Excerpt from Open Day Speech as Superintendent of Schools, 2015

Deep down I am one of you. I drove a school bus occasionally in Colorado. I help my boys fix their cars. I planted most of the gardens at the middle school, and I have been known to climb ladders and pound nails late at night in my office when no one else is around. I loved teaching. I am a person who is ready to roll up her sleeves and get the job done, but I definitely don’t have all the answers. There is no magic wisdom left on a tablet that is passed down through generations of superintendents. I firmly believe that the superintendency is simply my new role on our team. And even though I may not be able to roll up my sleeves as much, or wear sneakers to work, I am still me.

We each have our roles, whether we are the person who handles the register at lunch or the person who sets the agenda for staff meetings. Let us never mistake the person for the role they play in our community. Every role in this district is important. Every person contributes to our culture and the way our students feel. For those of you who were lucky enough to be at last year’s 8th grade graduation ceremony, you heard that Maggie, the head custodian, is a rock star at the middle school, because her relationships with students and staff, and her contributions to the greater good, define her persona. I am certainly hoping that I don’t get pigeon holed into my role as superintendent – whatever than means to each individual in our community.  I have no doubt I will defy most stereotypes you may have. Not many superintendents out there would risk the timing of swimming at the lake one minute and 15 minutes later being present for a meeting, dried off, in this exact outfit. I try to make the most of every second.