Sitting and watching....

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence


As I work in my office I am provided with a splendid show of dazzling colors. As the leaves display their brilliance, the above quote by Elizabeth Lawrence seems to give me permission to spend a few moments looking out over the Allegheny Mountains during the fall season. Sadly, many of us are busily preparing for cold weather and the onset of the holiday season; the leaves often turn color and fall before we can enjoy them.

Education is a year round “sport” that is constantly changing and providing new challenges and opportunities. Autumn is spent preparing for new students and building on the previous year’s progress. The first part of winter is devoted to PSSA preparation; once this assessment is past and winter recedes, spring is a time of educational renewal as students and teachers work toward a June finish line. Of course, summer means training opportunities, time with family and preparation for the coming year.

Here at CCSD, all staff, administration (myself included) and students embrace the notion that high expectations—of self and of others—are invaluable in our determination to move toward continued improvement. For me, this is a labor of love. I truly enjoy all aspects of my job: communicating with parents, meeting with students, providing staff development training, expanding our technology hardware and integration, and maintaining a fiscally sound budget. For me, while some may be better than others, there are no bad days at work. Personally, I think I have the world’s best job.

I encourage community members to attend our middle school curriculum discussion on October 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This will be a time to be heard and brainstorm ways to improve the school’s curriculum. I look forward to seeing you there and hearing your ideas about the middle school curriculum.

Until next month’s blog, enjoy each day, each season and each Steeler game (I had to include a plug for football).

Dr. D