Mrs. Smith seems very sad today. I can hear it in the sound of her voice. I saw her drop her papers down on her desk and take a deep sigh. She said she was sorry she couldn’t look at my iPad with me right now because she’s filling out a temporary learning plan for a student on a modified quarantine. Whatever that is. What is this COVID that I keep hearing everyone talk about? They go on and on about vaccines and wearing masks or not wearing masks. I don’t care about any of that, I just wish she would come over here and sit by me and talk with me like she used to.
Hi. I am Avery, I am a fifteen-year-old sophomore girl with autism. I enjoy being a Spartan and going to school every day with my friends. I love my teachers and para-educators with whom I spend most of my day. I enjoy looking at books and walking the halls of my school. All the people at my school are friendly and welcoming. I also get to walk outside and enjoy the cool breeze on my face.
Even though I don’t use verbal language to communicate, I am like most of my peers in many ways. I enjoy my freedom and like to have choices about what I do during class and who I do it with. I also love my technology. Although I do not use Snapchat or Instagram, I am a huge fan of YouTube. Learning from videos and apps on my iPad helps me focus and keeps me engaged.
The past 18 months have been difficult for me and my classmates. I like things to stay the same and there have been so many changes. One day I went to school on the bus like normal and the next day my mom said there would be no more school for a while. It was a very long time before I finally got to go back to school and see my friends. My schedule changes frequently. I have to eat lunch in my classroom, and at times I have to have a swab shoved up my nose each morning just so I can attend school that day. I like it when my favorite para is with me, but sometimes she is in this thing that my teacher calls quarantine. I don’t know why she must stay away from me for so long, but everything feels different now. The grown-ups I spend most of my day with seem stressed and that makes me feel stressed too. But I don’t have any way to tell anybody how I feel.
I live with my mom and dad. Both of my parents are educators. I hear them talking about school stuff all the time. My dad is a former teacher and administrator. My mom teaches children with disabilities like me. My dad was my principal during my first year in high school. He was very busy, and I didn’t see him very often during the day. I would hear him say at home that he became a teacher and coach because he loved being around people, he loved building positive relationships with students, and he loved to watch learning happening for his students. When I was born, I’m pretty sure his perspective changed. He wanted to be sure that learning was possible for each student. He realized that for students like me who have major challenges, sometimes receiving the support I need can be difficult. He became an administrator for that reason. Now my dad works for the school board association. He travels across Kansas to support leaders, school board members, and districts with the same vision. I am thankful that there are leaders and board members (whatever that is) that truly care about making sure that all students can learn in a safe environment and reach their full potential. I hope that’s why they wanted to become a leader in their community. I hope they keep the challenges each student faces every day at the forefront of their decision-making.
I realize that things will never go back to the way they were before, but I want people to just get along and support my classmates and me. There is not one individual or a group of people that can provide me with what I need on their own. It is going to take all my grown-up friends working together. Take time to reflect on why you wanted to be a leader?
As Avery’s dad I am so proud of her and proud of all students who have shown great resiliency during these last 18th months of adversity. Does your “why” include all students? Does your “why” focus on things you can’t control or things that won’t support student learning? Simon Sinek, a well-known author on leadership, has spent his life’s work with leaders and organizations on how to inspire people. He says, “regardless of what we do in our lives, our WHY is our driving purpose, cause or belief, as it never changes.”
As the students have shown this unprecedented strength, it has allowed me to reflect on the importance of public education. There have been many challenges and hurdles our schools and families alike have had to overcome. Along with so many obstacles have been so many successes that affirm the power education can have for all of our students and communities alike. We have seen our students and districts rise amid the difficulties and pivot to best serve and protect our students and staff during the pandemic. At times it has felt as though students are adjusting to the new normal much easier than most of our adults. What is it about change that makes it so difficult? Why are we having problems finding common ground with one another? What will it take for us to return to our WHY and identify what we have in common and collaborate on solutions that will support all students?
It is time to set aside our differences and focus on what is most important. Whether you are currently in a leadership role or running for a new position, let’s all take a moment to reflect on our WHY and start a new beginning. What will be your perspective and how will that help serve your WHY? Thank you for your service and passion for which you serve.
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