Greetings, Dragon Nation! Once again, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to share a few thoughts with you as we wind up what has been a very mild winter.

While things may seem somewhat quiet on campus, behind the scenes things are really starting to happen.  We have completed the assessments of the prospective Dragons, and by the time this is published, the districts will be hard at work making their selections.  Of more immediate interest is the creation of the new budget. While this may seem somewhat boring, and it sort of is, it is the backbone of what allows us to operate our school.  The budget is not only the source of the mundane, such as keeping the lights on and the building clean, but it is also a reflection of our values and where we want to grow. 

This year, we anticipate growing our student population by about 23 students.  This creates a need to hire at least one additional teacher and with it an opportunity to bring on someone with new ideas and talents to add to our community.  Hiring new teachers is one of the better parts of my job!  

Additionally, we are making the financial commitment to hire a part-time Coordinator of Strategic Engagement.  This position would have several important responsibilities such as developing training opportunities for faculty on how to recognize, accommodate and appreciate cultural differences and providing suggestions and resources on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  They would help to translate strategies into plans with actions, accountability, and goals to promote equitable instructional practices.  They would partner with the leadership team and build proactive relationships within the school and within the community to ensure alignment and focus on equity and inclusion in all practices.  Additionally, they will collaborate with administrators on sourcing, hiring, and retaining diverse candidates by connecting with professional organizations and leveraging social media and community connections.  Finally, they would help develop programs to attract, retain, and promote a diverse workforce that mirrors the diversity of our learning community.

This position is being created in response to the data generated by the School Advisory Survey that was conducted during the ‘21-’22 school year and the recommendations of the Student Culture and Engagement Subcommittee, all a part of the School Advisory Committee.  The thoughtful work of this group is reflected in the responsibilities of this new position.   

I will be honest.  Budgets aren’t a whole lot of fun to create and I personally admire the people that make it look easy.  I don’t have a background in finance, so it is a laborious and difficult process.  Trying to balance the limited revenue with the wants and needs of the school community is like working a giant puzzle.  However, once in a while, I find real satisfaction when we can fund something that is really important to the growth of the school.  The budget that is being proposed for approval is one of those examples.

Have a wonderful day, and thanks again to The Jabberwock for giving me this gift of another forum to stay connected with you. Until next time, stay safe, stay strong, and go Dragons!