International President’s Message

Begin with the end in mind. Habit 2 from Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has been a principle that has guided me since I studied this book in my days as a student of School Administration and Leadership. We are now coming to the end of the 2019-2021 biennium. Looking back, does the end look like I imagined? I had a number of goals. Our team has been committed to achieving those goals.

Breathe… just breathe. These were the first two words I uttered after being installed as the International President of Alpha Delta Kappa. I didn’t realize I said them out loud. It was only hours later when I received a text from a dear Alpha Delta Kappa sister who had written to tell me just how much those words meant to her. You see, she could not travel to Minneapolis as she was battling the severe effects of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. A chapter member live-streamed the installation to her via Facebook. Her son had said these very words to her just hours before. We had a new connection that was more special than either of us imagined. We talked a number of times during the past two years, always starting the conversation with, Breathe … just breathe. Unfortunately, Judy Fogle has joined the Omega chapter, and she will be honored in the Memorial Service during the 2021 International Convention.

The 2019-2021 biennium has been fraught with challenges almost from the beginning. I cannot begin to estimate how many times I have told a fellow International Chapter member, an S/P/N leader, an International Committee Chairman or a sister …Breathe …just breathe. When we started this biennium, we had no idea of the trials we would face. Goals were added. But each challenge brought about growth for both our leaders and our members. In fact, our members have CONNECTed like never before. Sisters who barely used email previously have come to rely on ZOOM to simply stay in touch with family, friends and sisters. Members have taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in A∆K events hundreds and even thousands of miles away, sometimes while still in their pajamas. It has been heartwarming to regularly chat with our sisters in Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Australia.

The theme of this issue of the KAPPAN is Understanding Our World. The problems in our world over the past 18 months have prompted us to look within our own organization to under-

stand each other. While we still are committed to our work in Haiti, Peru, Viet Nam and future International World Understanding projects, we are just as committed to promoting selfawareness of inclusion and diversity among our membership. An International ad hoc committee was created to address this issue. The committee shared the results of a survey about practices within A∆K in the March KAPPAN. Some were surprising. Some were not. Some made me uncomfortable. As I have talked Judy Ganzert with sisters, I have learned much about myself, I have learned much about my sisters, and I realized I still have much to learn. I know we must do better. I am reminded of what Maya Angelou told us, “DO THE BEST YOU CAN UNTIL YOU KNOW BETTER. THEN, WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER.” I believe we will do better. In the past few months, I have seen evidence that we are beginning to make a difference. Our sisters are becoming more comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics. For the sister who told me she rarely saw anyone who looked like her in the KAPPAN or at the podium at state, regional, and international meetings, I hear that she sees a change. The sister who told me that she was told she could not be a leader now is speaking up and bringing her leadership talents front and center. As I have attended 2021virtual S/P/N spring meetings and Fun Days, I note that these same topics are being addressed, and there is a more diverse participation at these meetings. But, this is just a beginning. This summer, during our “Being Bold” Educational Symposium, one full day of learning sessions will be dedicated to the Diversity and Inclusion Pathway. The sessions offer a wide range of topics, including diversity, equity, and inclusion of race, sex, age, religion, and special needs within our classrooms, our organization, and our world. I am so grateful that a significant benefit of having a virtual convention is that we will have recordings of each of these sessions available to attendees even after the convention is over. This year, I don’t have to pick just one. As we come to the end of the biennium, I have a smile on my face as I feel that the work that has been done is moving Alpha Delta Kappa forward. It has prepared us for at least another 75 years of empowering women educators to advance inclusion, educational excellence, altruism and world understanding in a world that values diversity, all people, and quality education. Begin with the end in mind. We all have dreams. Please continue to dream. Imagine …. Believe … Act and … Achieve. Alpha Delta Kappa is a promise of infinite possibilities.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION EDUCATIONAL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM JULY 6 – 9, 2021 Being Bold: Empowered Pathways into Diversity, Learning, Leading, and Sisterhood