The common word used was excited — excited to see new and returning students beginning next week.
Teachers in Shawnee from all campuses went back to work Friday, with a meeting at the Performing Arts and Athletic Center at Shawnee High School.
And throughout an informal breakfast, teachers were talking, seeing colleagues and reminiscing about the summer and previous years. But most of all, those teachers were looking forward to a new year.
Annetta Hackler, Shawnee Middle School math teacher, said a new school year brings a fresh perspective.
“I think getting to start over fresh,” she said. “Every student gets to start over. Everyone gets to learn something new. I learn something new with my students every day. I really look forward to seeing my students again.”
Melisa Rice, Shawnee High School math teacher, said she too is ready to get back in the classroom.
“I am just so excited, I’m so excited for school to start,” she said. “I miss my kids, my interaction with my kids, the teachers. This is probably the most excited I’ve been.”
Dana Boyer, pre-kindergarten teacher at Shawnee Early Childhood Center, will be working with a with a new principal this year.
SECC recently hired Jesse Hernandez, former Shawnee Board of Education member, who also has been an educator.
“Well I think he’s a great man with character,” Boyer said. “We’ve been blessed with great principals and I think he’ll just follow in those footsteps.”
The year also will be met with challenges.
Marilyn Bradford, Shawnee Public Schools superintendent, said the district is ready for those.
“We know we have challenges, she said. “We turn challenges into opportunities.”
Teachers have to use their dedication to make that happen, Bradford said.
“I’m so proud of our staff and of our students,” she added.
They have done a remarkable job, especially at the high school, where those challenges caused students and staff last year to avoid obstacles, Bradford said.
“They did all this while dodging raindrops and trash cans,” she said, who also addressed the current budget situation in the district.
Bradford talked about how teachers would need to be proactive and ready to do more with less.
“We worry about our finances, we worry about our teaching positions, we worry about student performance,” she said.
Even with less money, the district still has to provide students with an education and the schools still need to meet state benchmarks, Bradford explained.
“Teacher encouragement is huge for our students,” she said. “We’ve chosen to work in a profession that has one of the highest callings. We’re educating students, we’re educating teachers, we’re educating administrators, we’re educating support staff. For that I say thank you to you.”
Rice, too, addressed concerns about how the economy will impact the school year.
“I unfortunately have seen this economic crisis in my teaching,” she said. “I was actually RIFfed three times in another school system I was in. I know this is just another cycle we’re in.”
The economy will bounce back, Rice believes.
“Hopefully, we bring some of those teachers that were let go,” she said.
Through all the challenges, Hackler said she is ready for this year to begin.
“It’s really exciting for me to see my kids get that excited feeling again,” she said. “I love what I do. Being at school, it’s not a job for me, it’s a passion.”
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Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
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The common word used was excited — excited to see new and returning students beginning next week.
Teachers in Shawnee from all campuses went back to work Friday, with a meeting at the Performing Arts and Athletic Center at Shawnee High School.
And throughout an informal breakfast, teachers were talking, seeing colleagues and reminiscing about the summer and previous years. But most of all, those teachers were looking forward to a new year.
Annetta Hackler, Shawnee Middle School math teacher, said a new school year brings a fresh perspective.
“I think getting to start over fresh,” she said. “Every student gets to start over. Everyone gets to learn something new. I learn something new with my students every day. I really look forward to seeing my students again.”
Melisa Rice, Shawnee High School math teacher, said she too is ready to get back in the classroom.
“I am just so excited, I’m so excited for school to start,” she said. “I miss my kids, my interaction with my kids, the teachers. This is probably the most excited I’ve been.”
Dana Boyer, pre-kindergarten teacher at Shawnee Early Childhood Center, will be working with a with a new principal this year.
SECC recently hired Jesse Hernandez, former Shawnee Board of Education member, who also has been an educator.
“Well I think he’s a great man with character,” Boyer said. “We’ve been blessed with great principals and I think he’ll just follow in those footsteps.”
The year also will be met with challenges.
Marilyn Bradford, Shawnee Public Schools superintendent, said the district is ready for those.
“We know we have challenges, she said. “We turn challenges into opportunities.”
Teachers have to use their dedication to make that happen, Bradford said.
“I’m so proud of our staff and of our students,” she added.
They have done a remarkable job, especially at the high school, where those challenges caused students and staff last year to avoid obstacles, Bradford said.
“They did all this while dodging raindrops and trash cans,” she said, who also addressed the current budget situation in the district.
Bradford talked about how teachers would need to be proactive and ready to do more with less.
“We worry about our finances, we worry about our teaching positions, we worry about student performance,” she said.
Even with less money, the district still has to provide students with an education and the schools still need to meet state benchmarks, Bradford explained.
“Teacher encouragement is huge for our students,” she said. “We’ve chosen to work in a profession that has one of the highest callings. We’re educating students, we’re educating teachers, we’re educating administrators, we’re educating support staff. For that I say thank you to you.”
Rice, too, addressed concerns about how the economy will impact the school year.
“I unfortunately have seen this economic crisis in my teaching,” she said. “I was actually RIFfed three times in another school system I was in. I know this is just another cycle we’re in.”
The economy will bounce back, Rice believes.
“Hopefully, we bring some of those teachers that were let go,” she said.
Through all the challenges, Hackler said she is ready for this year to begin.
“It’s really exciting for me to see my kids get that excited feeling again,” she said. “I love what I do. Being at school, it’s not a job for me, it’s a passion.”
———
Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
