16 school visits in one day is my new personal best on the 2nd day of school 2016-17. It was the first full day of school for students!! Scroll Down for Pictures Below. Salina Elementary, Salina Intermediate, Miller, Cotter, Geer Park, Snow, Stout, Henry Ford, Woodworth, William Ford, Fordson, Lowrey, Becker, Maples, Oakman and McDonald.
My visits started at 8am with a flag hanging ceremony at Salina Elementary. I then proceeded to visit Salina Intermediate and walkthrough classes. Miller Elementary was next on my list as a visited students practicing lunchroom procedures. A quick walk across the parking lot and I observed parents registering students for pre-school at Cotter. On the way back to ASC I stopped by Geer Park and visited with staff and students. Kindergarten students were practicing lunchroom procedures. I grabbed a coffee and went back to Central office to quickly move some of my boxes into my office. We had a temporary office all summer at ASC so it was nice to get back into the Superintendent Complex. I then went to Snow and visited with students and faculty. Next, I stopped by Stout to meet with office faculty and the principal. I also spoke to students in the hallway. The next school was Henry Ford. I walked through the hallways, visited with office staff, students and teachers. I spoke to the principal and attempted to assist him with temperature issues on the hot day. I discussed the hot day everywhere that I went and I realize the heat made it tough on all. Woodworth was the 3rd middle school and 9th school that I visited on this day. I visited with students, administrators and went to the new cafeteria that opened this school year. BTW, I admit that I continued to collect selfies without a selfie stick. Lol. I need to remember to bring that stick with me.
Prior to 12pm I reached my 10th school William Ford and I met with the principal and students in the cafeteria. 10 school visits was my personal best in one day from the 15-16 school year. Again, I believe that visibility in buildings is critical and I always make sure that I spend the majority of my days in schools. Just after 12pm I reached Fordson and I now had a new record 11 and the day was only half over. However, it felt like a full day due to the heat and the number of schools that I had visited throughout the day. BTW, I am not at all competitive. 🙂
The Fordson faculty and administration were doing an outstanding job with the students. I visited with them in the hallways and the cafeteria. Of course I took a selfie with all administrators and students in the background. Students were already trying to negotiate snow days on this hot day. I did think that was humorous as they could not even wait until summer was over. They should have asked me to cancel school due to heat instead of negotiating for potential snow days in the future. lol.
Lowrey was the next school on my list. I met with the principal Ms. Younes as she was planning for the the promotion of the Upstander Pledge. I also spoke to faculty and students in the hallway. The last visit for the early afternoon was Becker Elementary. Ms. Hassan gave me a tour of the classrooms and I met with kindergarten students and parents. Next I decided to take a little break to get some lunch before heading back to ASC to address the food service staff in the school district. I gave a powerpoint presentation on District goals and initiatives before the staff prior to heading to Maples Elementary for the “meet the Principal event” with parents. Ms. Peterson started the meeting since my schedule was tight and when I arrived the new principal Ms. Jakubik was in the process of addressing the parents. I addressed the parents, spoke to some parents and spoke with the Engineer Mr. Guido. He was kind enough to give us some cold water. Boy was it hot at that point. Again, I know that many of our schools were extremely hot.
Following the Maples meeting I went to Oakman elementary and met with parents, students and the principal Mr. Abu-Rus who was addressing students in the media center and promoting the Upstander Bullying Prevention Pledge. My last visit of the day and my 16th school was McDonald Elementary. I arrived during dismissal time as the principal, faculty and student safeties were ensuring that traffic was moving in a safe manner and that students were provided a safe environment as they left for the day.
Whew!!! now I was really hot and tired like many of our faculty and students during the day. However, it was also a great day and I was proud not just because I beat my personal best with 16 school visits in one day, I was proud because of the great work and commitment by our faculty and volunteers to provide for a great environment for our students, our parents and community. I was also proud of our students for their excitement and for the wonderful job that they did all day despite the extremely hot conditions during the day.
Before going to my son’s hockey game I made sure that I went home to take a shower. I was really looking forward to watching his game in that cold hockey arena. It was a great chance of pace and I was not worried about the heat.
