Earlier this week, my oldest son and I attended a course information night for the class of 2027 at the Monroe High School. During the event, held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., incoming students had the opportunity to meet with teachers, view presentations on available courses, and tour the building. The event was a great opportunity for the kids to try to figure out what high school courses they were interested in, but what struck me most about the evening was the interactions with the teaching staff. What I saw this past Wednesday was passion! There is no other way to describe it. Every teacher we spoke with displayed excitement for their given subject matter and a genuine interest in the kids’ questions and concerns. It was honestly beyond what I would have thought possible in the evening after having already spent a full day teaching. The following poem by Rudyard Kipling is a perfect summary of how I felt leaving the high school this past Wednesday:
No written word
Nor spoken plea
Can teach our youth
What they should be.
Nor all the books
On all the shelves.
It’s what the teachers
Are themselves.
As I think about my decision to pursue an opportunity to serve as a member of the Monroe School District board of education, I find it is important to recognize that the most important and impactful resource any school district has is it’s educators.