Leading in a Pandemic: Thank You, Board of Education

In a typical school year, November is one of our quietest months. Students and staff are settled into predictable classroom routines, sports seasons are wrapping up or just beginning, the days are shorter, and there is a calm in knowing that the holidays are right around the corner. As you may have guessed, this November feels a bit different.

I want to acknowledge that these have been difficult times for our collective community – we are worried about our own health or the health of our loved ones, confronting economic insecurity, working full time with children learning at home, or simply just doing our best to get by. I feel this viscerally. Our lives have changed so dramatically in a matter of months, and things continue to change. Still, November is a month of gratitude! So thank you — students, parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders, and neighbors — for continuing to do your part for Bristol's kids. Your creativity and commitment to our children is nothing short of astounding, and I am proud to be part of such a great community.

There is another group that is deserving of recognition and appreciation: seven community members who have worked quietly behind the scenes to ensure that Bristol students keep learning. The dedication displayed by the Bristol Board of Education is profound and inspiring to me as a school leader.

President Kelli White, Vice President Brian Turner, Secretary John McGee, Treasurer Elizabeth Francis and trustees Andrea Wentworth, Lorna Izzo, and Nancy Styles have greeted the many changes and decisions that have had to be made in a swift manner with a flexible, collaborative approach to district leadership. As the pandemic unfolded, the board's immediate concern, beyond that of the safety and well being of our students and staff, was that every student would have equitable opportunities for learning with all of the tools and resources necessary during this time. This included the approval of our district's 1:1 technology program that now provides every learner in Bristol with the use of a personal device at school and home.

It is never easy to decide matters that profoundly and directly affect an entire learning community. Making those decisions in a time of crisis only makes those decisions harder.

And yet, our Board of Education shows up time and time again to serve our school community in ways big and small. To our good fortune, three board members recently sought and won re-election upon the expiration of their terms this year. Thank you Mrs. White, Mr. McGee, and Mrs. Francis.

Much can be said about the role of a school board, from policy making to goal setting, curriculum and budget review. But in Bristol, that role extends well beyond these things because seven people just like you — moms, dads, educators, professionals, community leaders, and neighbors — said "yes" to giving of themselves for the benefit of our children.