Today marks the end of the first full week of a new school year and I am always reminded of Plato’s words of wisdom – “the beginning is the most important part of the work.”  Summer never seems to come fast enough and then it’s gone before you know it.  And for most folks in the school business summer months involve wrap-up activities from the previous year and warm-up activities for the coming one.  Start – Stop – Repeat!  I suspect right now there are more than a few teachers feeling the drain and humming to the song of my son’s favorite band – “in the end it doesn’t even matter.”  They don’t really believe that, none of us do, but there’s nothing that humbles like a well-planned day that goes sideways.

So for those of you that had a typical adventurous start welcoming new and returning students, maybe take a moment and laugh with the Holderness family.  My wife and kids first laughed along with this troupe during the Christmas holidays in 2013.  At the time much of the world was introduced to them while they were wearing their Christmas Jammies.  Since then the husband-wife television personalities who left their day jobs to start their own video production/digital marketing company have produced dozens of funny videos, among other things.  Their latest parody was just released and relatable for sure – click the picture below if you’d like to check it out.

When I visit with staff across the school district regardless of the position he or she holds, without fail there is a common desire to make a difference in the lives of today’s youth.  We all hope there is an inherent social good in public education.  For those of us making it our life’s work, we also hope to add value in meaningful ways.  This leads me to legacies – those footprints or impressions that survive the day-to-day grind.  For me, I’m not so concerned with being remembered – I don’t need to be referenced or revered.  I just don’t want to be forgotten and that seems to be enough motivation to work today on improving tomorrow.  For me, it’s about leg room.  Did I clear a path for others to follow and was that path wide enough?  If it wasn’t, what am I going to do about it?  We talk a lot about equity and access in schools because neither are givens without constant vigilance.  As we kick off another great school year let’s check the aisles to make sure there is enough room for everyone.  And when you get home after a long day that started in the dark and ended in the hot (come on rain!), check out these back-to-school dinner ideas!  🙂