Friday, December 18, 2009

All I Want for Christmas is......

At this time of the year most people are caught up in the joy and frenzy of the holiday season. It is easy to believe, based on the commercials we see on television, that both we and our families will only be happy if we can buy the perfect gift, cook the perfect dish, decorate the perfect tree/house. I recently asked members of my family if they could name for me their best Christmas gift and, I really shouldn't have been surprised to find out, all of them responded that they couldn't cite any gift. While all of them have favorite foods (sausage balls and hot cheese dip), they didn't really talk about that either. They didn't even mention the wonderful decorations that took days of my time to prepare. To a person, they all said the same time. We remember spending the entire day together, eating good food, playing games with each other, and having time together to really enjoy each other. Obviously, Christmas is more than things. It is a time for church, family, and friends. So, this year I have decided to make a different list of the things I want for Christmas. All I want for Christmas is.....

1. I want 100% of our students to graduate and have plans for education or training beyond a k - 12 education.
2. I want our attendance rate to soar because our students can't wait to get to school every day.
3. I want parents to be excited about their children's education and for parents to partner with teachers to ensure that students learn the knowledge and skills they need to be successful.
4. I want our children to realize the pitfalls of substance abuse and to rigorously rebut efforts of those who want to ensnare them in this trap.
5. I want all students to feel that their teacher(s) care about them as a student and as a person.
6. I want our students' families to find jobs that allow them to provide for their children and feel good about themselves as a parent/provider.
7. I want our schools to be places where teachers are happy and excited about their work and they feel valued for their hard work and expertise.
8. I want our facilities to be organized into creative learning environments with adequate space, technology, equipment, and supplies.
9. I want everyone at our schools to feel safe and secure at all times.
10. Most of all, I want all the students of Middlesboro Independent Schools to become happy, productive, involved citizens who want to live, work, and play in our community.

About Me

Dr. Rita Cook, Superintendent of Middlesboro Independent School District, has over 35 years of experience in education. She has taught all grade levels and been an administrator for the last 22 years.