School Visits

The best part of my work

Whenever I am asked what the favorite part of my work I don’t ever have to hesitate, I immediately say, “visiting schools”. A former school board member, Patience Nave, gave me an important bit of advice. Mrs. Nave said, “Whenever you get flustered or need to be reminded who is most important in a decision, get in your car and go to one of the schools and visit the students and it will all become much clearer.” Visiting the schools and students is not only my favorite part, it also greatly helps me to see the results of the decisions we make at the board level.

On Wednesday I went to Hernando Elementary School (HES). I checked in at the front desk (yes, even school board members have to get scanned in to Raptor at the front desk), and started walking around the school. It wasn’t long before I turned a corner and saw Principal Laura Manos, along with Superintendent Sam Himmel, and Assistant Superintendent Mike Mullen all visiting the classrooms. Ms. Himmel immediately asked if I would like to join them. I want to explain that School Superintendents and School Board Members have very different roles. When we are at schools we are there in different capacities. In an effort to be sensitive to that, I did not want to interfere with Ms. Himmel’s visit so I responded, “Would it be ok?” Ms. Himmel didn’t hesitate a moment. “Absolutely”, she responded. It is important to understand that Ms. Himmel works hard to have a positive working relationship with the School Board Members. It is often that respectful relationship which allows for the Superintendent and School Board to be such an effective School Leadership Team for our students and schools. As we traveled from classroom to classroom it was clear that Ms Himmel has a positive relationship with both her principals’ teaching staff and any other school staff. What is also clear is how much Ms. Himmel loves the kids. There wasn’t a classroom that we went in that she didn’t find a student that clearly touched her heart or with whom she would find something to identify with. One classroom in particular had two lovely 4th grade young ladies sitting across from one another. What I noticed first was the cool eyeglasses that they both had on. This is often the case with me as my own daughter, Genevieve, is a 3rd grader and has worn glasses since she was three. What I didn’t notice until a moment later was that both girls looked alike and were in fact twins. It was just then that Ms. Himmel walked up to their desks. I got a big smile on my face as I knew what was going to happen next. Ms. Himmel began to share with them that she too is a twin. Ms. Himmel told them what she often tells people when she talks about being a twin, “If you see me doing something you don’t like I want you to know that it wasn’t me that was doing it… it was my twin sister!” The girls seemed to like learning that she was a twin too. As we finished visiting the other classrooms at HES Ms. Himmel would not leave the school before making sure she stopped by the cafeteria to visit “her Ladies”, as she said. Whether it is the janitor, bus driver, administrator, teacher, secretary, classroom aid, or anyone in the school system, they can be sure that “Sam” will stop by to check on them when she can.

One of coolest things I enjoy doing when I am visiting the schools is looking at the “Educational Archiving” (a.k.a. “Student Work”) displayed on the walls of the schools. It often provides me with a little insight into both the classroom teacher and the student’s life outside of school. Some of the pictures here are just a couple of the works I found this week.

I am regularly telling students when I am speaking to them, “When you see me at your schools walking around the halls, stop me, tell me what you’re doing in school, tell me what you like, what you don’t like, and what we can do to help provide you with a better school”.

Homosassa Elementary School's 1st grade Music class with Teacher Donna Olsen

Citrus Springs Elementary's Ms. Jamie Barker Class work

Citrus Springs Elementary - Outside Ms. Anne Fleck's 3rd grade classroom

Comments Off on School Visits
Filed under: News & Updates