We Call Him Astronaut Nelson

“Many can be a politician, but few have been to space.”

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting again with U.S. Senator Bill Nelson at the DEC Annual FDR/JFK Dinner.

Prior to my meetings with Senator Nelson, or in casual conversation, my wife will always correct the way we refer to him by saying, “you mean Astronaut Nelson”.  My wife says, “Many can be a politician, but few have been to space.”  You see my wife and I were 80s generation children.  In 1986 when we were in high school, Bill Nelson, a U.S. Congressman at the time, became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first member of the House) to travel into space as the Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia‘s STS-61-C mission. The crew spent 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 51 seconds in space from January 12th to 18th, 1986. Interestingly it was also the last successful Space Shuttle flight before the Challenger accident.  The Challenger disaster occurred only 10 days after, then Congressman Nelson’s return on Columbia.  For my wife and me those that have been to space, like Senator Nelson, represent among many things the pride we have for successes of our magnificent country.  That evening “Astronaut Nelson” was kind enough to sign a copy of his official NASA photograph for my wife’s classroom.

If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Senator Nelson I would encourage you, if the opportunity presents itself, to take advantage of it.  He is a caring, educated and well-spoken American who loves our state and nation.  Senator Nelson served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1971.  He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1979 and served there until 1991.  In the 2000 Senator Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate and was re-elected in 2006 and 2012.

During his speech he spoke about the change in Washington D.C. as both sides have become so “polarized” in the last many years.  He explained that in the past those of opposite political sides of the aisle could disagree and debate on how to accomplish issues but that they were all generally focused on goals that were positive for our country.  Unfortunately, he explained, now it is often more about winning a fight than doing what is best.  He expressed the need for more to have the “Art of Compromise” if we are to continue to be a successful nation.  Senator Nelson’s speech reminded me of Edmund Burke’s quote, “All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.”

If you do have a chance to meet Senator Nelson in the future I would also encourage you, when you see him, to thank him for his service in the military, Florida Legislator and the U.S. Congress, and don’t forget to refer to him as “Astronaut Nelson”.

Comments Off on We Call Him Astronaut Nelson
Filed under: News & Updates

Pleasant Grove Elementary Celebrates 25 Year of Serving Students!

Comments Off on PGE 25th Anniversary Celebration
Filed under: News & Updates

TRC to the Rescue

“Able to save high stakes test in a single visit…”

The heart of technology for our school system is inarguably the Technology Resource Center (TRC); its staff fills many roles to ensure our students, teachers, staff and schools have their ever increasing technology needs met.  These people are often not as visible because they work behind the scenes safeguarding networks to assure that they are operational and seeing that computer hardware and software are operating as needed.  When all is running smoothly these people often don’t get the recognition or fanfare but when things fail (as they eventually will), they work tirelessly to get the systems up and running again.

This week I learned of a situation which is an example of the commitment these team members demonstrate working for our students and our district.  One of our high school students was taking an extremely important high school, high-stakes computer test which would have far- reaching academic implications.  As the student finished taking Part I of the test every student, teacher and parent’s worst nightmare occurred. The computer screen went blank and the system shut down!   The testing software system provides a backup but, since the computer itself appeared to have crashed, the entire test and results were likely lost.  The testing coordinator, Melissa Zaniewski, contacted the TRC and Instructional Technology Director, Dr. Mike Geddes, to get one of Citrus County School’s own “Geek Force” (a.k.a. Technology System Support Specialist) to look into the problem.

Technology System Support Specialist Craig Fischofer was assigned to diagnose the cause of the problem.  When Mr. Fischofer realized the critical nature of the situation and that a student’s test depended on the restoration of the computer he put his other tasks aside to work on the computer.  Mr. Fischofer took the system apart to determine what might have failed, while at the same time ensuring protection of the hard drive and data on the computer. This would also result in protecting the students’ tests.

What made this data restoration even more significant was that this high school test was another one of those necessary tests a student needs to graduate. The student was most discouraged, but Ms. Zaniewski continued to encourage the student and reminded him that all may not be lost and that TRC was working on it.  Ms. Zaniewski was optimistic as she offered him hope and support. The student continued to be even more discouraged and wanted to start all over.  If the student were to give up taking this test, there would be no chance for him to obtain a high school diploma.

Mr. Fischofer was determined to dismantle the system and resolve the problem as quickly as possible.  He discovered that the hard drive appeared to be working properly but that the motherboard was “fried”.  Mr. Fischofer carefully removed the hard drive from the fried computer and installed the hard drive into another desktop computer and…  Part I of the test was safe. Part I of the test was then submitted and the student was able to move to Part II and subsequently completed the test.

The student’s test was safe and the student’s graduation is now possible because of caring and dedicated people that beginning with the teacher, continuing with the testing coordinator, and ending with an often unrecognized and so valuable department and team, the TRC Technology Team– or as I affectionately and respectfully refer to them– “The Geeks”!

Thank you TRC for all those occasions when we  have  not  acknowledged or shown our appreciation to you when you are out there making sure that things operate correctly, especially at those critical times.

For those “Geeks” that read this I want to just share, “It takes one to know one!”

Comments Off on TRC to the Rescue
Filed under: News & Updates