We employees at Maize USD 266 kicked off the school year last week with an all-district staff convocation. Just joining the district in July, it was my first opportunity to get our entire staff together in one place.

We honored colleagues who have worked tirelessly at Maize Schools for up to 40 years. (Impressive!) I talked a bit about myself and my family and provided updates on some big-picture district projects, including our $70.7 million bond issue. We discussed the importance of supporting our Maize Education Foundation, and you can find updates about all of those topics below.

I also spoke at last week's all-district meeting about my vision for Maize Schools.

There we were, new employees like me (including 30 teachers new to Maize Schools and 12 first-year teachers) alongside our USD 266 veterans who have walked these halls and impacted our students' lives for decades.

As a group, we handle all sorts of elements of the district: We drive buses, prepare school lunches, work the front offices, maintain the buildings, keep the schools clean and safe and more. In the coming days and weeks, we will be teaching 3-year-olds how to sit criss-cross applesauce; helping our students factor polynomials; coaching our tweens and teens on various sports fields and in life; encouraging them to be good students and students of good character; and making sure our high school seniors are looking ahead toward their futures after they leave our classrooms.

We work at schools in Maize and others in Wichita. Regardless of those differences, we are all part of one team that has one common goal: Our students are all of our responsibility. Their tomorrow is hinged on us collectively today. Competition is healthy, but when it comes to preparing kids to be productive and thriving adults, education and school employees must all work in the same direction. There cannot be losers in that game.

That's why, with the feedback and guidance of my administrative staff members, I launched the OneMa1ze vision. It's not about who among us is best. It's about all of us being our best together. It's about complementing each other's strengths. This ties in nicely with my "What is best for our students?" guiding mantra that I shared with you on my first day of work at Maize. We can achieve the best for our students when we work cooperatively and cohesively, when we work as OneMa1ze.

It's been exciting to see staff members and parents alike use #OneMa1ze in various capacities already, including on social media. I especially loved your first-day-of-school photos that you shared with that hashtag, including one parent who shared a photo of her Maize South High School senior and her Maize High School freshman. Her tweet included, "Bring it on 2015/16!"

As OneMa1ze, we have great things ahead. Bring it on, indeed.
 

Sincerely,

  

Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools