board members are criticized without people having a full understanding of all the details that went into their decisions. As result, the efforts of school board members often go unrecognized and unrewarded. November 15, 2010, has been designated as School Board Member Day in Illinois. This is a time to show appreciation and to begin to better understand how school board members work together to provide leadership for schools. Join with others from throughout Illinois in a “tip of the hat” to the men and women who provide the grassroots governance of public schools. Thank you Jane, John, Steve, Janet, Walter, Tom and Sheila for all you do for the children of East Maine School District 63!” |
On November 9th, 2010 Dr. Clay wrote…
| “American Education Week |
| At the November 3rd meeting of the Board of Education, the following resolution was passed in honor of American Education Week, November 14-20, 2010.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of East Maine School District 63, WHEREAS, public schools are the backbone of our democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation’s precious values of freedom, civility, and equality; and WHEREAS, by equipping young Americans with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities, schools give them hope for, and access to, a productive future; and WHEREAS, education employees – be they custodians or teachers, bus drivers or librarians – work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism; and WHEREAS, in recognition of their contributions to education, November 17 has been identified as National Education Support Professionals Day and November 19 as Substitute Educators Day; and WHEREAS, schools are community linchpins, bringing together adults and children, educators and volunteers, business leaders and elected officials in a common enterprise, and WHEREAS, the Board of Education supports this year’s American Education Week theme of “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility” NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Education serving the East Maine School Community does hereby proclaim observation of American Education Week, November 14-20, 2010, and urges all educators and citizens to observe this week with appropriate activities to further renew their commitment to the education of every child.” |
On October 21st, 2010 Dr. Clay wrote…
| “Principal Appreciation Day! |
| October 22nd is Principal Appreciation Day! Below is a resolution adopted by the school board in honor of these hard working people in our district. There are only 10 principals and assistant principals in District 63, but the effect they have on our students, staff, and families is immeasurable. Principal Appreciation DayResolution
WHEREAS, principals make public schools great; and WHEREAS, principals work to open students’ minds to ideas, knowledge and dreams, and WHEREAS, principals keep American democracy alive by laying the foundation for good citizenship; and WHEREAS, principals fill many roles, as listeners, explorers, role models, motivators and mentors; and WHEREAS, principals continue to influence us long after our school days are only memories; NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that October 22, 2010 is hereby recognized as Principal Appreciation Day, and that this state-endorsed occasion honors the work and commitment of principals and assistant principals in school throughout Illinois and acknowledges the leadership provided by these administrators.” |
Should taxpayers and parents also join in the fun?
EMSD#63 - Adequate Yearly Progress Results
Data derived from Illinois Interactive Report Cards
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Dr. Clay’s posts serve no purpose other than inflate success-starved egos. So now the Board can feel better about itself. Same with the principals, teachers and support personnel. Too bad, at least when it comes to academic achievement, Dr. Clay isn’t able to do the same “for the children”.
Finally
Based on my experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone does the best they can, all the time, no matter what the endeavor. I believe no one enters into any enterprise with the intention of failure.
If my belief is true, then it will be impossible, with EMSD#63’s current personnel and leadership to succeed.
One can not do better than their best, no matter how much additional tax money they get.
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