Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1419437
As a teacher, I have always enjoyed back to school season. Students and educators are excited about the possibilities in the year ahead. This year, we are still facing head-on the challenges and stress of providing high-quality education to Wyoming students, even in the face of the danger and uncertainty brought about by COVID-19. Being optimistic and planning for what we all hoped might be a "regular" y ear has turned out to be anything but regular. You haven't let that deter you. You've continued to persevere and do what you have always done for your students: provide a safe learning environment and change lives. Now, more than ever, it is support and kindness that must prevail. We all know that in-person instruction is the best option for students and staff alike. To remain in person, we must come toget her to do whatever it takes to keep all students and staff safe and healthy. To this end, I ask that we begin with one simple, powerful thing: kindness. I ask all stakeholders to consider kindness as the compass we use to navigate our path forward. In an era being characterized by conflict—partisan conflict, class conflict, and conflicts of belief—I'm urging educators to shift the focus from conflict to ki ndness. Grounding our thoughts and actions in kindness will help us show our students, colleagues, and communities the respect, support, and, ultimately, the gratitude they need and deserve. These are the same principles I employed in my classroom at the beginning of every year, all year long, every single year. I did this so that we could become a strong, respectful learning community and pursue all the possibilities together that await us each new school year. I ask that we all come together as one kind, respectful community that supports educators and students across the state of Wyoming. We can do this. We should do this. We must do this. We know that every school employee plays a vital role in the education of our students. Through it all, please know how much I admire you: I admire your dedication a nd your resiliency. I admire your ability to rise above the chaos and conflict we're all seeing in so many facets of life and society. I admire your willingness to work tirelessly at shaping our future generations with a passionate purpose and a kind heart. F R O M T H E D E S K O F P R E S I D E N T H U T C H E R S O N Grady Hutcherson President, WEA ghutcherson@wyoea.org (307) 532-1731 Thank you, Celebrate World Kindness Day on Saturday, November 13th. Find inspiration and activities to mark the day in your life and classroom at randomactsofkindness.org. 4