Remembering Art Linkletter

TV host Art Linkletter, who made the world a happier place just by asking children what they thought, died yesterday at age 97. As a tribute, I’d like to share a short video that always makes me laugh. I hope you enjoy Art Linkletter’s humor and way with children as much as I do.

CCPS Scenes of Success

I am again pleased to share with you the third in a series of presentations to the School Board that depict successes within our schools of students and staff. I enjoy compiling these visual presentations because reviewing these wonderful images, some of which I have snapped myself, reminds me of the dedication that our employees have to our students, and of the hard work our students put into learning and meeting their goals. Hope you enjoy the images.

CCPS Scenes of Success

Thanks to Our 2010 Retirees

Congratulations to all of the employees who are retiring this year. I would like to commend for your excellent service to this school system, in all of the varying capacities you have served. Of the 191 staff members retiring, I thank you for the 4,060 years total you have given to Chesterfield County Public Schools, and I applaud you for the 5,390 years total service to education you’ve given during your careers.

Yesterday we recognized many of the retiring employees at a reception held at Thomas Dale. I would like to share with you some comments that I made to our 2010 “graduating class.”

Retirement is a change – a big change. You are entering a new part of your journey, trying out your retirement wings, deciding what’s next in your life.

Those of us remaining in Chesterfield County Public Schools will also be entering a new phase: the phase of trying to get along without all of our talented and dedicated colleagues who are retiring this year. It will not be easy – we will miss you. Oh boy, will we miss you!

You may not miss us – at least not right away. But I believe that you will find your way back into our schools as volunteer mentors, reading buddies, coaches and more. After all, where would we be without you?

Your work and your vision and your energy have transformed Chesterfield County Public Schools into a high-achieving, award-winning school system. Our students are succeeding at high levels today because of you. Thank you. Thank you for your contributions in our schools, for our students and for this community. I am grateful for you.

Finally, I’d like to share one more quotation with you. This comes from Mark Twain and I think it is excellent advice for all of us, whether we are retiring or not retiring:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Joining the Bus Road-e-o

I drove a school bus for the first time yesterday, and my respect for the excellent job our bus drivers do is at an all-time high.

My turn at the wheel came during a bus rodeo sponsored by our Transportation Department. I was driving on a closed course — far away from obstacles, people and other vehicles. The course included cones to navigate through, corners to turn, tight spaces to park in, a cutout representing a child at a bus stop and other situations that bus drivers handle every day.

Only a few cones were flattened during my trip around the half-mile course, so I feel pretty good about my performance. Of course, my performance was aided by the experienced bus driver sitting right behind me, letting know how hard to cut the wheel and when to turn. Without the special assistance I received from Barbara Musick, I probably would have flattened all of the traffic cones!

Each year, our top scorers in the bus rodeo go on to compete regionally and statewide against bus drivers from other school systems. The top-scoring bus drivers for Chesterfield County Public Schools this year are Leslie Alderman, Marion Trent, Amy Ellington, Pamela Krueth, Jennifer Langford, Rose Moody, Annette Norwood, Linda Thacker, Bill Johnson and Barbara Jordan. Regional competition is next week, then state competition will take place June 22 at James River High School.

I congratulate our top drivers and all of our Chesterfield school bus drivers who navigate 8.5 million miles each school year safely transporting about 44,000 students to school.

Outstanding Youth Awards Program

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Outstanding Youth Awards program at Bird High, where youths and adults who have made differences in others’ lives in the community or at school were honored. I was so proud of the students who were recognized for the courage, compassion, leadership and service they exhibit in their daily lives.