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Everything’s messed up.

Everything’s messed up.
Covid19 found its way into our American lives and consciousness early in the year 2020. Soon after it made its way into our American public schools. It came with disastrous effects for some educators and school related staff. Moreover, it came with nationwide disconnection and adverse impact on children’s development…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
Will Schools Ever Be The Same?
Will schools ever be the same? The coronavirus has altered many human institutions. It has altered human life. For centuries, people have gone to schools to learn and to gain knowledge, skills, and access to opportunities. The pandemic has exposed the weakness of our current day schools and also revealed…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
The 2020/21 school year in the Rio School District
This year is unlike any school year in recent history. While the Rio School District was already established during the 1918 flu pandemic, and an historical analysis of what it was like is surely a worthy endeavor, this coming school year which begins online on August 31, 2020 at 9:00…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
Were Schools Ready for a Pandemic ?
Were Schools Ready for a Pandemic ? No.  Was anyone ready for this pandemic? No. Are schools getting ready to serve children in the pandemic? Yes. Our American public schools have to be ready for just about any eventuality and sadly in recent history, even for school shootings. For years,…
COVID 19, Superintendent Blog, Texts
What’s it take to be a great School Principal?
The list of answers to this question is likely very long. Books are written about the role. Many points of view will answer the question differently. Teachers, parents, students, community members all will have their opinion. Principals, themselves, are worthy of a good listening after being asked this question. I…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
IMAGE A NATION
IMAGINATION IMAGE  I  NATION IMAGE A NATION Since I can remember, which is probably as a four year old, I have always looked with an artist’s eye. I have always seen with my outer and inner eyes. I am fortunate in this way. This way of being likely emerges from…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
What is America?
In this Spring/Summer of the year 2020, we can ask ourselves as educators and community members many questions. One comes to my mind most recently, What is America?  In the last few weeks I have been working with students and teachers online and doing math/art activities and lessons with colleagues.…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
What are we to do?
When I was seven years old I often took rides with my father as he worked as a sales associate for Whitman’s Chocolates. He would go to different stores, we called them drug stores back then, and would talk to the store managers and would look at the candy on…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
Imagine a Time…….
Imagination is what humans have and do naturally. We make pictures and sometimes video clips in our heads. In these coronavirus times, our school organizations are tasked with imagining and then planning for re-opening and redesigning the ways children attend and learn in schools. Our challenges are many and they…
Superintendent Blog, Texts
To the 8th Graders…… and Graduates
To the 8th graders.. Going to high school The High schoolers graduating The college graduates…. Of 2020 As I’ve been observing these last few months I’ve noticed that many people have been focused on the loss of the end of the year celebrations.. Milestones. Rituals. Ceremonies… I can feel the…
Superintendent Blog
From Compulsory to…..
From Compulsory to….. eh… From Extrinsic to Intrinsic Motivation Engagement and Love and Drive to learn These days teachers are experiencing a great differential in every classroom and learning context. Differentials between students and their engagement and completion of assignments. Differentials between student behavior before coronatimes and during these stay…
Superintendent Blog
Sometimes they call me Teacher.
Sometimes they call me Teacher. My wife has been teaching for almost four decades. This year, for a variety of reasons, she decided to retire. She began as an art teacher/artist in West Virginia and then came to California. Together, we raised our family as educators in California’s public school…
Superintendent Blog
NEXT NINE WEEKS
The Next Nine Weeks : April 20 – June 18 Completing the 2019-20 School Year in CoronaTimes The next nine weeks through April and the last day of the school year on June 18, will mark twelve weeks of conducting school with campuses closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. As…
Superintendent Blog, Texts, Uncategorized
MLK Day
The Holiday for Martin Luther King Each year in January and many more times throughout the year I ponder how children and teachers think about MLK. I wonder about the ways and perspectives they think about him, his legacy, and his life.  In this year 2020, now more than ever,…
Superintendent Blog
Rio and the Arts
Rio and the Arts The Rio School District supports the Arts. It provides opportunities for learners to learn and develop as creative, making people. It also provides chances for the community and other experts to engage with the arts being made in Rio. This takes many forms. In many and…
Superintendent Blog
Math Interest, fluency, and meaning – making.
MATH INTEREST MATH FLUENCY MATH MEANING MAKING   Math Interest, unlike motivation, means exactly what it says – that a person is interested in mathematics. Math as language, math as a way to solve problems, math as a skills set, math as a historical human phenomenon, math as a structure…
Superintendent Blog
Public Schools in 2019
Public schools serve multiple functions in our 2019 American society. They work directly with children, families and community to foster the development and learning of children. They harbor children and keep them safe during the school day while most parents are engaged in work or other related activities. They offer…
Superintendent Blog, Uncategorized
Spring is in the Air!
Spring is in the Air and Spring Break is upon us in the Rio School District. This means there are only 8 weeks remaining of the 2018-19 school year. We hope each and every child experiences opportunities to develop their learning literacies and their 5Cs; communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity,…
Superintendent Blog
Thriving
Thriving…………. thrive verb \ ˈthrīv  \ thrived or throve\ ˈthrōv  \; thrived also thriven\ ˈthri-​vən  \; thriving\ˈthrī-​viŋ  \ Definition of thrive intransitive verb 1: to grow vigorously : FLOURISH 2: to gain in wealth or possessions : PROSPER 3: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of…
Superintendent Blog, Texts

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