FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Happy New Year!
In education, this time of the year can
sometimes be a confusing time. This is the time of
the year when you make resolutions for the new
year and people talk about “starting over.” Yet, in
our schools, this time of the year marks the
halfway point of the school year. That doesn’t
mean we can’t tweak our goals as we head into
our second semester though.
I want to share a story I passed along to my
team as we entered the holiday season. Just
before Thanksgiving, my wife and I ran in the
Philadelphia Half Marathon. We both set
challenging goals, which we exceeded. For the
last few years, our teachers, administrators, and
staff have been working on using a positive
“Growth Mindset.” Carol Dweck is one of my
favorite authors and she espouses the importance
of a “Growth Mindset,” which is persisting,
learning from any failures, and reacting positively
to that challenge so that you can achieve your
goals. I mention this because during the half
marathon, miles 9, 10, and 11 were uphill. Mind
you, this biggest climb in elevation comes at the point when many runners begin to walk or even give up. You can bet
Dweck’s views on embracing the challenge ahead of you was front and center of my mind at that point, and it got me
through that challenge.
Whether you are setting new goals for 2019, or taking a look at the goals you set at the beginning of this school
year back in August, this is a great time to use a Growth Mindset. Fortunately, within Flagler Schools we are a team
and I encourage every member of our team to look out for one another. Challenge one another and encourage your
colleague to get over that hill at miles 9, 10, and 11.
For those of you in our Flagler community, if you’re looking for a new beginning as we start 2019 Flagler Schools
has a place for you. We are always in search of mentors or volunteers. Devoting just a small portion of your time can
have a lasting impact on one of our students. We have been fortunate in the past to enjoy the support of so many
people in our community. They truly make the difference in our schools. Contact our District Offices for additional
information.
Enthusiastically Yours,
JA MES TAGE R, F L AGLER S C HOOL S S UPE RIN T EN D EN T
VI SI T US ON L I N E AT WWW.PAREN T MAGAZIN EFLORIDA .COM
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