Superintendent Chad Struhs reminds district employees of their responsibilities to the children.

            Over the past month, employees of the Blackfoot School District have been preparing for the return of students to the classrooms. Part of that preparation was a meeting held in the BPAC auditorium on August 27 for all district staff. In the meeting, MVMS Principal Todd Lauritsen recognized the 2012-2013 Teachers and Inviting Employees of the Year.

           Blackfoot Education Association Co-President Jackie Bombard encouraged us to respond positively to the current conditions in education, using an analogy of a carrot, an egg and coffee. Each of those things respond differently to boiling water: the carrot goes soft, the egg stiffens, but the coffee changes the water into an appealing beverage. Comparing the stresses of our jobs to hot water, she called on us to respond to those stresses by changing our working environments for the better. She then presented this year's BEA officers.

           In a presentation that was brief but to the point, Superintendent Chad Struhs called on us all to consider our work in light of metaphors taken from the recent animated movie Rise of the Guardians. During the movie it becomes clear that the guardians have become overwhelmed and distracted by their day-to-day responsibilities. Although they are charged with protecting the world's children from evil, the appearance of an actual child in their midst confounds and flabbergasts them. Struhs called on teachers to guard against suffering a similar fate. He said "don't get so caught up in the mechanics of teaching that we forget what education is about." MVMS History Teacher Jason Winward appreciated the irony of being too busy helping children to make time for a child. Commenting on the presentation afterward he said "we need to take a step backward to make sure our efforts are not in vain."

           Reflecting on the character of the Sandman, Superintendent Struhs warned against the negative effects that outside pressures from government and society can have on the dreams of our children, and called on each teacher to stay mindful of the core motivation which drove them to work in education. "Let us keep the hopes and dreams alive," he said. He then challenged all of us to remember that we take on a sacred charge in the guardianship of the children entrusted to our care.

           "I thought it was a very good meeting. Jackie did a great job with her speech! I appreciated Chad's presentation," said Librarian Tamera Hickman, who works at Ridge Crest and Wapello. BHS Social Studies Teacher Valerie Williams agreed: "Very inspiring! It gave me pause to stop and think: what is my center and how can I find it?" Language Arts Teacher Traci Kirby, also at BHS, said that both presentations "were positive and made me feel like what I do as a teacher is important. What makes us who we are as educators? When we find ourselves, we need to give it to the children."

            On August 21, administrators and teachers in the Blackfoot School District attended a special training session. Educational consultant Pete Hall prepared the district to use its new corps of instructional coaches. An instructional coach is an on-site professional developer who collaborates with educators to identify and assist with implementation of proven teaching methods.

           In addressing us, Hall emphasized the central role of teachers in student achievement. Those charged with mentoring and helping the teachers to improve must look to their unique qualities. Changing habits is hard work, he said, but it can be done. 

Pete Hall shares his philosophy with the new instructional coaches.

           Originally, Mr. Hickman hoped to secure funding through a grant to help run the class, but even without it, he has high hopes for what the students will accomplish.

            The power and agility of young minds bent to a task of their choosing may never cease to amaze the alert observer. It is wonderfully apparent in the earnest enthusiasm these students show towards learning and discussing the principles presented in the classroom. Their work will be something to watch for.