Built to Surpass

This year's theme for Corcoran Unified means is relevant for us more than at any time.  We are "Built to Surpass!"

Surpass: “to go beyond in amount, extent, or degree; be greater than; exceed. to go beyond in excellence or achievement; be superior to; excel: to be beyond the range or capacity of; transcend:”

Here is our challenge:

Are we going to complain, add to the confusion, despair and negativity?

Or?

Are we going to be on the right side of history and take and make the opportunity to make incredible inroads into educational growth and change in the right direction for kids?

We have a great opportunity that defines us as a district as educators, as employees, as leaders, as influencers and as people who did the right thing and made a difference for our kids.  We can look back on this moment in our history and look back with pride and note, 

"We did the right thing, we did the harder thing, and our staff, our kids and our community are better off for it!"

We already see the heroism (yes I used the "H" word because that truly describes the people that work in our district) exhibited and demonstrated by support staff, food service workers, secretaries, administrators, teachers, custodians, grounds staff, nurses - everyone.  And, do you know what all of these heroes have in common?  Attitude.  

They are among the people in life who understand that life is 10% what happens to them and 90% of how they respond to what happens around them.  In other words, they keep on working and stay focused on their mission and are not dissuaded by circumstance, fear, rumor, negativity, etc.  

They stay on task and stay positive not moved by the naysayers that say we can't - they know better because not only we can, but we are and we will!

Up Close and Personal

Even though our district teaching staff is involved in “Distance Learning”, they and all of our support staff is up close and personal!

Our teachers come to their classrooms every day, preparing a learning environment that is much more than a laptop with a screen. Our teachers are doing everything possible to create a learning environment

that is engaging and interactive. They are using multiple devices, multiple cameras, and various screens to take advantage of all of the tools necessary to give our students the best learning opportunities under our current constraints.

Our support staff comes to work every day with open offices that continue to engage and communicate with our parents and community to make sure our student and parent-school experience are effective and positive. We have staff members who also safely visit homes to help verify students are online and registered.

Our grounds department continues to do a great job of keeping our grounds aesthetically attractive and clean, especially during a heat wave.

Many of our support staff continues to come to work every day to garner all the supplies and resources to ensure that we all work in a sanitized, clean, and safe work environment. We cannot take for granted everything that has been done to ensure this on all of our campuses and facilities. We can confidently say we have a safe work environment.

These people are not at a "distance" but are up close and personal to do their work to prepare for the time when students are no longer learning exclusively from a distance. The good news is the State has just recently allowed our staff to begin to work with small sets of students to receive in-person targeted, specialized support and services on campus under specific safe conditions. 

Even though our students are at a distance, our staff's hearts are closer to the hearts of our students and parents more than meets the eye.

We Owned It!

Who could have predicted we would end up owning a challenge that none of us could have ever dreamed of? Our theme for this school year has been "We Own it!" And, we ended up owning something much bigger than we expected.

When we discussed the theme for the 2019-2020 school year, we recognized the importance of our Personalized Learning Vision for the District:

We will partner with our students to own their learning, pursue their ambitions and achieve their goals.  

The words "Own Their Learning" stood out. When students take responsibility and own their learning, and as professionals own our responsibility to make sure every student learns and grows in their education, we have achieved what we set out to do. That is, we have created life-long learners who become bold to achieve and succeed in life.

With the pandemic crisis that forced our kids and staff to their homes to continue school, all of us did not have a choice. We had to own the challenges that come with a forced Distance Learning environment. What is so encouraging for our schools and community is our staff and students were ready for the challenge. We have already owned the challenge to make sure every child in our District has access to the technology need to learn anywhere in the world, let alone in their own home.

• Almost 100% of our students K-12 have had a state of the art device at home with Internet access.
• A vast majority of our staff has been trained to use technology that personalizes and leverages our students' learning.
• A vast majority of our staff are trained professionals to use technology for learning for all students in dynamic and different ways.
• Many of our staff members have been relentless to keep track of our kids and make sure they are caught up in their learning.
• Many staff members have been diligent in reaching out to students who have social, emotional needs and have been there for them even though distance and the virus have been a challenge.

The following words were written in describing our theme this school year and are almost prophetic in how we explain how we have "owned" this crisis:

We see the ownership that takes responsibility for the good, the bad and the indifferent and refuses to blame others.  We own the failures and reject excuses and faultfinding.  Problems are owned to be solve, and solutions are owned by all and shared to implement, succeed and celebrate!

If we own the story, then we can write the ending.

- Brene Brown

Looking back, we are proud of students and staff for taking ownership of the solution of doing everything possible to make sure our kids are safe and still learn, albeit from a distance.

This year is a year when we emphasize and promote our ability to "own our story" and thereby create the road and destiny built on our mission, vision, values, and lofty goals. When we own it, we call the shots and help everyone finish strong!