Measuring Success
As a principal, I found it very rewarding to attend the high school graduation of the students that had attended my middle school so when I realized I could do so this year by adding a few extra days to an already scheduled trip out west, I jumped at the opportunity. The trip could have been a disaster. The 9:15 flight was delayed until 10, 11, 12:15, 1:30, and finally 2:45 – and I was going to miss the ceremony. But with the help of a wonderful agent in the airport lounge, I was able to fly stand-by on an earlier flight and therefore arrive, albeit a bit late, to watch the graduation. (And in these days where the norm seems to be delayed, missed, and/or cancelled flights, I would be remiss not to mention that my flight from San Francisco to Oregon was held 10 minutes so I could make the connection!).
Phoenix High School in southern Oregon has a long-standing tradition that makes their ceremony very unique. Graduating seniors are able to invite the district staff member of their choice to introduce them as they receive their diploma. And while it does add a bit of time to the ceremony, it is amazing to hear the students introduced with a personal touch by their kindergarten teacher, the school janitor, a parent, a coach, a middle school secretary, or their favorite high school teacher. Some adults introduce a long line of students, others just one – but it is considered a high honor to be asked and makes for a special time.
I’ve always found it amazing to watch the students receive their diploma. With some it’s a smile and a nod acknowledging you knew they’d always make it - with others it’s a shake of the head in amazement and wonderment that they did. And this year was no different. Three stories serve as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
• As a Hispanic student was introduced, it was mentioned that as one of the stars of the soccer team he had scored many, many goals during his years at the school. The staff member introducing him (a young Hispanic man who not only worked at the school, but had graduated from there as well) then shared that on this night, the student was “making the biggest score of his life” as he was the first person in his family ever to graduate from high school.
• As a young woman’s accomplishments were shared, I flashed back to her entry into middle school. Special education, emotionally disturbed, clearing classrooms as she hid under a table and refused to come out, hallway melt-downs, tantrums in the lunchroom – yet by 8th grade she was able to walk across the floor of the big gym in front of a packed house to receive her certificate. She spent 6 years in high school, but she graduated!
• As the middle school secretary introduced one of her students, she remarked that she had probably said more prayers for this young man than for anyone else she knew. This erupted into a standing ovation led by his classmates and followed by the audience. A couple standing behind me remarked there must be something about this young man that they didn’t know. I shared the story – he had been battling cancer since 5th grade with many life-threatening relapses.
These stories are special because I know the students, their families, and their history. But they are not unique – stories like this abound across the country and all middle level leaders have their own to share. But what stories like this do is to remind us of an important lesson – that we must remember success is measured student by student, and at the end of the day, the lives of our students count more than a score on a test. Therefore, we must continue to do all that is within our power to be able to say, “I made a difference in the lives of the students entrusted to my care.”
Phoenix High School in southern Oregon has a long-standing tradition that makes their ceremony very unique. Graduating seniors are able to invite the district staff member of their choice to introduce them as they receive their diploma. And while it does add a bit of time to the ceremony, it is amazing to hear the students introduced with a personal touch by their kindergarten teacher, the school janitor, a parent, a coach, a middle school secretary, or their favorite high school teacher. Some adults introduce a long line of students, others just one – but it is considered a high honor to be asked and makes for a special time.
I’ve always found it amazing to watch the students receive their diploma. With some it’s a smile and a nod acknowledging you knew they’d always make it - with others it’s a shake of the head in amazement and wonderment that they did. And this year was no different. Three stories serve as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
• As a Hispanic student was introduced, it was mentioned that as one of the stars of the soccer team he had scored many, many goals during his years at the school. The staff member introducing him (a young Hispanic man who not only worked at the school, but had graduated from there as well) then shared that on this night, the student was “making the biggest score of his life” as he was the first person in his family ever to graduate from high school.
• As a young woman’s accomplishments were shared, I flashed back to her entry into middle school. Special education, emotionally disturbed, clearing classrooms as she hid under a table and refused to come out, hallway melt-downs, tantrums in the lunchroom – yet by 8th grade she was able to walk across the floor of the big gym in front of a packed house to receive her certificate. She spent 6 years in high school, but she graduated!
• As the middle school secretary introduced one of her students, she remarked that she had probably said more prayers for this young man than for anyone else she knew. This erupted into a standing ovation led by his classmates and followed by the audience. A couple standing behind me remarked there must be something about this young man that they didn’t know. I shared the story – he had been battling cancer since 5th grade with many life-threatening relapses.
These stories are special because I know the students, their families, and their history. But they are not unique – stories like this abound across the country and all middle level leaders have their own to share. But what stories like this do is to remind us of an important lesson – that we must remember success is measured student by student, and at the end of the day, the lives of our students count more than a score on a test. Therefore, we must continue to do all that is within our power to be able to say, “I made a difference in the lives of the students entrusted to my care.”
