President’s
Perspective
again of teacher for their own children while trying to work?
Although this is a trite quote often used, I feel
Should they be trying to secure
that School Year 20-21 will be the year where
babysitting just in case? Are their children going to have irreparable
kindness is critical to our success, more than any other year. Kindness is a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant
gaps in their education? For many parents, there has been an
disposition, and concern and consideration for others.
In an article in Psychology Today, by Dr. Karyn
Hall, she explains that “Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
Affection,
gentleness, warmth, concern, and care are words that are associated with kindness.
While kindness has a
connotation of meaning someone is naïve or weak, that is not the case.
Being kind often requires courage and
strength. Kindness is an interpersonal skill.”
Kindness includes being kind to yourself, as administrators.
It is critical to find ways to manage our
own stress, so that we can make the best decisions possible for our schools, teachers and students. Sometimes, we have to get pretty creative when it comes
enjoy nature, cook a meal, work in the garden, take
stakeholders are on edge
a "fun" class, take the weekend off, exercise, or
and feel an unprecedented
plan special outside activities. Of course, some of
Teachers
these would raise stress levels for a few of us, but
are concerned with how best
the key is find what works for you and plan time for
to keep their students and
yourself. As we are called upon to make quick decisions, don’t forget to hear the voices of all your
themselves safe, while providing a strong classroom educational experience that
stakeholders and move forward with kindness.
could be aborted at any
Whatever our school year looks like, we need to be
time and moved, in a blink of an eye, to online learning. Teachers are concerned with including enough review from possible lost learning and staying true to their own grade level standards. Teachers are pondering the best ways to safely incorporate Many teachers
have been spending their summer trying to prepare for the unknown. Teachers need our flexibility and kindness. Parents are concerned on many levels. Will their children
August 2020
an extra measure of kindness.
friends, make time to laugh, listen to music, read,
so much unrest, many of our
be safe at school?
due to our current situation. Parents, for sure, will need
suggestions: spend fun time with family and
with so many unknowns and
experiences outside of the classroom.
additional burden of financial strain
to finding ways to battle the stress. Here are a few
As we begin our school year
amount of stress.
Debbie Atkinson AAEA Board President Elementary Principal Bergman School District
calm leaders for our students, staff, and parents. We need to be there for each other as we communicate concerns and successes. We need to face our issues with as much kindness as possible.
There will be many
obstacles, but we can overcome them if we always remember to put our students’ needs first and infuse our decisions with kindness. No matter what position we hold, I believe that we are right where God has placed us to positively impact the lives of our students.
Will they have to take on the role
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