The Journey

I am a child of the late seventies and early eighties. As a young kid, I remember napping in Mrs. Roush's kindergarten, learning to handwrite with Mrs. Stewart, and spending an inordinate amount of time in the Hillcrest office with Mr. Crandus and Dr. Del Bene. When I left O'Neill school in 1987, I had never imagined I would find my way back. In truth our journeys are not predetermined, but rather contain unimaginable twists and turns. They take us for wild rides, introduce us to amazing individuals, and challenge us daily. After my parents moved to Wisconsin, I never thought I would return home to Downers Grove, yet I did. Nearly five years ago, I was offered the opportunity to work with the learning program in my home school district, Downers Grove 58.

The first day home doesn't seem so long ago. After being gone nearly 30 years, coming back to Hillcrest and O'Neill was energizing. I could hear the Welcome Back Kotter theme song in my head, remember curling up and watching it on TV after a day in school with Mrs. Frankfater or Mr. Wild. I remember walking into Hillcrest and seeing Val still behind the receptionist desk, her broad smile as welcoming as ever. Just like she had been a generation before when I wandered in after getting in trouble. Ms. Fiene was waiting for me there on that early August day, just as she had waited for my siblings to saunter in after recess. I wandered over to O'Neill later that month, drifting down the halls past my old locker drowning in memories, only to hear Glen leading the choir as he had done for my friends when I was there.

Sometimes home is home. Like all homes, there are times of peace and times of stress. There are great things we try, sometimes successful and sometimes everything crashes around us. In the end, whether it is with hugs and kisses or yelling and screaming, we are family, united in common loves and common goals. For nearly five years, I have had the chance to work with family. We have tried a great many things to support the learning and growth of adults and children. We have worked to understand each member of our community and create ways to support the growth of each child. And through this process together, we have created some great things. Is it all complete? No. Is it all perfect? No. Is it a little more perfect that what it was? I think so and I hope so.

It's hard to leave family. My personal family is scattered throughout the world. With members in Wisconsin, D.C., Scotland, Arizona, Michigan, New York, Washington, California, and Georgia. It's hard for us to call any one place home. For the past five years, I have felt at home in Downers Grove District 58. Thank you for partnering with me in this journey.

I look forward to the journey ahead in Winfield. It feels like a wonderful community who's staff and leaders have opened doors and welcomed me as one of the family. I have been supported so nicely by the retiring school leader and key members of the community and surrounding schools. I hope that it to will soon feel like home.

Thank you (in alphabetical order) to the administrators, board of education, community members, maintenance & custodial team, parents, principals, secretaries, students, support staff members, and teachers of District 58. I wish you luck in the work ahead and look forward to seeing your celebrations on #dg58learns.

"It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but you are not free to desist from it either." - Rabbi Tarfon, Pirke Avot 2:21