Accentuate the Positive!

I refuse to be negative! It is so easy to fall into the rut of “Woe is me” syndrome.

Everyday, the newspapers, administrators, legislators and even communities are voicing negativity about the state of education in Oklahoma. But I REFUSE to be negative! Why?

Because every day, parents, many of whom do not have more than an 8th grade education themselves, drop off their children at our buildings with the expectation that when they pick them up at the end of the day, their children will have one more skill, one more piece of information to help them have a better life. It is a huge responsibility, but my philosophy has always been to use the materials and resources you have available to be creative (and there are plenty of free websites along with our free professional development trainings), and that is where the fun is (necessity is the mother of invention)! Give those darlings not just an education but maybe the one smile or words of encouragement they will have all day. Your role is so powerful--try not to waste it on the “woe is me.”

One of my favorite songs now is "Cheerleader" by OMI:

When I need motivation

My one solution is my queen

'Cause she/he stays strong

Yeah, yeah

She/he is always in my corner

To me, this describes many of our Oklahoma educators who encourage our students to read one more paragraph, do one more problem, retake the ACT one more time, reapply to college. You are their cheerleader, and I thank you!

Oh, I think that I've found myself a cheerleader

She/he is always right there when I need her

Thanks for being there for our Oklahoma students. It does not go unnoticed!