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I would have enjoyed writing this column to
conclude the 2015 school year full of vim and vigor,
fresh from reviewing the next fiscal year's budget and
with full plans for staffing and programming, and
examining clear goals and principles for outcomes
necessary to provide the best resources for our
students here in Geneseo District 228. But alas,
despite promises of changes in Springfield and
greater transparency, we find ourselves looking
through a fog of fiscal uncertainty and a myriad of
imminent changes coming towards us without any
clear relevance or direction in most cases.
However, I can say that the 2014-15 year for
IASA has demonstrated renewed commitment to
children and persistence towards professional
integrity and leadership. Celebrating our 50th
anniversary as a stand-alone organization ushered in
a spirit of renewal and a refreshing approach,
encapsulated in the unveiling and strong embrace of
Vision 20/20.
Through the efforts of hundreds of educational
"life touchers," this hard-bound book demonstrates
the collective soul, spirit, and synergy of major
educational
associations, and
begins a process of
pushing the boulder of
best thinking and best
practices up a hill of
reform and
restructuring. I would
prefer we look not at
battling against the
political will of the state,
but rather that we now
have a blueprint
available that allows us
to offer the tools we
have from our toolkit to
assist legislators and
the governor in
understanding what we
must do
and what we
can do
for the more
than 2 million children
who depend upon us
each day. No, this will
not be easy, but we
have a great start.
Finally, I share with you a thought from the book,
Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
, by
Greg McKeown. He says, "The Essentialist
deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial
many, eliminates the non-essentials, and then
removes obstacles so the essential things have clear,
smooth passage."
Our responsibility as IASA members is to
continue to speak out against that which is non-
essential for our children, and to reinforce and re-
fortify that which is necessary and absolute for our
children. And if we need to have tough conversations
to remove those obstacles to the 'clear, smooth
passage,' it's comforting to know that there are
thousands of leading educators in Illinois ready to
speak up. Make 2015-16 an Essential year for your
District!
Scott Kuffel
Geneseo Comm Unit 228
IASA Past President
Outgoing IASA president:
Make new year ‘Essential’ for kids