Affirmations

So after more than a years' hiatus, I've had my arm twisted into dusting off this blog (Hi Brenna!). Tonight was the annual Tuolumne County Board of Education dinner where every school in the county nominates an exceptional teacher for the Excellence in Teaching award. Also, one teacher is selected as the Career Excellence award winner. This year, Sue Sperry was the very well earned recipient of this award. Sue is not one who seeks the lime light, and I had forgotten that the winner of this award has to give an acceptance speech. When County Schools Superintendent Joe Silva called Sue up to accept her award, she was clearly nervous. As she began to speak, however, her poise and humor made it seem like she regularly gives speeches to 200+ adults as opposed to 25 squirmy 5-year-olds. Sue's message was one of affirmations. She spoke about how she had to get letters of support for this award, and as she asked friends and family for these letters she was moved by what people had to say about her. She went on to say that she felt we did not tell each other enough about how much they mean to us, and how she had been working for the last month and a half on writing letters to those that mean so much to her. For someone who has spent 30 years talking to Kindergartners, Ms. Sperry's speech was elagant and touching. And her message was right on point. Sue, thank you. And to all of my staff, thank you for all you do! And hi, Mom!