Articles by the Superintendent
Smartphones and social media are significant components of our daily lives. While technology offers significant benefits, including instant communication, access to information, and educational resources, it also presents challenges that parents and educators must navigate carefully. In schools, we see firsthand the advantages and concerns that these tools present.
As we welcome 2026 and prepare to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday later this year, it is fitting to remember that public education is one of our nation’s most enduring promises. Long before test scores, funding formulas, or political debates, our Founding Fathers understood that educating all citizens is crucial to protecting and sustaining a representative democracy. Thomas Jefferson wrote that an educated public is “a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” John Adams and Benjamin Franklin echoed that sentiment, noting that the liberty of a republic could not be preserved without general knowledge among the people.
As we enter this season of giving, one of the most meaningful gifts we can offer each other costs nothing. Human beings are wired for relationships and connecting with other people. Even the most introverted among us need meaningful interactions in our lives. In a season built around togetherness, let’s reflect on how connection shapes not only our own lives, but also our schools and community.
Last month, my wife and I were honored to attend an awards banquet at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga. The celebration was in honor of an outstanding group of educators from around the region who were completing a year-long education fellowship at the Center. Northwest High School history teacher David Veve received the inaugural General B.B. Bell Teacher Fellowship Award for his exemplary work and leadership as a fellow in the program. General Bell, whom we had the pleasure of sitting and talking with at dinner, demonstrated both gratitude and humility as he seemed equally surprised and honored by the inaugural award being named for him and his contributions to the Center's programs.
Behind every successful school is a principal who leads with compassion and determination. October is National Principals Month and a perfect time to celebrate these leaders for all they do. Those of us in the education field fully understand and appreciate the numerous tasks and responsibilities that principals eagerly undertake to support student success. Today’s principals have far-reaching responsibilities that consistently require more hours than the workday provides.