leadership in high schools

Tonight I and three middle school teachers will speak at an evening reception hosted by the Arts Council of Chautauqua County.  We will be sharing collections of our thoughts and that of parents and families regarding the Local Capacity Grant that was awarded our Special Education programs at the Hewes Center early this year.  The collaboration of parents and the school, resulted in a grant proposal that eventually saw the production of puppet theatre by Das Puppenspiel.  Tonight’s presentation is key to the development of other proposals that we at the Hewes Center will write in the coming school year to bring arts into our school for the purpose of expanding the horizons of our students.   

Ripley Central School had  artists in residence - poets,  this year,  who reached out to parents and the community.  What a boost for the language arts programs there!.  This is a wonderful way for schools to invite community into our facilities and expand the mental borders of all residents. 

Since the loss of one of our Alternative Education students, I have taken a hiatus from blogging.  I am back at it now with today being the start of my re-entry into this virtual world.  I want to thank everyone who follows this site for their patience and understanding.  This period of silence for me has been cathartic. 

Ken’s mother came to the Hewes Center two weeks ago, this after one of Ken’s friends at Hewes asked for his pool stick.  Our counselor, Leighton Swanson was out, himself mourning the loss of his mother.  I went down to A. building from my office in E. and met Gloria.  She had come to Hewes with her older son a former Career and Technical Education student of Erie 2 BOCES.  While her son was visiting his former teacher, Gloria sat with me in a quiet office.  She said she had come for the titanium pool stick.  Prior to this, we had attempted to call her (to no avail) to inquire about her welfare and ask about the return of the stick.  I gave the pool stick to her.  She thanked me for all our help and work with Ken.  I asked how she was doing.  She gave me a shrug of her shoulders.  She asked me if there was anything else Ken had at school that she could have.  He did not. 

Ken looked like his mother.  I had never met her.  His blue eyes stared at me.  Gloria was distant; understandably so.  She appears stunned and shocked.  The expression “hit by a train”  comes to mind but in this case it is so very poignant.  I pray that Gloria will slowly return to this life - her surviving son has a huge role to play in this.  May he not give up. 

Our students and staff took up a collection for Ken and donated it to the family on behalf of the student council.  We will continue to collect money and send it to Ken’s family as they work on pulling out of the debt they owe to the funeral home. 

Good bye Gloria and Good bye Ken.