2008 CONVOCATION ADDRESS

by Pete Scully

 

Good Morning, My name is Pete Scully and I am the President of the Worthington Education Association.

 

I want to thank you before I start my speech.

 

Thank you for making the completion of my first year as WEA President possible.  I was truly humbled by the level of support and gratitude that you showed me this past year.

 

I also want to apologize.

 

I want to apologize for contributing to one of the three worst moments of the summer.  For me those moments used to be (let people see your hand and count 1, 2, and 3 with each one) the letter from the superintendent, the letter from my building principal, and the letter for the WEA Executive Board Retreat.  They were all painful reminders of the end of summer.  At this point, I am sure you have transitioned from distress to excitement for the year ahead…and what an important year it will be.

 

We have some serious challenges ahead of us as educational leaders.  That’s right, I said “us.”  We are all educational leaders.  Leadership occurs and is necessary at all levels of our organization.  As we become firmly planted in the 21st century, I have some uncomfortable challenges to offer each level of our organization.

 

For the teachers and staff members:

 

In the face of Educational Reform at the local, state and national levels, it is critical that you step up and lead.  You must take risks, you must be vocal, you must advocate for students and staff, and you must be willing to weather the storms of change.

 

For the building administrators:

 

You must abandon 20th century lecture-style professional development and a focus on chain of command.  Empowering your staff as leaders, providing them time to collaborate and ceding some decision-making authority will only make you a stronger leader and will produce the innovation and creativity you so desperately seek for your school.

 

For the district administrators:

 

You must shift the focus from retaining Management Rights to a focus of supporting, nurturing, placing, and developing staff to provide the highest quality of instruction.  That support has many forms, but must require action and a commitment of resources when necessary.

 

For the Board of Education:

 

As a policy-making body, you must be thoughtful, progressive, and deliberate in crafting that policy. The public, including the vast majority of people in this room, expects no less.  It is critical that once the policy is set, the staff and administration will be empowered and able to implement it.

 

For the Community:

 

It is clear that education is highly valued in the Worthington Community.  To maintain and improve the opportunities that Worthington offers, it is incumbent upon you to maintain your involvement.  You must pay attention to decisions at the local, state and national levels, voice your opinion to your representatives and stand for nothing short of excellence in Worthington.  Finances and ideology have the potential to erode what our predecessors have created, rather than build upon it.  Leave your mark, get involved, and help make uncontested Board races a thing of the past.

 

 

The excitement, the potential, the skills and the pride are brimming in this room.  What would it look like if we all had the confidence, trust, and desire to work together?  What would student growth, achievement, and success be?  How would relationships change?  What would discussions be about?  How quiet would the voices of our nay-sayers be?

 

It is within our grasp, we just need to reach out and grab hold.

 

Thank you.  Have a great school year.