Values & Ethics

"An education in a thriving society is one that facilitates the growth and limitless capacity of the individual. There is no denying the goal of education is for our schools to facilitate environments for learning where students thrive. There is also no denying that thriving students result in a thriving society."

-Jones, "Change and Leadership", EDUC 800, 7/31/2024

According to surveys, news media and TikTok, student behaviors are the number one reason teachers are leaving the profession.  In my current role, I have had to resist my nature to please and put into place policy and procedures to follow prior to the referral and acceptance of a student into a level III or IV program.  This is a necessary step to balance the call of administrators, teachers, and families to place students in more restrictive environments with the need to implement additional interventions, increase service minutes and data collect and document both.  I say to parents that level III programs can meet student needs, but the downfall is, they are filled with level III students.  This is to say, it is not just positive behaviors and skills that a student will be exposed to in more restrictive placements.  The student needs come first.

The golden rule is "treat others the way you want to be treated".  In the Success programs, we add, "especially when they don't".  Likewise, where many classes begin the year with student contracts detailing expectations staff have of kids, this year the Success programs adopted comprehensive commitments that staff are making to the students.  The message of these commitments together to our students is that no matter your effort, your words, your actions, we commit to respect and value you the same each and every day.