I had the most wonderful experience on Sunday, April 24. I was able to attend the Manitou Springs High School performance of “Fiddler on the Roof.” There are more performances this weekend.
There have been some recent questions and comments regarding the number of staffers who have decided to leave Manitou Springs School District at the end of this school year. I appreciate those questions, and the conversations I have been having with students, staff, parents and community members.
I will never use COVID-19 as an excuse for why it is OK for educators to leave MSSD14 or the profession of education. On the contrary, I would love nothing more than each retiree and person transitioning out of MSSD or any school district to remain in our schools and public education.
However, districts locally and across the nation are experiencing turnover in historic numbers. This does not even begin to address that enrollment in higher education teacher preparation programs is also declining.
My vision of hope and possibility for our school district is stronger now than ever before! I have and always will be an eternal optimist, especially when it comes to public education.
The roles our educators play in the lives of children can never fully be captured.
I see it every day in all of our schools: daily teaching and learning, Ute Pass Elementary’s school-wide field trip to Red Rock Canyon Open Space, the MSHS art show and home build open house, forensics awards, STEAM Night, Night of Excellence, students who work really hard and treat others with kindness, staff who care deeply, and on and on.
Edith Wharton wrote one of the quotes I live by. In 1921, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for literature, making her the first woman to receive this tremendous recognition. She wrote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
We need light more than ever. Where there is light, there is hope. Of course, focusing on positivity does not mean that we should not discuss important topics like staff retention.
Additionally, I know there are questions about the recent arrests of two former teachers who have been accused of sexually assaulting students; some people are requesting information about the investigations. These allegations have impacted the community in unbelievable ways.
I would love to say more but, at this point, I simply cannot. To say it has been hard for everyone who has been impacted is the biggest understatement I can make. In fact, it would be insulting.
However, I can say that we will continue to provide safe schools for students and staff. I will certainly provide an update when possible.
Although those responses might be pretty frustrating to some because I cannot share much, this is the reality of confidential personnel matters and criminal cases that involve former students.
This does not mean that I am not being transparent. This means that I am being honest and considerate of others’ lives. This is my responsibility as a superintendent.
Finally, some have made comments to the effect that our district “is becoming Harrison School District 2.” I have a hard time understanding what that means exactly.
The folks who have come to Manitou Springs School District are here because they want to be here. Many former Harrison employees were here before me, and some have joined after 2019.
I encourage those who have made these statements to talk directly to those who love being in MSSD and who came here because we have believed in whole child education, arts integration, athletics, deep learning, experiential learning and so much more for a very long time and will continue to do so.
I would also ask those who have made statements about Harrison to question conceptions or perceptions of the “other.” The Harrison community includes wonderfully fantastic people (students, staff, parents, residents).
I encourage anyone to talk with the exceptional people who worked in HSD2 and are now in MSSD. They are kind, creative, innovative and caring, just like other educators who have spent their entire extraordinary careers in MSSD and those who have been in districts across the region, state, nation and world.
This makes Manitou Springs School District special — diversity of thought, perspective, experience and expertise.
There will be opportunities for community engagement on these critical topics.
My door is always open, and I answer my own phone calls (719-502-5387). You can also email me at edomangue@mssd14.org. You can stop me to talk in the mornings, at dismissal and other events.
When I come back to the metaphor of the candle and mirror that Edith Wharton so eloquently wrote, I hope that we will provide light and rally behind educators, children and families right now.
We can be a school district that, 100 percent of the time, lives the values of Whole Child, Whole Adult and Whole Community!