President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” and that could never ring more true in our society than today. We are living in unprecedented times.
One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” As a public school district, we are responsible for educating the next generation of leaders, not just through academics or extracurricular activities. We must teach our children about the value of diversity and the value of treating others the way we want to be treated. As superintendent, it is my sincere desire to promote unity within our schools. We are all better when everyone works together, pulls in the same direction, and looks out for one another.
Weatherford ISD is committed to being more intentional as we support the social and emotional needs of our students and staff. We will provide diversity and inclusion training for our staff prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year and will implement age appropriate programs such as No Place for Hate for our students which focuses on eliminating racism, bullying, and harassment in schools. In Weatherford ISD our diversity makes us stronger, better, smarter, and contributes to our strong sense of community pride.
Our focus is on continuous improvement in every possible way to ensure we provide the best for our students. One of my goals is to engage with the entire Weatherford community. As we move forward, I will be seeking your input on a variety of topics. In the words of Native American Warrior Sitting Bull, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” Your voice counts so please stay tuned to school district communications and participate in these stakeholder engagement opportunities.
Currently, we are preparing for what school will look like in the fall. With so many unknown factors we are entering uncharted territory, but together we will ensure world-class educational opportunities for our students whether in our classrooms or in our homes. We will continue building relationships with our students and families to help them stay connected whether we are in school or learning from home.
Over my 25-year career as a public school educator I have learned that the heartbeat of any truly thriving community is the local public school district. That heartbeat and true UNITY will proudly be on display next weekend as commencement exercises for the Weatherford High School Class of 2020 take place Saturday, June 13 in true hometown fashion at Kangaroo Stadium. This year’s seniors have demonstrated tenacity and the ability to overcome obstacles while gracefully dealing with unprecedented interruptions to their senior spring semester. They are truly the best of all of us.
I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Weatherford ISD and to be a part of this great commUNITY!
With Roo Pride,
Beau Rees
Weatherford ISD Superintendent of Schools