What I have
learned as a Trustee
Never give up – if you truly believe
in someone or an idea they deserve your best effort . This will usually take
more than one try.
The board Retreat needs to be
renamed – it is not a holiday or the backing away from a fight like the name
says. It is a full day or two of very open and insightful conversation and data
of where our district is and where we should go.
Everyone has wisdom- sometimes this
is not clear at first but it is true.
Coffee and carbs are not your friend
– once in a while yes , but not many times especially when you are into hour 8
of any kind of meeting, resist the urge to indulge .
There are many unsung hero’s in this
district – unfortunately most of the media attention goes to those negative
news stories . But I learned quickly the hero’s are numerous , and they do it without press or
congratulations . Thank you to all our hero’s.
One person is not the board. We work
as a team.
We are not an island – someone is
always watching or listening. You should do what you do because it is right
whether you think someone is watching or not. I wish more people and press would attend the board meetings to see and hear first hand what goes on.
The position of trustee is a
privilege not a right- it has been a huge honor to have served this community
for 9 years. I will always treasure this experience .
The best ideas do not come from the
board room – talking to those in the schools and the community is the best places to
find solutions. The board room gives the “ how to ” after the idea has landed.
The position is just not twice a
month meetings – there are weekends away, events and commitments during the
day and night, plus phone calls and email.
Red Deer Public is the best district
– that does not mean we stop and rest on our past performances , we keep
striving to be the best we can be. This district if full of so many people
that care and who are excellent at what they do for the students every day ,
all year long.
There are many kinds of leaders –
there are those that only have it in their title , but there are many more that are
servant leaders and inspire many to follow.
The right choice is not always the
most popular choice. Do not let that stop you.
The only one that likes change is a
wet baby.
Since this a political position most
of the poem “ All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum applies .
Like Share everything. Clean
up your own mess. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Live a
balanced life - learn some and think some
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be if
all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about
three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with
our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments
had a basic policy to always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you
are - when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be if
all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about
three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with
our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments
had a basic policy to always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you
are - when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.
Yes most of these I knew
before , but some of them became more true as a Trustee. It has been truly an
honor and a privilege to serve my community as a Trustee, and I hope I have the
opportunity to continue . Thank you to all those that have supported and
encouraged me throughout these past 9 years. You are all very special to me in
so many ways.
